EZproxy

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What is EZproxy?

EZproxy is the trade name of a proxy server created by Chris Zagar and formerly supported by Useful Utilities. EZproxy is now owned and supported by OCLC. Current and older versions are successfully used by many libraries. The word proxy is defined as "a person authorized to act for another", and that is exactly what a proxy server does. This tool replaces a user's computer credentials with its own credentials to allow the user to gain access to resources that require authorization. Proxy servers can be used for many kinds of authorization; you can read more about them here. In libraries, they are most commonly used to allow off-campus users the same access as on-campus users to licensed electronic resources. Read more about EZproxy.

How does K-State Libraries use EZproxy?

Like most academic libraries, K-State Libraries licenses a great deal of electronic content for use only by individuals affiliated with the institution. Examples of "affiliation" include, but are not limited to, enrollment and employment. An easy way for a user to prove to a particular electronic resource that they are affiliated with K-State is to use a computer that has a K-State IP address. Read more about IP addresses here. It is enough for our purposes to know three things:

• An IP address is necessary for a computer to access a network
• An IP address is unique to the computer it is assigned to
• Blocks of IP addresses are often assigned to large institutions, including K-State. Such blocks are often called "IP ranges".

It follows, then, that any computer on K-State's campus is assigned an IP address belonging to K-State's IP range. When libraries subscribe to licensed electronic content, they often inform the vendor of their institution's IP range. This information allows the vendor to figure out who is and is not affiliated with the institution and accordingly grant or deny access to the resource. This works well for users who are always on campus and use computers connected to the campus network. But what about off-campus users? This is where EZproxy steps in.

Remember the definition of "proxy"? Here is where it becomes important. An off-campus user will be asked to log in to prove to EZproxy that they are affiliated with K-State. Once EZproxy is satisfied with the user's credentials, it masks the IP address on the user's computer with a K-State IP address. Licensed electronic resources accept the user as authorized because their computer appears to have a K-State IP address.

When does the user log in?

EZproxy can present a user with a login screen at any point during a transaction. It is up to the proxy administrator and web developer to make sure that the login process is intuitive and easy for off-campus users and that it doesn't get in the way of on-campus users who don't need it. K-State Libraries Digital Initiatives Department has migrated to a "just in time" model of proxy login. This means that we no longer expect off-campus users to remember to click a "Log In from Off Campus" link before beginning their research. We have arranged EZproxy's login request to occur only when the off-campus user needs to authenticate in order to access licensed content.

Currently, this login occurs when the off-campus user clicks a link to a licensed resource. A prefix appended to the resource's URL prompts EZproxy to examine the IP address of the computer making the request. IP addresses within K-State's range are ignored; those users are passed on to the resource without being challenged. IP addresses that do not match K-State's range prompt EZproxy to return a Login screen.

How can I help?

In order for this "just in time" model to work correctly, all URLs to licensed electronic resources available from any K-State Libraries' Web page (including URLs inside the catalog) must contain the EZproxy prefix. The Web Development Librarian and DID's student assistant maintain the URLs available from the Databases page and attempt to fix any incorrect URLs found during the course of their work.

Subject specialists and branch library personnel maintain a number of Libraries Web pages, either on their own or with minimal assistance from the Web Development Librarian. These staff can greatly assist their users by including the EZproxy prefix in any URLs to licensed electronic resources that appear on their pages.

Get instructions for including the EZproxy Prefix.

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