How do I access articles, databases, and other library resources from off campus?
Off campus access to library resources can be confusing - since you aren't on campus, our vendors don't automatically know that you are part of WOU and may ask you to pay (dont do it!). Fortunately, there are some easy ways to let our vendors know you are part of the WOU community and access the content we already have paid for.
Library Proxy Server
The library proxy server adds a special prefix to urls to let the companies we work with know that you are part of WOU. How you access the proxy depends on where you start:
- Library homepage or a link on library webpages: If you are starting from the search box on the Library's website, simply click on the resource you want. If you are a current WOU student, faculty, or staff member and already logged in to the portal, you will go straight to the resources. If not, you should be prompted to log in.
- Google Scholar: Set Google Scholar's library links to show access to WOU Library online subscriptions. See the FAQ about accessing full text via Google Scholar for details on how to do this.
- A website: If you are on a journal or database website (e.g. JSTOR, Wiley, Sage, ScienceDirect, etc.), WOU may have access to at least some of the content. Add this: https://wou.idm.oclc.org/login?url= to the beginning of the URL in your search bar to identify yourself as part of WOU. If we don't have access to what you want then, try pasting the title of the article in the search box on the library homepage - sometimes we have access on a different platform and, if not, we may still be able to get the article (at no cost to you) through an OnDemand service or Interlibrary Loan.
WOU VDI
WOU's VDI servers have IP addresses that are "on campus." If you access the VDI, either through a browser or via the downloadable client, you will be considered on campus by our vendors and your access will be the same as though you were sitting at a computer in the library building.
