I may be experiencing a fluke, but it appears that my university’s library’s website allows any computer to use it as proxy for viewing and downloading articles from many paywalled sites (in fact, every site it gives me access to with my student login, which is a very large selection). I only discovered this by accident, and I’m hoping it isn’t unintentional on their part. If anybody is interested, the address is here. If you try it and it doesn’t work, please tell me.
ETA: It appears that my browser simply cached my login, and that this service is unfortunately not actually available to the general public. Sorry for any confusion.
I get, “Enter your NetID and Password.” Have you considered the possibility that you have a cookie on your computer that eliminates the need for you to log in?
Okay, so there was some sort of fluke. I checked again and I did have to relogin; I’m guessing it was cached data rather than the cookie which stores my login, because other sites still failed to recognize me. Sorry for getting peoples hopes up,
Universities subscribe to these databases. There is a kind of redirection via a proxy that happens when I’m logged in via my univ’s network which allows me to download articles as you mention. I do have to agree to a “I declare I won’t violate copyrights” button before proceeding.
I’m aware that the proxying service is available while I’m logged in, I was just misled by a cached login to believe that it was working without logging in, which would have been very odd, though beneficial. I’ve decided to update the comment to reflect that.
I may be experiencing a fluke, but it appears that my university’s library’s website allows any computer to use it as proxy for viewing and downloading articles from many paywalled sites (in fact, every site it gives me access to with my student login, which is a very large selection). I only discovered this by accident, and I’m hoping it isn’t unintentional on their part. If anybody is interested, the address is here. If you try it and it doesn’t work, please tell me.
ETA: It appears that my browser simply cached my login, and that this service is unfortunately not actually available to the general public. Sorry for any confusion.
I get, “Enter your NetID and Password.” Have you considered the possibility that you have a cookie on your computer that eliminates the need for you to log in?
Okay, so there was some sort of fluke. I checked again and I did have to relogin; I’m guessing it was cached data rather than the cookie which stores my login, because other sites still failed to recognize me. Sorry for getting peoples hopes up,
There must be something else going on. I couldn’t replicate at least.
Universities subscribe to these databases. There is a kind of redirection via a proxy that happens when I’m logged in via my univ’s network which allows me to download articles as you mention. I do have to agree to a “I declare I won’t violate copyrights” button before proceeding.
Its cool to be in school :)
I’m aware that the proxying service is available while I’m logged in, I was just misled by a cached login to believe that it was working without logging in, which would have been very odd, though beneficial. I’ve decided to update the comment to reflect that.
Based on the policy at my university, don’t you need a student number and login to use those services?