Usage of e-Resources

Libraries actively collect electronic resources as well as printed resources. Many of these e- resources become available to library users not because we actually purchase the data and store them somewhere in the library, but we purchase the rights to access them which are kept on the servers of providers such as publishers and bookstores, and allow our users to access as well. Just as printed books can only be viewed in the library after we purchase them, electronic resources can only be accessed by our users after we purchase the access rights. Publishers and bookstores have a system on their servers to differentiate which library users are accessing.

When you access e-resources which Ritsumeikan Library has purchased its access rights for, you need to be identified as an Ritsumeikan student or a faculty member to view them. We call this system, "authentication" here. There are several ways to authenticate. There are several method for authentication. This page describes how to access electronic resources for each authentication method.

In the "e-Resources List", the "Usage" will be displayed when the "Details" button to the right of the e-resource name is clicked. This chapter show you the way to access from On-Campus to e-resources that the "Usage" is "Connect from campus network / GakuNin Certification from Off-Campus", "Connect from campus network (VPN available)" or "Connect from campus network (VPN not available)".

When you access those e-resources, you will be authenticated by the mechanism of the Internet. The signal with data called IP address, which identifies the source of access, is exchanged in the Internet communication. What IP address will be assigned to you when accessing using the Campus Network (RAINBOW) is decided by the international rules. Whenever you access from a computer on campus or a device such as a smartphone or tablet connected to the university's wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), this IP address is assigned to you, which enables providers figure out whether the access is from Ritsumeikan or not.

The computers installed in the information laboratory and peer learning room are connected to the Ritsumeikan University campus network (RAINBOW). Whenever you use these computers, you must enter your RAINBOW user ID and password. Only students and faculty members of our university have RAINBOW accounts, so you can be authenticated with RAINBOW account.

University's wireless LAN access points are installed on campus, including the library. When you connect your computer or smartphone to the wireless LAN, you can use many e-resources by authenticating using the mechanism of the Internet. To connect to the wireless LAN, you need to make settings only when you connect to the computer or smartphone for the first time. For the setting method, see this page of RAINBOW Service Desk. When connecting to the campus network (RAINBOW) via wireless LAN, you need to enter the RAINBOW user ID and password.

(Use Rits-1Xauth to connect your own computer, and Rits-Webauth to use a device shared by multiple user.)

Some of computers installed in teachers' laboratories, graduate student joint laboratories, and other laboratories can be used without entering the RAINBOW user ID and password. You can also access various e-resources from these computers. This is because when you enter the room where these computers are installed, you have to unlock the electronic key with your student ID card or faculty / staff ID card, so the person who can use the computer limited to person with those ID card, and limited to students and teachers of Ritsumeikan University.

Whether students from other universities who happen to enter the room can use e-resources depends on the contract with the provider of each e-resource. Please note that there are contracts that make it a violation to write a dissertation with information obtained from e-resources that they do not have access right or to use those information for commercial purposes.

When accessing e-resources from your home, the IP address of the telecommunication provider or the mobile phone company contracted at home is used, so the provider cannot authenticate with the IP address. There are two ways to use e-resources in those situation: "GakuNin" and "VPN connection".

"GakuNin" is a mechanism that asks you to enter whether to authenticate with "GakuNin (Shibboleth)" when authentication by IP address is not possible, and inquires the Ritsumeikan server whether you are an Ritsumeikan student or a faculty member. The Ritsumeikan server displays the screen for you to enter your ID and password, authenticates, and then forwards the providers' servers the result, finally to allow you to access the e-resources.

The system of the provider and the system of Ritsumeikan have to be coordinated with each other to use this authentication method. The e-resources which are accessable by this method are "Connect from campus network / GakuNin from off campus" is displayed in "Usage" column. For each content, click "Details" in the "e-Resouces List" and you can check how to access to the contents from off-campus.

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, allows you to access e-resources by virtually connecting your devices such as PCs that have already been connected to the network of a telecommunication provider or a mobile phone company, to the Campus Network (RAINBOW). You are accessing using Ritsumeikan IP address, so that the provider of e-resources can complete authentication. You will need to install a special program on your computer in order to make a VPN connection. For details, please refer to this manual. For e-resources that can be accessed from home through a VPN connection, "Connect from campus network (VPN is available)" is displayed in the "Usage" column.

There is a limit to the number of users who can connect to a VPN at the same time. Please cooperate with us so that as many users as possible can use the service by not connecting to the VPN when it is not necessary and by disconnecting when it is finished. Some e-resources, such as Wiley Online Library, Cambridge Core, Cambridge Journals, ProQuest EBook Central, Taylor & Francis Journal Package allow users to use their own account for a period of time if you register as its user, which are expected to reduce the number of times you use VPN connection.

Access from off-campus users may be restricted by the terms and conditions of use of the publishers, bookstores, and other e-resources providers that Ritsumeikan Library purchases access to. In this case, "Connect from campus network (VPN not available)" is displayed in the "Usage"S column.

There is useful information in digital resources provided free of charge as well as general websites. This database list includes some links to such digital resources. "Free access" is displayed in the "Usage" column.These are available without authentication.

Some e-resources that can be accessed via the Internet can only be used in the library. In that case, the "Usage" colom in "e-Resources List" is "Procedure at library counter". Some can be processed at any counter, while others can only be processed at limited counters. Click "Details" in the "e-Resource List" to read the text.