As a student or a member of faculty or staff in the University of Balamand, you are likely to spend a large proportion of your time based in an academic/research setting away from the University campus. The University of Balamand Libraries recognizes the fact that physical access to the University Library can often be extremely impractical for you in these circumstances, so we try to ensure that as many of our resources and services as possible are accessible to you wherever you happen to be. The main service we offer you remotely is access to the Electronic Resources (databases, electronic books and electronic journals).

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Who can access databases off-campus? And to whom do these guidelines apply to?

Only current students and faculty affiliated with the University of Balamand may access the electronic databases remotely. This service is being extended to Full-Time faculty members, Research Assistants, Postgraduate students, Undergraduate students and staff.

These Guidelines apply to anyone using a computer off-campus to connect to the University’s networked electronic resources (online databases).

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How do I access these electronic resources from home or anywhere off-campus?

Remote access implementations that are covered by this policy include, but are not limited to:

1. Referral Authentication – This mode of access supplied internally by the UOB Libraries. All links to restricted resources on UOB Library’s web site are flagged by the icon on the Online Databases website so as to prompt the user for a username and password assigned by the Library. To acquire these usernames and passwords, email the E-Resources Librarian, the Reference Librarian or the Serials Librarian.

2. ATHENS Authentication – ATHENS is a national authentication service which controls access to online subscription services; ATHENS is not a database or dataservice provider. UOB will be able to login to ATHENS authenticated resources using their username and password assigned by the Library automatically. The databases provided through ATHENS are also flagged by the “Eduserv” icon on the Online Databases website. If you miss this information, it will become obvious as an ATHENS login screen will automatically appear when you select a resource with this requirement.

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What are the general guidelines and policies of using this service?

ØIt is the responsibility of members of the University community with remote access privileges to the University's corporate network to ensure that their remote access connection is given the same consideration as the user's on-site connection to the University.

ØAll users connected to the UOB computer network from a UOB campus building and all individuals using the public computers in UOB Library have seamless access to the databases and electronic journals found on the library’s website.

ØNo “access for fee” options are available to non-UOB individuals. Those not affiliated with the university must directly contact a database or journal vendor to arrange for personal access.

ØUsers of the library’s restricted electronic resources must adhere to applicable licensing restrictions, copyright law, and UOB policy.

ØUsers will not pass on, or allow any other person to use the username and password assigned to them by the UOB Library.

ØUsers use their ATHENS username and password only in connection with the work of the University of Balamand. Such work includes teaching, learning, research, personal educational development, administration and management of the business of the University of Balamand, or development work associated with any of the above. It does not include consultancy or services leading to commercial gain, or work of direct benefit to the employer of students on industrial placement or part-time courses paid for by the student’s employer.

ØUsers will ensure that the requirements will be maintained of the agreements, contracts and licenses under which UOB subscribes to computerized services. The electronic resources offered by UOB Libraries are produced by commercial publishers and academic societies, and their availability is dependent upon the Library and UOB entering into legal agreements limiting access. The agreements typically limit use of the resources to UOB students, staff, and faculty.

ØUsers will adhere to the regulations governing the use of any services which use usernames and passwords, whether these services are controlled by the University of Balamand or by some other organization.

ØUsers will ensure that any copyright statement is maintained on any copies made of information derived from the computerized services.

Users will ensure the security and confidentiality of the services made available, and will not make any further copies of information from them or knowingly permit others to do so, or supply copies of information from them to others, unless permitted to do so under the relevant license.

ØUsers are responsible to ensure that family members do not violate any of the University policies, do not perform illegal activities, and do not use the access for outside business interests. The University users bear responsibility for the consequences should the access be misused.