On Campus
In general, if you are trying to use one of the library databases you will not be asked for a user name and password. There are a very few databases that require you to login with a user name and password and that information is provided in the description of the database on our Database A-Z and Database Subject lists.
Off Campus
When trying to access databases from off campus, you will be asked to provide your name and library barcode number before the system will take you to the database.
If you are experiencing slowness when connecting to a database or working within a database on the Internet there are a few tricks you can try.
1. Refresh the page by using the "reload current page button" usually found within the address bar at the top of your browser screen or by using the back button and then the foward button.
2. Close extra windows that maybe open and competing for access to your computer and the Internet.
3. Change your web browser. Lately Internet Explorer has been problematical when printing, downloading, and using audio files, etc. Try another browser such as Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.
4. Remove the proxy information embedded in the database web address. You can try this only if you are on campus. To do this delete the https://providence.idm.oclc.org/login?url= from the web address. The usual web address for Academic Search Complete is:
After you remove the proxy information it will look like this:
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,uid&profile=ehost&defaultdb=a9h
Sometimes slowness is the result of a problem with the network or a problem with the database vendor. If these fixes do not work for you please contact the Library by texting us at 401-784-7004, calling us at 401-865-2581 or emailing us at reference@providence.edu. Please be as detailed as possible when reporting your problem as this will help us to determine faster what the problem is and how it may be addressed. Thank you!
Printing from databases can seem confusing as your web browser has a print function as well as the databases you are searching. In general you should print your citations or documents using the print function of the database. In general you should click on the title of the document so that the single record appears on the screen, click on the PDF to open the full text or click on the HTML button