ELECTRONIC LIBRARY HELP

What is available?

The Electronic Library includes

Am I able to consult the Library’s subscription databases from my computer at home?

Yes. The Library’s subscription databases and electronic journals are freely available for members to consult at any of the public internet workstations in the Library, and from any internet enabled computer outside the Library. 

 

What do I need in order to access these databases from home?

If you are a member of the Library you can use these database resources by going to the Electronic Library page and the following one of the links. If you are trying to access the database from outside the Library, you will be prompted to enter either your membership number or barcode (to be found on your Library membership card) and your PIN.  PINs are obtainable from the Library’s membership department (email: membership@londonlibrary.co.uk  Tel: 020 7766 4720) and will be sent by post or given to you in person. PINs are non-transferable and may be used only by you.

If this is the first time you are using one of the databases you may be prompted to download and install some additional software. 

 

How do I know if I need to install additional software?

If you don’t already have the necessary software on your computer you will be prompted to download and install the necessary software when you follow a link.   Full installation instructions are displayed, which you might like to print off for your reference. For most Windows users there are two pieces of additional software; one for our online databases and one for CD-ROM based material. This additional software only needs to be installed once.

 

Will it take a long time to download and install this additional software?

The time it takes to download the additional software will vary with the speed of your internet connection. But the additional software is quite small and for most members should only take a few minutes to download and install.

 

I am having trouble logging in, installing the software, or using one of the databases.

For most members the software installation should be straightforward, but if you do encounter a problem please consult the troubleshooting section of this page.  If you still have a problem please contact the Library’s IT department for assistance.

Email:      systems@londonlibrary.co.uk
Telephone:       020 7766 4730

 

I would like to suggest a link be added to the Electronic Library pages

The links in the Electronic Library have been compiled by both staff and members of the Library. Their focus and grouping reflects that of the library and its collections. If you wish to suggest a link, please contact the Library’s IT department.

Troubleshooting Guide

General

I can't login using my membership number, barcode or PIN?

If you are trying to login using your membership number please ensure this is a five digit number.  Please precede any 4-digit numbers with an initial zero.
If you are trying to login using your barcode number please enter the entire barcode without spaces or punctuation.
If you are still having trouble logging in please contact the membership department (email: membership@londonlibrary.co.uk  Tel: 020 7766 4730).

 

When starting some databases I get a message ‘a server application is requesting access to your local client files’ and asks me if I want to give Full Access.  What does this mean?

If you want to download information from the database to your local computer you will need to give the application access as it asks.  In this case when you try to save a file you will see your local computer disk marked with c:\\CLIENT\C$ or similar.  If you do not allow access to your computer you may not be able to save information to your local computer.

 

I get the message ‘Application licence exceeded. Please try again later’ when trying to start The Times Digital Archive database. What does this mean?

We only have a single concurrent licence for this database and when another Library member is using it this message appears.  Try again at another time.

Windows users

 

When I click on one of the links to a subscription database or electronic journal after logging in I am returned to my original page and nothing happens

If this is the first time you have tried to use a subscription resource it might be that you have a pop-up blocker stopping a page being displayed.  Please disable your pop-up blocker while you install the additional software.
Your pop-up blocker could be part of your browser (in Internet Explorer go to Tools | Pop-up blocker | Turn off pop-up blocker ); a feature of a Google, Yahoo, or MSN toolbar you might have downloaded (have a look at your toolbars at the top of your browser); or part of your security or Firewall software such as Norton Internet Security, Norton Anti-Virus, or ZoneAlarm.

 

I get a message that the software cannot be installed as Active X has been disabled on this computer

Active X needs to be enabled in your browser to install the software.  In Internet Explorer 7 a yellow bar will display in your browser – click on the bar to enable Active X controls for the software installation.  To enable Active X in Internet Explorer 6 go to Tools | Internet Options | Security.   Go to the button marked Custom Level and make sure that the setting ‘Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins’ is set to enabled.

 

I went to run one of the CD-ROM based databases and after installing the software I get a message ‘Protocol driver error’, and the database fails to start

This error is specific to Internet Explorer.  In Internet Explorer go to Tools | Internet Options | Security.  Click on the ‘Local Intranet’ icon and then on the ‘Sites’ button.  Choose ‘Advanced’ and then type this into the window titled ‘Add this website to the zone’: 
http://iris2.londonlibrary.co.uk
Click on Add.  Close your browser and open it again and you should now be able to connect to the database.

 

I went to use one of the CD-ROM based databases using Windows and the Mozilla Firefox browser, and was prompted to install the software. Once I had installed it I was prompted to install the software again

Mozilla Firefox doesn’t recognise the additional software you have installed. Please contact the Library’s IT department who can provide assistance in manually registering the additional software in Mozilla Firefox.

 

I am unable to install the software because I do not have administrative rights on my computer or I am prevented from doing so by corporate policy. Can I still use the Library’s online databases?

You may be able to if you already have a Java client on your computer.  When prompted choose the option not to install software.  The database will try to start using any Java client it finds on your computer. 

 

I have installed the added software but get the error message "Resource unavailable at this time. Unknown error”

You may receive this error if you have security software which prevents the software you have installed, called the ‘Multiresource client’, communicating with the internet.

For example if you are running Norton Security Centre you may need to change your settings:

  1. Open Norton Security Centre which you will most probably find in the Taskbar in the bottom right hand corner of your PC.
  2. Go to Security Basics, then to Personal Firewall, and then to Configure Personal Firewall, and then to Programmes.
  3. Look for Multiresource Client amongst the the Programs. If it says  'Block All' against the MultiResource Client' please change this to
    'Permit All'.
  4. Go back to the Electronic Library page and try connecting again.

Alternatively you could reset the software you have loaded in the following way:

  1. Click Start -> Run
  2. Type "c:\Program Files\MultiResource Client\olbconn.exe" /REGSERVER
  3. Click on OK
  4. Go back to the Electronic Library page and try connecting again

  5. Mac users

I am using a MAC and can’t print from any of the databases.

Unfortunately those members using an Apple Mac may not be able to print directly from some databases.  However most of our databases and electronic journals either allow files to be saved to your computer or allow data to be emailed.

 

I have installed the added software but get the error message "Resource unavailable at this time. Unknown error” 

If you are using Safari try resetting Safari.

  1. Go to the Safari menu and choose Reset Safari.
  2. Click on Reset
  3. Go back to the Electronic Library page and try connecting again.

If you still get this error you may be connecting through a proxy server. Disable any proxy server setup you may have.

 

When I try to connect nothing happens or my browser crashes

Your MAC will start a connection using a piece of software called ‘Java’ which has been preinstalled on your MAC.   If this software isn’t making a connection you could try updating your Java client from the Apple website through software update.

If you have further technical problems or need more information please contact the Library’s IT department:

Email: systems@londonlibrary.co.uk
Telephone: 020 7766 4730

Popular electronic resources

American National Biography

Bibliography of the History of Art

British Humanities Index

English Poetry on CDROM

George Washington Papers

Index to theses

JSTOR

Orlando

Oxford Art Online

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Times and Sunday Times 1990-2000

Times and Sunday Times 2001-2006

Times and Sunday Times Jan-Dec 2007

Times Digital Archive 1785 - 1985

Times Literary Supplement Archive

Who Was Who 1897-2007

Who's Who 2008