Electronic Resources

• Find electronic resources
• Using databases
• Access from home
• Access from home FAQ
• Serials Solutions e-journals A–Z list
• Search engine links
• Scanned Card Catalogue (pre-1980)

FAQ for Access to databases from home

If you would like more information or are having problems accessing the Library's databases from home some of the most frequently asked questions and quick solutions are listed below.

If you are still experiencing difficulties or have any feedback please contact us by email askalibrarian@sl.nsw.gov.au (please allow 2–3 working days for a reply) or phone 02 9273 1414 Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 8 pm and Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

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General information

• I've just registered online and can't log in to the databases. Why isn't it working?

  When you fill in and submit the online registration form you receive a receipt number which usually starts with a 1. This is only a temporary number and can not be used to log in to the databases. You will need to wait until you receive your Reader's card either by

  1. post if you have requested to have it sent to you. Please allow up to 10 working days to receive your card by post.
  2. collecting it in person by visiting the State Library.

• I have a Reader's card but I can't log in to the databases. Why not?

  Your Reader's card number can be found on the back of your card under the barcode. It should be seven numbers long and start with a 62 or 72.

  You need to be registered as a NSW resident to access the databases. This means that you need to have had your card sent to a NSW residential address (if you receive your card by post) or show identification with a NSW address (if you pick the card up in person).

  If you have done this and are still having problems accessing the databases please contact us by telephone on 02 9273 1414 Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 8 pm and Friday, 9 am to 5 pm or email askalibrarian@sl.nsw.gov.au (please allow 2–3 working days for a reply).

  Please supply the following information:

  • the database you are trying to log in to
  • your Reader's card number
  • have you ever logged in before? Or is this your first time?
  • do any of the databases work with your Reader's card number?
  • Have you tried logging in with the Reader's card number on a different computer
  • your contact details

• How do I get a password to log in?

  To increase your security you will need to login using a password instead of your name. If you have logged in previously and not been prompted for a password or this is your first time, please leave this field blank and click on the Login button. You will be prompted to create your own password. Passwords can be a combination of letters and numbers and up to 32 characters long.

  Note: This password is not related to the PIN that you might have used when using your Reader's card for copying at the State Library. You can choose to use the same one or select a new password. Your PIN for copying will remain unchanged.

• I have my forgotten my password. What do I do?

  If you do not remember your password please contact us via email at register@sl.nsw.gov.au or call us on 9273 1414.

• I have a Reader's card but I'm not sure if it is current. How do I find out?

  Your Reader's card number should start with a 62 or 72 to be current. If your Reader's card number starts with a 60, 61, 70 or 71 your card may have expired. Please contact us to update your card.

• Why can't I access other databases that you have access to in the Library such as Business Who's Who?

  Access to databases from home is governed by licensing agreements. This means that we may not have the rights to make them all accessible to you from home. Please visit the Library if you would like to access our full range of electronic resources.

  Alternatively if you are a university or TAFE student you may be able to access databases through your institution. Please contact your university or TAFE library for more information.

  Some public libraries also offer access to databases from home. Please contact your local public library for more information.

• The article I want is not in full text in the databases. How can I find the full article?

  Not all of the articles within the databases are available in full text. You can check the State Library online catalogue, WEBCAT to see if we hold the journal in which an article is published or search our E-journal portal to check whether it is available in another online database (Note: you will need to visit the Library to access these databases).

  Alternatively you can search for the journal in another library: http://www.librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au

• How do I search the Library's online catalogue, WEBCAT, for an article?

  Titles of individual articles within journals are not listed on WEBCAT. You will need to search using the journal title.

  STEP 1
  Click the dropdown box on the WEBCAT screen then click the search type TITLE (STARTS WITH).

  STEP 2
  Click in the search field to the right of the dropdown box and type the title of your journal, magazine or newspaper. Remember to leave out a, an or the if they appear first in a title.

  STEP 3
  Select PERIODICALS ONLY.

  STEP4
  Click the START SEARCH button.

  STEP 5
  Click on a title to find out whether the issue you are looking for is in the State Library's collection.

• I would like to order a copy of an article.

  You can order a copy of your article through the State Library of NSW Document Supply Service.

  You will need the full citation details for the article- author,title, name of journal/magazine or newspaper, volume/issue number, date, year and page numbers.

  e.g.:
  Gordon,Rachel Singer; Stephens, Michael. Online cool on a budget, Computers in Libraries, Jun2006, Vol. 26 Issue 6, p48–49, 2p

• I have done a search but there are no search results.

  Check the individual databases Help pages for hints on how to search.

  Some hints for searching Informit, Film Indexes Online and Literature Resource Center are available through the State Library's HSC English Navigator.

Technical problems

• I have logged in but I still can't access the databases.

  Check if your browser accepts cookies. If not, you will need to set your browser to accept cookies. A cookie is used to temporarily allow you to use a range of databases in one session.

  If you are unsure how to check your cookie setting, please follow the instructions listed below for your Internet browser type and version or consult the Help pages of your browser.

  Internet Explorer 6.x:

  1. Go to Tools and select Internet options
  2. Click on Privacy tab
  3. Move the slider to select a Low or Medium privacy setting

  Mozilla Firefox

  1. Go to Tools and select Options
  2. Click on Privacy
  3. Click on the + sign next to Cookies
  4. Make sure that Allow sites to set cookies is ticked

• I have just used some of the databases but now I can't log back in.

  For some of the databases you may need to clear the cookies before you can log back in. To clear your cookies follow these steps or consult the Help pages of your browser.

  Internet Explorer 6.x:

  1. Go to Tools and select Internet Options
  2. In the General tab you will see Temporary Internet Files
  3. Select the Delete Cookies option. Select OK

  Mozilla Firefox

  1. Go to Tools and select Options
  2. Click on Privacy
  3. Click on Clear button next to Cookies option

• The database is currently unavailable.

  There may be 2 possible reasons:

  1. The database may be unavailable for a period of time due to maintenance or an upgrade. Please try again later.
  2. Too many people are already using the database. Due to licence agreements databases such as Film Indexes Online and Times Digital Archive have a limited number of concurrent users. Please try again later.

Using the HSC English Navigator

• The instructions tell me to open the HSC English Navigator in a new browser window. How do I do this?

  On the menu bar at the top of the page, go to File > New > Window. This will give you a new browser window. Then go back to the first window (use the tabs at the bottom of the screen) and click on the link to the HSC English Navigator. The Navigator will then open in the new browser window.

• I can't find the instructions for Literature Resource Center in the HSC English Navigator. How do I get to them?

  Literature Resource Center appears in three different places in the Navigator. The following paths will take you to the steps for using the database. Select your path according to your area of research.

  1. Info About Your Text > Fiction and non-fiction texts > Major sources. Select Literature Resource Center and then click on the link Navigator's Shortcut Steps.
  2. Info About Your Text > Shakespeare > Major sources. Select Literature Resource Center and then click on the link Navigator's Shortcut Steps.
  3. Other texts with your theme or genre > Fiction and non-fiction > Going deeper. Select Literature Resource Center and then click on the link Navigator's Shortcut Steps

• I can't find the instructions for Informit in the HSC English Navigator. How do I get to them?

  Informit appears in two different places in the Navigator. The following paths will take you to the steps for using the database. Select your path according to your area of research.

  1. Info About Your Text > Fiction and non-fiction texts > Major sources. Select Informit and then click on the link Navigator's Shortcut Steps.
  2. Info About Your Text > Film and television > Major sources. Select Informit and then click on the link Navigator's Shortcut Steps.

• I can't find the instructions for Film Indexes Online in the HSC English Navigator. How do I get to them?

  The following path will take you to the steps for using Film Indexes Online:

  Info About Your Text > Film and television > Major sources. Select Film Indexes Online and then click on the link Navigator's Shortcut Steps.

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