Library Home Page

Guide to Connecting to the
Library from Off Campus

Creating a WMU connection to the Internet

Most Web browsers allow you to connect to our licensed resources. This includes (External) FireFox , (External) SeaMonkey (formerly the Mozilla Application Suite), (External) Netscape , (External) Opera , and (External) Safari .

Setting up a WMU Wireless Connection

For the latest information about connecting to the WMU wireless network, please visit OIT Get Connected

Bronco NetID and password

The electronic resources to which the Western Michigan University Libraries subscribes are available for off-campus use by currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff. A Bronco NetID and password are required to access WMU's licensed electronic resources.

Bronco NetIDs are automatically generated at the time of a student's admission to WMU and remain active throughout a student's enrollment and for approximately twelve months after graduation. Faculty and staff accounts are created automatically at the time of employment.

Here's instructions about how to get a Bronco NetID . If you have further questions regarding the Bronco NetID you can contact the OIT Help Desk at 387-HELP (4357), press 1, or send e-mail to helpdesk@wmich.edu .

Use of uninitialized value $link in string eq at /unified/w/www-cgi/www.wmich.edu/cgi-bin/betsie/parser.pl line 1201.

New How do I bookmark an article or e-book?

If you have created a bookmark to an article or e-book while on-campus and then from off-campus you find that it has been blocked or you received an "Access Denied" error, use this utility to add a special authentication prefix to the URL so you can gain access as if you were still on campus. If you are off campus, you will be asked to enter your Bronco NetID and password. To use this utility JavaScript must be enabled in your browser.

Keep in mind that sites on the University Libraries' Databases by Title web page with a

Lock Icon noting a restriction to WMU users icon will require you to enter your Bronco NetID and password if you are off campus.

1. Copy and paste the non-proxied URL of the article or ebook here:

2. Click this to add the authentication prefix:

3. Copy and use the resulting link :

Basic & optional plug-ins

Various library resources require the installation of certain plug-ins. We prepared a basic list for you, so you can get up and running in no time. It's always best to download and install the latest version and to update them periodically. The first section lists those plug-ins that are required to provide basic functionality. The Optional plug-ins offer enhanced capability.

Basic Plug-ins

(External)

Adobe Reader Adobe Reader allows you to view, print, and search Adobe PDF documents. (External) Download

(External)

Adobe SVG Viewer Scalable Vector Graphics allows you to experience interactive, personalized graphics on the Web. Adobe support to be discontinued in January 2008. (External) Download

(External)

Ebrary Book Reader ebrary Reader lets you view e-books, search the full text, and print selected pages. (External) Download

(External)

Java Java allows you to run applications called "applets". These applets allow you to view images in 3D. (External) Download

(External)

Adobe Shockwave Shockwave Player allows you to view interactive Web content like games, presentations, entertainment, and advertisements. (External) Download

(External)

Real Media Player RealPlayer allows you to listen to news, music, videos, and audio content on the Web. (External) Download

(External)

Windows Media Player Windows Media Player also lets you listen to news, music, videos, and audio content on the Web. (External) Download

Djvu Reader This software allows you to view DjVu documents. It works with Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari. (External) Windows | (External) Apple

Adobe Quicktime Quicktime allows you to listen to news, music, videos, and audio content on the Web. (External) Windows | (External) Apple


Optional Plug-ins

Luna Insight Client The Luna Insight Client allows you to zoom and pan, measure and scale images, annotate digital images, presentation authoring, and more. Windows | Apple

(External)

RefWorks Write-N-Cite is a utility that allows you to run an abbreviated version of RefWorks in a word processor. (External) Download

(External)

Schubert Schubert Word Plugin allows Microsoft Word documents to be displayed inside a browser window. (External) Apple uses only

(External)

Schubert Schubert PDF Plugin replaces the Adobe SVG plugin that is planned to be discontinued by Adobe in January 2008. (External) Apple users only

(External)

ARTstor viewer ARTstor offers an offline presentation tool that allows you to save ARTstor images and display them at higher resolution. (External) Download

Tips on connecting

  1. If you have a pop-up blocker, it should be disabled.
  2. Some dial-up providers use some sort of "Net-Accelerator" software. In some instances this interferes with our authentication server, so it should be temporarily disabled.
  3. If you have a firewall software program, it may be blocking our proxy server. If so, it should be configured to allow or accept the proxy server < http://libproxy.library.wmich.edu > The firewall must allow outgoing connections for ports: 80, 444, 2443, 2048.
  4. Confirm that JavaScript is activated:
    • In FireFox, click on Tools, then Options, then Web Features
    • In Internet Explorer, click on Tools, then Internet Options, then Security, then Custom level. Make sure Scripting is activated.
    • In Netscape, click on Edit, then Preferences, then Advanced, then Scripts & Plugins. Make sure Enable Javascript for Navigator is activated.
  5. Clear your Internet cache:
    • In FireFox, click on Tools, then Options, then Privacy.
    • In Internet Explorer, click on Tools, then Internet Options, then General and then click on Delete Cookies and Delete Files.
    • In Netscape, click on Edit, then Preferences, then Privacy & Security, then Advanced, then Cache, then Clear Disk Cache and Clear Memory Cache.
  6. Make sure cookies are enabled:
    • In FireFox, click on Tools, then Options, then Privacy.
    • In Internet Explorer, click on Tools, then Internet Options, and then General.
    • In Netscape, click on Edit, then Preferences, then Privacy & Security, and then Cookies.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check my Bronco NetID?

Visit the Bronco NetID Frequently Asked Questions Web page. Without your Bronco NetID, you just cannot gain access to library databases from home or from off campus. For assistance with your Bronco NetID, visit the OIT Help Desk .

I know my Bronco NetID, but I'm not able to log in.

Some public schools, businesses, and cable companies have installed software called a firewall that helps protect you from computer viruses. You can tell if you're behind a firewall if, after you submitted your user name and password, you receive a Web page that says '403 error' or you receive a blank Web page that says 'Page cannot be displayed.' Please direct your local Webmaster or Internet service provider to Tip #3, Tips on Connecting, located in the above section.

If you are using any of these Web browsers— (External) Firefox , (External) Mozilla , (External) Internet Explorer , (External) Netscape , or (External) Safari —you should use the latest version available, except for Internet Explorer version 7.0. The WMU Office of Information Technology recommends delaying the installation of Internet Explorer 7.0 . Read more

Always checkto make sure that you have JavaScript and cookies enabled, or turned on. If you're using your home computer and have never edited these settings before, then you probably don't have to worry about enabling cookies and/or JavaScript. If you're unsure, then please refer to your Web browser's help section on cookies and JavaScript.

Can I bookmark some databases on the Libraries' Web site?

Once you learn to navigate the University Libraries' Web site, you may think that you can simplify the "connect from home" process and simply "bookmark" an index or a database such as ProQuest Research Library, JSTOR, or LexisNexis. However, once you leave the site, and attempt to return, you will discover that the bookmarked site will ask you for a username and password. Unfortunately, the BroncoNetID and password will not reopen that licensed database since you have bypassed the Libraries' authentication system that identifies you as a WMU student, faculty, or staff member. You will have to leave your bookmarked page and reenter the site through the Libraries' Web site. There are no short cuts since the EZ Proxy system is the only way in from off campus that identifies you as a WMU student, faculty, or staff member.

Why do some databases in which I am searching indicate that there is a cost for the full text of an article?

The University Libraries must negotiate a contract or legal agreement to gain access to every book or journal article that is available in full text. There are specialized resources that we are unable to purchase due to budget constraints although we also have thousands of books and journal articles now available online at no cost to WMU students, faculty, and staff members. In addition, while the first database that you may use may not contain full-text, you can use the Find it at WMU button

Button for Finding full-text content at WMU Libraries to see if it is available in full text in another database or if we might have a print copy in the Libraries. We also can borrow through  interlibrary loan copies of articles that are not available in print or full text online.

 

Get Help

Complete the online help form with information about your Web browser, brand of computer, Internet Service Provider, and most importantly, where you are trying to access the Library Web site from, what kind of messages you are seeing on your screen, and the name of the resource you are trying to access (e.g. Scopus, JSTOR, ERIC).

WMU Help Desk

Useful phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and frequently asked questions are located at the OIT Help Desk and Bronco NetID Frequently Asked Questions Web page.

The Help Desk can assist you in finding out what your Bronco NetID user name and password are. Without your Bronco NetID, you just cannot gain access to library databases from home or from off campus.

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