Help using the E-library online databases
We have several online reference databases from encyclopedias to newspapers. To search them from home, you will need to sign in using your library card number and PIN.
E-library - library members
After you have signed in, click the ‘Search databases’ link on the right side of the screen. Then click on the database links to start searching them straightaway.
Why am I sometimes asked for a second password?
Usually you can use the online databases immediately when you click on the database links after you have signed into the E-library, but sometimes you may be asked for another password or username.
When you click a link to go from one website to another, the website you're going to is usually told which website you're coming from. All the E-library online databases use this to check that you're coming from the East Sussex County Council website before they let you in.
If you are asked for another password at this stage, the database hasn’t recognised that you have signed in via the East Sussex E-library.
This is usually caused by the way your computer is set up or the way it is connecting to the Internet. Problems can be caused by:
- firewalls
- cookies
- your Internet browser
- type of computer you are using
- your Internet service provider.
For more about dealing with each of these possible causes, see below.
Changing your Internet security settings
Firewalls
Security software on your computer – such as Norton Personal Firewall or McAfee Personal Firewall Plus – can block information about the website you have come from. That's why the database asks for another password.
You can change your security settings to allow this information for specific sites following the simple instructions on the Symantec website. Please note, these instructions are specifically for Norton products, but similar procedures can be used on other firewalls.
You'll need to follow the instructions once for each site you want to access. In step 4 it asks for the site name – copy and paste in the links listed below:
- Britannica Online (all editions) – http://library.eb.co.uk/
- Britannica Junior – http://library.eb.co.uk/elementary
- Britannica Student – http://library.eb.co.uk/comptons
- Britannica Adults – http://library.eb.co.uk/eb
- Credo Reference – http://www.credoreference.com/
- Oxford Art – http://www.oxfordartonline.com/public/login
- Oxford Music – http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/public/login
- Kompass – http://www.kompass.com/referrer
- Newsbank – http://infoweb.newsbank.com/cgi-bin/remote/
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography – http://www.oxforddnb.com/subscribed
- Oxford English Dictionary – http://dictionary.oed.com/entrance.dtl
- Oxford Reference Online – http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/GLOBAL.html
- Times Digital Archive – http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/esusslib?db=TTDA
- Who’s Who and Who Was Who – http://www.ukwhoswho.com/
As the Microsoft Windows XP ‘built-in' firewall blocks information about the website you are coming from, you will need to use a different firewall to access our databases.
Cookies
A cookie is a small text file sent to your computer by some websites to store information about your visit to the site. If you want to view the web anonymously, you can set your web browser to refuse cookies. However, high security settings for cookies on your web browser can prevent our databases working.
- Change your security settings
In most web browsers you can organise your cookies and set security levels so that you only receive cookies from certain safe sites. Explore your browser's help pages for more information.
- Remove older cookies
Sometimes earlier cookies on your machine may also prevent access. Use the 'delete cookies' option on your browser to remove them. Britannica offers a service to delete expired Britannica cookies from your computer – visit their page to remove cookies, then close and reopen your browser and try to sign in via the E-library again.
Different types of computer and Internet browser
Any Internet browser works with the E-library. However, if you have an old browser – such as Internet Explorer 5 on Windows or Mac – we recommend you upgrade your browser to avoid bugs.
On some computers you may need to use a different kind of browser to use some databases. For example, you may have no problems using Oxford Dictionary of National Biography on an Apple Mac if you use the Safari browser, but are asked for a password when you try to view it using Internet Explorer.
- PC with Windows XP or Vista
We recommend Firefox 3 or Internet Explorer 8.
- PC with Windows 98 or later
Try Firefox 2 – it's newer than Internet Explorer 6 and is updated to reflect new security threats. If you use IE6, Service Pack 1 is the latest version.
- Apple Mac
Upgrade to Safari or Firefox.
- Older Apple computers
If you're using an old Apple computer which is not running Mac OS X then neither Safari or Firefox will be available to you. Try Mozilla 1.2 which is similar to Firefox.
Download the latest browsers by visiting the links below:
How you connect to the Internet
Access to our databases can be affected by the way you connect to the Internet via your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Please contact your ISP for advice.
Contact us for more help
If none of the suggestions above have helped you access our databases, our web team may be able to help.
Ask us for help using our library comments form.
Please provide as much information as possible about the way your computer is set up. You may not be able to answer all the questions, but the more information you provide, the quicker we will be able to deal with your enquiry.
- What operating system are you using? (eg Windows XP or Mac OS X)
- What web browser are you using? (eg Internet Explorer 6.0 or Firefox 1.5)
- Are you able to access one or more of our other databases? (eg Newsbank or Kompass)
- Do you have cookies enabled in your web browser?
- Are you using a firewall? If so, which one?
- What error messages are you getting?
