Libraries & Learning Technologies
Web Access Management:
The AUC Experience
Casey Grimmer, Head
Daniel Blucker, eResources
Research & Information Services
Libraries & Learning Technologies
Web Access Management
WAM allows your library to use the
Innovative Web server to forward requests
to a remote server. Your library can use
WAM to allow users who connect to your
catalog from home to access subscription
databases and control access to restricted
databases. (CSdirect)
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Millennium at AUC
• Millennium implemented 2001
• WAM implemented 2005 for offcampus access
• Panacea for users
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Connections at AUC
• 5,500+ faculty & students plus SCE
• 100+ computers in library
• Thousands of computers – wired and
wireless
• LALT 101 classroom activities
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Electronic Resources
• 100+ databases
• 19 statistical databases
• 40,000+ electronic books
• 60,000+ electronic journals
• Primarily English, some Arabic
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Number of users
+
Number of resources
=
Every increasing load on WAM
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Two major issues
• On- and off-campus users
authenticated on WAM – added layer
for on-campus users
• All traffic routed via WAM – possible
bottleneck
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Unforeseen Problems – management
• http://0-www.database.com.lib.aucegypt.edu/
• Add to MARC records 856 field,
regular updates
• Add to ERM Resource Records
• Miscellaneous links; libguides,
webpages, publicity, etc.
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Unforeseen Problems – Users
• Proxy slows connection & response
• Proxy malfunction blocks all access
• Removing proxy redirect
• LALT 101 classroom instruction
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Short-Term or Temporary Solution
• Cold fusion script to bypass proxy
local user to http://www.databases.com
remote user to http://0-www.database.com.lib.aucegypt.edu
• Partial solution
– works only on website
– not cataloged resources
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Long-Term, Permanent Solution
• EZproxy ???
– remote users redirected
– single URL for all resources
– LDAP authentication
• WAM authentication uses API ???
• Others ???
Libraries & Learning Technologies
Your Library’s Experiences ???