Dear FirstSearch Group Administrator:
The attached spreadsheet contains new FirstSearch authorizations and passwords for your members who will have
access to any of the 12 databases that were recently migrated from RLG’s Eureka system to OCLC’s FirstSearch
system. Please distribute these authorizations to your members. The 12 new databases that were migrated from RLG’s
Eureka system will be available for searching on Monday, September 17, 2007.
The information on the next two pages may be of value to your members, especially if they are using OCLC’s
FirstSearch database system for the first time. If you have any questions or problems regarding these FirstSearch
authorizations, please contact Peter Insabella at OCLC (insabelp@oclc.org 1-800-848-5878, ext. 4330).
Logging on to FirstSearch
To log on to the OCLC FirstSearch service, use one of these URLs:
http://firstsearch.oclc.org, http://firstsearch.uk.oclc.org (in Europe)
Configuring your access
Eureka subscribers: Be sure you have switched the URLs that begin with eureka.rlg.org on your library Web pages to
FirstSearch logon URLs that begin with firstsearch.oclc.org. Current Eureka users using outdated URLs that begin
with autoweb.rlg.org must update their links to those that begin with firstsearch.oclc.org, otherwise your RLG-scripted
URLs will not be redirected to FirstSearch.
Creating automatic links to your Eureka databases
If you want to take your patrons to a specific database using IP address recognition, and the account has access to more
than one database, you need to use the dbname= component. Make sure to use the correct value for the database
name.
Example: http://firstsearch.oclc.org/fsip?dbname=averyindex&done=referer
If you are already using IP address recognition to automatically log on to FirstSearch, and you received one or more new
authorizations for your Eureka databases, you will need to include the autho= component in your URL to access that
account.
Example: http://firstsearch.oclc.org/fsip?autho=999999999
Example using both components:
http://firstsearch.oclc.org/fsip?autho=999999999&dbname=averyindex&done=referer
For more information on what you can do with IP address recognition, please go here.
Z39.50 access to new FirstSearch databases
Eureka subscribers who are using Z39.50 to access the databases, such as for metasearch engines, must update their
configuration to the FirstSearch Z39.50 specifications. More information is available here:
http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/firstsearch/z3950/
Web Browsers
The FirstSearch service works best with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher, although Netscape Navigator 4.0 or
higher or versions 3.x of Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer will enable you to use all the major features of
FirstSearch.
Administrative Module
To log on to the Administrative Module, you must have Netscape 4.0 or higher, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or
higher, with JavaScript enabled. For security purposes, you should log on to the Administrative Module shortly after
receiving this letter and change your password. (And change it frequently thereafter.) The URLs for the Administrative
Module are http://firstsearch.oclc.org/admin, http://firstsearch.uk.oclc.org/admin (in Europe)
Please see the following sections for additional information about automatic access to FirstSearch, documentation, and
sources of support for your use of the FirstSearch service.
Page 2
Automatic Access to
FirstSearch: IP
Address Recognition
and Automatic
Logon Scripting
OCLC FirstSearch

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Documentation
Customer Support
OCLC Internet Protocol (IP) address recognition supports automatic access to FirstSearch from
known IP addresses. Once in place, users click links on your Web pages and enter the FirstSearch
service without having to type the FirstSearch authorization number and password. Instructions for
establishing this type of access can be found at:
http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/firstsearch/getting_started/ipweb/ .
Automatic logon scripting supports your scripting access to FirstSearch for users from many
locations. With this option in place, users click links on your library’s Web pages to go directly to a
page within FirstSearch, bypassing the logon screen. Instructions for scripting automatic logon
access can be found at http://www.oclc.org/firstsearch/documentation/auto_logon.htm.
If you are already familiar with setting up IP address recognition or automatic logon scripting and
just need the values for the dbname or database component for any FirstSearch database, including the
migrating Eureka databases, please go here:
http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/firstsearch/managing/dbname/default.htm
OCLC provides extensive documentation for all of its products and services. Documentation for the OCLC
FirstSearch service can be found at: http://www.oclc.org/firstsearch/documentation/index.htm.
Although your OCLC-affiliated regional network is normally your first line of contact, OCLC Customer Support
(CSD) is also available to assist you with all of your FirstSearch-related questions. CSD staff are available to
help English, Spanish and Portuguese-speaking users.
Telephone support of FirstSearch is available from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern US time, Monday through
Friday. If you need technical assistance, call your Network Office, or call CSD at:
1-800-848-5800 (toll free in the US and Canada)
1-614-793-8682 (toll call in the US)
+1-614-793-8682 (toll call from outside US)
E-mail and World
Wide Web Support
FirstSearch users can send technical support questions to OCLC Customer Support via e-mail, at:
support@oclc.org
You may also transmit support questions to CSD via the OCLC Support Web Page, at:
https://www3.oclc.org/app/contac/ .
In Europe, send questions to: support@oclcpica.org
In the Asia Pacific area, e-mail support questions to:
asia_pacific@oclc.org.
International
Telephone
support
Or, enter support questions via the OCLC Support Web page at:
< http://www.oclc.org/oclc/menu/support.htm >.
In Europe, contact the OCLC PICA Support Desk in Sheffield, England, from 0900 until 1730 UK time,
Monday through Friday at:
+44 114 281 6042 (voice)
+44 114 281 6041 (fax)
In the Asia Pacific area, fax technical and/or user support questions to OCLC Asia Pacific Services at: +1614-764-4331.
OCLC Pacific members in the United States and Canada, please call:
1-800-854-5753
More information
about FirstSearch
If you ordered FirstSearch through a non-US distributor, please contact them for assistance.
For more information about FirstSearch, including documentation, a guided tour, and instructional resources
go to: < http://www.oclc.org/firstsearch/ >.