Accessing Databases from Off-Campus

Due to license restrictions limiting usage to USCA students, faculty, and staff, access to USCA Library online databases from off-campus requires a login. There are now three ways to login to USCA Library full text electronic journals and databases from off-campus. Pick the option that works best for you.


1) Access via your web browser to the VPN (Virtual Private Network)

The USCA Computer Services Department has established a VPN system which enables login to the campus network from off-campus.

  1. point your web browser to https://usca-asa.usca.edu
  2. a web page will appear with a USCA VPN login form
  3. enter and submit the same information for your username and password as you do when logging onto a computer workstation on campus
  4. a new web page will appear with a link to the USC Aiken Library
  5. click on the link to the USC Aiken Library
  6. the homepage of the USC Aiken Library will appear
  7. you will now be able to access any of the Library’s research databases

Please note the URL address requires an “s” after the http. Simply entering http://usca-asa.usca.edu will produce a “Page not found” or some similar error.





2) Access by Proxy Server

Steps in the proxy server method for off-campus access:

  1. visit the USCA Library website at http://library.usca.edu
  2. click on any link to any of our electronic resources (e.g. Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, Encyclopedia Britannica, Custom Newspapers (DISCUS), Biography Resource Center (DISCUS), etc.)
  3. an authentication page will appear requesting you to enter a username and a password
  4. enter your last name for the username
  5. enter the USCA ID number located on the back of your USCA ID card for the password
  6. click on the “Submit” button
  7. you should then be automatically redirected to the electronic resource you selected to use





3) Access by VPN client software

(Requires download and configuration of a software program.)

The USCA Computer Services Department has established a VPN system which enables users to login to the campus network.

VPN setup instructions for Windows users are available at http://www.usca.edu/helpdesk/secure/vpn_access.asp. You will be required to enter your campus network username and password to access the VPN instructions web page.

VPN setup instructions for Mac users are available at http://www.usca.edu/helpdesk/secure/vpn_access_mac.asp. You will be required to enter your campus network username and password to access the VPN instructions web page.

Follow the VPN setup instructions carefully. After you have successfully set up your VPN connection, restart your computer, start the VPN software, log into the VPN and use your web browser to access the USCA Library subscription databases via the library web site at http://library.usca.edu.

Please contact the USCA CSD Helpdesk at 641-help (on campus) or 641–3502 (off campus) with questions about the VPN setup.

If you have questions about accessing USCA Library electronic resources from off-campus using the proxy server method, please contact Paul Lewis at 803–641–3320 | paull@usca.edu or Stan Price at 803–641–3510 | stanleyp@usca.edu.

If you encounter problems with access to individual electronic journals using the proxy server method, please contact Natalia Poppeliers at 803–641–3492 | nataliap@usca.edu

Last modified on: November 05, 2009, at 03:32 AM