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  • Reference Desk: 303-492-3522
  • Circulation Desk: 303-492-7534
  • Administration: 303-492-4945

 

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About VPN
Q: Why use a VPN connection?
A: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection makes a secure connection between your computer anywhere on the internet and the CU Boulder campus network.
Q: Why do I want to be on the campus network when I'm at home or traveling?
A: Many of the library's databases and other campus computing resources depend on your computer being part of the campus network. If you're not connected, you won't be able to connect to the databases.
Q: I thought VPN was just to encrypt my data - I'm not paranoid, why should I use it?
A: When your computer is on the CU network, you have access to hundreds of databases that you might get to from a library page, but that you might also come across in other ways. You might also want to connect to certain servers on campus.
Q: For example?
A: You might find an article using Google Scholar. If you're using VPN, you would likely get free access to the article because the publisher knows you're part of the CU community and that the library has already paid for your access. If you're not using VPN, you might be asked to pay again to read the article.
Q: And what about servers on campus - I don't use those.
A: You might - if you wanted to print to campus printers from home, for example, you'd need to have an active VPN connection.
Q: OK, I'm convinced, how do I get this thing? Do I have to go see ITS?
A: No, just go here and download the program. Once it's installed, each time you begin to research, activate the connection using your identikey.
p.s. You'll be safer from the internet "bad guys" too!
p.p.s. Don't forget CU Antivirus, more free protection from "bad guys."

Connecting from outside
the law building

Most databases are available to CU affiliates from off campus. The first step to using databases from off-campus is to activate the CU VPN client on your computer. You will be prompted to do this if you need to. [why?]

Some databases are only available to law school affiliates, so you will need to visit the law library if you are not a law student or faculty/staff member. Non-law users will not be able to use these databases from outside of the law building.

A few databases need an institutional password to login - contact the Reference Desk (303-492-3522) for details.

Finally, a few databases are only available by personal password to law affiliates.

Key to database terms

  • non-law patrons must use this database in the law library (law affiliates use VPN)
  • requires a password, please see a librarian
  • passwords only available to law affiliates
  • the database contains page images of all content
  • the database contains page images of some content