When you're off-campus and click on a link that requires authentication, you'll be prompted automatically for your Amherst username and password. (This is why you should start from the library's list of databases; if you go directly to jstor.org, for example, it won't know to prompt for authentication.)

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Login screen

Who can access library resources from off-campus?
Off-campus access is available to all current Amherst College students, faculty, and staff, plus Five-College students currently enrolled in courses at Amherst.

What about Table of Content alerts or RSS feeds?
Some vendors add our proxy server prefix which enables off-campus linking to alerts, and some do not. If the links you're provided with don't start with http://amherst.idm.oclc.org/login?url=, they won't work from off-campus. You can copy and paste this prefix to the start of each link manually to allow links to work from off-campus.

Hint:  Try adding the prefix http://amherst.idm.oclc.org/login?url= to the address of any online journal or database to which the library subscribes from a bookmark in your browser or without navigating through the library website. This should work for most, but ask us if you have problems.

What about alumni access to library resources?
Some resources are available to alumni, although many are for current students only.

What about Google Scholar and Check for Full Text?
If you use Google Scholar to search for articles, it won't know to provide the Check for Full Text links to our full-text subscriptions when you're off-campus. Go to Settings > Library links and type Amherst College into the box, then check Full Text Finder Results.

But what about VPN?
Using VPN (virtual private network) or older proxy technology (i.e., configuring your browser to use proxypac) to connect to subscription library resources was retired in 2013. VPN is still active for users who need to access the campus network.