Off Campus Access
Proxy Server Authentication
ATTENTION: As of June 25, 2025, authentication by library barcode number and last name will no longer function. All users with access to electronic resources should authenticate using their ObieID.
When you access electronic resources using links from Search.Libraries, from the Libraries website, or from our list of databases, you will be automatically prompted to sign in to our proxy server with your ObieID. If you have recently signed in to another Oberlin service using your ObieID on the same device and browser, you may be able to access electronic resources without signing in again.
Note: Off-campus access to electronic resources is limited to current Oberlin students, faculty and staff, and emeriti.
Problems?
If you are not automatically prompted to sign in, you may authenticate at any time by visiting the Oberlin College Libraries Proxy Server.
If you do not know your ObieID credentials, or they are not working, please contact the Center for Information Technology (CIT) at (440) 775-8197.
If you encounter other problems accessing electronic resources, please follow these steps:
- Confirm that you are signing in using your ObieID, and not your library barcode (see above)
- Go to OhioLink Connection Information, and select the option to display your IP address
- Copy and paste the information about your browser and IP address into an email message to reference@oberlin.edu
- Include the name of the database and where you were accessing it from (e.g. the library website, google, a bookmark, etc.)
- Describe, copy and paste, or attach a screenshot of any error messages you received while trying to access the database
VPN
A small handful of specialized resources are only accessible from on campus or when using the Oberlin VPN. If you aren't sure if you need to use the VPN to access a particular resource, email reference@oberlin.edu. If you encounter problems while downloading and running the VPN, please contact CIT.