Mechanical Engineering

If you are just starting to search for articles, you can use the library proxy server by starting from the library homepage. You can search using the Omni search box (on the library homepage), or you can access a database like Scopus or Web of Science from the 'Databases A-Z' list. Or, you can use one of the links elsewhere in this research guide! 

If there is a database you use often, like Scopus or Web of Science, you can bookmark the library link by right-clicking on the link on the Databases page.

You can also use the university VPN client if you are a graduate student, or an employee. As a graduate student, you must submit a request to university IT to obtain access, and then download the Cisco AnyConnect client to your computer or mobile device and follow the instructions on the page. Once this is set up and logged in, you can read articles and use databases directly using any link you have (without having to follow the instructions below).

If you have already found an article online, but can't read the full article without paying, there are a few possible quick solutions. Start with option 1, and if that doesn't work, move on to the next one.

1. Try using the proxy link-creator on the library website. Just copy the URL of the article or e-book, and go to this page (which you can also get to from the library homepage under 'Connect from off-campus'). Paste in the URL into the first box on the page, click 'Make an off-campus link' and then click 'View' below. You will then be asked for your uOttawa username and password.

• Or, try connecting to the university VPN (available for graduate students).

2. If you still can't read it, search the title of the article in the Omni search box on the library home page.

3. Next, search for the article title on Google Scholar or Unpaywall These tools will sometimes link to a copy of the article elsewhere on the internet.

4. If it's an older paper (from the 1990s or earlier), try searching for the name of the journal/conference in Omni (not the article title). We may have the publication in print, but without a list of the individual articles.

5. If none of these work, you can submit a request for us to electronically borrow the article for you, using another library - or you can email me for help. 

Rather than using the off-campus access link-maker every time you come across a subscription article, you can use a special bookmarklet in your browser.

What is it?

The proxy bookmarklet is a Javascript applet, added to your browser's bookmarks bar, that allows you to reload any webpage through the library's proxy server. When you land on an article you can't access, you just click on the bookmark, enter your uoAccess credentials at the prompt, and then the page will reload. If this doesn't work, try steps 2, 3 and 4 under 'Getting the full-text of a document' above.

How to install it?

On desktop, it's easiest to left-click and drag this link, uO Proxy, to the bookmarks bar of your browser.

• In Chrome: if the bookmarks bar is not visible below the address bar, first show it using the bookmarks menu, or by pressing Ctrl+Shift+B or ⌘ + Shift + B on Mac. Then left-click and drag the link above to the bar. You can rename it by right-clicking.
• In Firefox: if the bookmarks bar is not visible below the address bar, first show it by right-clicking on the toolbar, or using these instructions. Then left-click and drag the link above to the bar. You can rename it by right-clicking.
• In Safari: If the favourites bar is not visible below the address bar, first show it using the View menu (see these instructions). Then left-click and drag the link above to the bar. You can rename it.

On mobile, it is a bit trickier. You have to create a new bookmark, and then edit the URL. The javascript code you need to use is the following:

javascript:void(location.href=%22https://login.proxy.bib.uottawa.ca/login?url=%22+location.href)

• On Android, in the default Chrome browser, copy the javascript code above.
  • Create a new bookmark by going to the menu (three dots in upper right) and tapping the star ⭐ icon.
  • Go back to the menu, tap Bookmarks, then find the Off-Campus access bookmark and edit it (three-dots menu -> Edit).
  • Delete the URL and paste in the javascript you've copied. Rename the bookmark to something you'll remember. Tap back to save.
  • To use it when you arrive at a paywalled article, it's easiest to go to the address bar and start typing 'javascript' or the name you used for the bookmark.
• On iPhone, in the default Safari browser, copy the javascript code above.
  • Create a new bookmark by clicking the bookmark button at bottom, and tapping Add Bookmark.
  • Rename the bookmark to something you'll remember and click Done. .
  • Go back to the bookmark and hold it to edit. Select the URL, delete it and paste in the javascript code you've copied. Click Done to confirm.
  • To use it when you arrive at a paywalled article, it's easiest to go to the address bar and start typing the name you used for the bookmark.

If your username and password don't work to log in, first make sure that you have entered only the first part of your email address before the @. Next, you can either try resetting your uoZone password, or submit an IT help request.