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Database Help

Topics

What database should I use?

Each Premium Database has a description of what the database contains. Also available is a complete list of databases. For other databases look for an About link which is often found under Help.

If you are in a library, ask a librarian to recommend a database or other print or electronic source which might meet your need.

How do I get help on using an individual database?

Each database has a link to help. If you need further assistance and at your home or office, contact our Ask a Librarian staff or call 813-273-3652 x4.

What are the web browser requirements?

You must be using Netscape 4.08-4.79, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 SPK2 or later, or another browser capable of interpreting JavaScript. JavaScript cannot be disabled in your browser and Security Settings should be set to Medium or lower.

Your browser must be set to accept cookies (these are small text documents that track your library card number/phone number depending upon how you authenticated, so you won't be required to authenticate again at the vendor's website).

Using Internet Explorer 6.0? Make sure the privacy settings are set to Override Automatic Cookie Handling. This can be set from within your Internet Explorer 6 browser:

AOL Broadband/Dialup users, MSN Explorer users & Netscape 6.2 & higher users:

You must use another browser such as Netscape 4.08-4.79, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 SPK2 or later. What this means is once you have connected/signed-in with AOL or MSN, you should minimize your connection and launch a seperate browser to access the databases on the HCPLC web site.

There are known issues with some database vendors and the AOL browser. These databases include refUSA, Gale's AncestryPlus, Proquest's HeritageQuest and possibly others. Our recommendation is to NOT use the integrated AOL browser and launch a secondary browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer.

Why am I downloading webauth.exe?

All download managers or download accelerators should be turned off or disabled when connecting to Premium Databases through the Learning & Research section. These services see the webauth.exe that is part of the authentication URL as an executable that must be downloaded first before you can access the site and this is not the case. Examples of such services that should be disabled or turned off include: Speed Bit (speedbit.com, download accelerator), GetRight (GetRight.com), Netscape's Smartdownload and GetBot (getbot.com, download manager).

How can I access databases outside the library?

You need to have a valid Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative library card in good standing to access the subscription databases.

The first time you select a database, you will need to enter your library card number and click on the sign-on button before you are directed to the database. If you return to the menu and select another database, you will not need to sign-on again until your cookie expires.

You must enter your complete library card number (no spaces).

What is a cookie and why do I need one?

A cookie is an individual file (in Internet Explorer, see C:\Windows\Cookies\documents and settings\user name (your profile name)\cookies) or part or another file (in Netscape, see the Users directory wherever you installed Netscape) that stores information about you, logins, encrypted passwords or any of a variety of pieces of information.

Cookies can and do become corrupt through no malicious reasons. Should you find you are being prompted at databases for User Names and/or passwords, your RPA cookie may have become corrupted.

To resolve this, wait 30 minutes for the cookie to expire, close the browser, re-open it and return to the Learning & Research section or do a Find on your computer for rpa.hcplc. Wherever you find this file referenced, delete it. Netscape users will have to edit a file called cookies.txt in their Users directory.

You may also need to adjust your cookie settings for authentication to work, you will need to set your Privacy settings in IE 5.5 and above to Low or Accept All Cookies. There may be similar settings in Netscape. Please refer to your browser's help feature.

Can I set bookmarks or favorites?

Yes, for the URL http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/research/ or a specific subject page within the Learning & Research section like Genealogy & History or Business & Finance.

Do not bookmark or add to your favorites any URL beginning with http://rpa.hcplc.org/, http://snooky.thpl.lib.fl.us/ or http://169.139.225.38/

Accessing from any other link, bookmark or URL will corrupt your cookies file and you will not be able to access remote databases, likely you will end up with excessive browser errors or blank pages.

Why can't I access the database(s)?

More than likely you are attempting to access the database from a bookmark or favorites link.

You must access subscription databases ONLY from: http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/research/ or a subject page within the Learning & Research section.

Accessing from any other link or bookmark, WILL corrupt your cookies file and you will not be able to access remote databases, likely you will end up with excessive browser errors or blank pages.

Personal Firewalls & Anti-Virus Software: There are reported problems with Norton Internet Security including Norton Personal Firewall & ZoneAlarm Pro/Security Suite. If you use these programs, you will need to set restrictions to low during the duration of your access to the the Learning & Research section. Gale Databases, EBSCO's Auto Repair Reference, Digital Sanborn Maps, HeritageQuest Online, ReferenceUSA & World Book Online are examples of databases that you will not be able to use if you leave these programs running.

Cookies & Caches: Many vendors require their cookies to be placed on your PC. Unfortunately, for all the authentication to work, you will need to set your Privacy settings in browser as well as personal firewalls and/or security suites to Allow, Low or Accept All. Databases that currently require this setting include Business & Personal Forms, Digital Sanborn Maps, World Book Online, LitFinder, EBSCO products & Ulrich's Periodicals Directory. There are possibly others. Additionally, these often fillup, are overwritten or become corrupt. You may find that deleting your cookies and cache will not only improve the performace of your browser, but ease access to your favorite database. Methods of doing this vary among browser and third party products.

Proxies: Do you use a proxy? Do you have software installed that "makes your Internet connection faster"? These tools free & pay versions often cache your library card number or embedded usernames and password URLs. These actions result in access failures when you try to connect to other databases. It is often best to disable or uninstall this software before accessing our databases (or the online catalog) to avoid such problems. The library has taken the appropriate steps to limit the problems software like this can cause, but ultimately some access issues will be beyond our control as the software affecting access resides on your PC.

Javascript: The library uses this to process your county selection and library card entry. Without it turned on, you cannot move between the two registration points to access the databases (selection of your home library's county and the entering of your library card). Further, Javascript is required by several database vendors including: World Book Online, HeritageQuest Online & Digital Sanborn Maps. Without Javascript running, your pages will appear blank. Please make sure you have not disabled Javascript in your browser.

Vendor Time-outs & Concurrent Users: Vendors set time-outs & concurrent user restrictions differently. You may have been idle too long and your connection has been reset on the vendor's end. When a vendor times you out, you MUST close your browser and return to the Learning & Research section. If the maximum number of users has been reached (a setting on the vendor side, you will receive a message stating such. You will need to close your browser and attempt the access again.

Additional Help with eBooks & Audiobooks on EBSCOhost: The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative does not provide for offline viewing/checkout of eBooks. You may only read/review eBooks online.

Additional Help with HeritageQuest Online: If you are unable to access HeritageQuest Online remotely, consult the HeritageQuest Online Troubleshooting Guide.

Additional Help with ReferenceUSA: You may receive the following error message when attempting to print or download records/data remotely from ReferenceUSA: "You have reached your print/download allocation for this session. You may continue using ReferenceUSA but you will not be able to print/download data. To print/download additional data you must restart your browser session." This message will appear when the number of records allotted for remote/external access has been met. You may continue using ReferenceUSA, however if you wish to print/download additional records, you will need to establish a new browser session. 50 downloads per session are allowed inside the library, and 5 downloads per session are allowed outside the library.

How do I register to use the Premium Databases?

Users with a valid public library card in good standing may utilize subscription databases that are available remotely and offered through the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative's the Learning & Research section.

Why am I having trouble signing-on?

Additional Help with NetLibrary:
The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative does not provide for offline viewing/checkout of eBooks. You may only read/review eBooks online.

Additional Help with HeritageQuest Online:
If you are unable to access HeritageQuest Online remotely, consult the HeritageQuest Online Troubleshooting Guide.

Javascript: The library uses this to process your county selection and library card entry. Without it turned on, you cannot move between the two registration points to access the databases (selection of your home library's county and the entering of your library card). Further, Javascript is required by several database vendors including: World Book Online, HeritageQuest Online & Digital Sanborn Maps. Without Javascript running, your pages will appear blank. Please make sure you have not disabled Javascript in your browser.

Cookies & Caches: Many vendors require their cookies to be placed on your PC. Unfortunately, for all the authentication to work, you will need to set your Privacy settings in browser as well as personal firewalls and/or security suites to Allow, Low or Accept All. Databases that currently require this setting include Business & Personal Forms, Digital Sanborn Maps, World Book Online, LitFinder, EBSCO products & Ulrich's Periodicals Directory. There are possibly others. Additionally, these often fillup, are overwritten or become corrupt. You may find that deleting your cookies and cache will not only improve the performace of your browser, but ease access to your favorite library database. Methods of doing this vary among browser and third party products.

Proxies: Do you use a proxy? Do you have software installed that "makes your Internet connection faster"? These tools, free & pay versions, often cache your library card number or embedded usernames and password URLs. These actions result in access failures when you try to connect to other databases. It is often best to disable or uninstall this software before accessing our databases (or the online catalog) to avoid such problems. The library has taken the appropriate steps to limit the problems software like this can cause, but ultimately some access issues will be beyond our control as the software affecting access resides on your PC.

Specific Error Messages

Additionally, you may get one of these messages after clicking the Sign-on button:

This database is only available at the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa.
Certain databases, such as The Foundation Directory Online Platinum and Grants to Individuals Online are only available at the John F. Germany Public Library. To access these databases you will need to visit in person.

Your library card number is not recognized. Call 813-273-3652 x3 for verification or assistance.
Check the number you typed and re-enter if necessary. If you have not used your library card in the last two years, your record may have been purged and you will need to reapply for a library card.

Your patron card or ID has expired.
Inactive records are purged every two years. You will need to reapply for a library card.

You've exceeded the number of checked out items to access this database.
You can have no more than 100 items checked out and be able to access the online databases the library subscribes to.

Your fee balance exceeds the amount allowable.
You owe the library $50.00 or more in fines or fees. Please visit any Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative Library to return any long-overdue items and pay any outstanding fines and fees. You can use the Your Library Record feature of the Library Catalog to obtain information about fines and fees owed.

Please return your overdue items before accessing this database.
You can have no more than 5 items in an overdue status. Please visit any Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative Library to return overdue items and pay any outstanding fines and fees. You can use the Your Library Record feature of the Library Catalog to obtain information about fines, fees and overdues.

Lost item threshold exceeded.
You can have no more than 5 items in a lost status. Please visit any Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative Library to correct your particular situation. You can use the Your Library Record feature of the Library Catalog to obtain information about fines, fees, overdues or lost items.

Timeout on reply from service.
A network or server problem is preventing verification of your library card number. Please call 273-3652 x3.

Additional Help with HeritageQuest Online:
If you are unable to access HeritageQuest Online remotely, consult the HeritageQuest Online Troubleshooting Guide.

My browser's back button won't take me back to the Learning & Research section.

For the first database you sign-on to and all the time for some databases, clicking on your browser's back button will not take you all the way back to the the Learning & Research section. In Netscape, pull down the Go menu and select Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative: Learning & Research. In Internet Explorer, pull down the menu by selecting the down arrow to the right of the back button.

Why can't I find all the databases from home that are available in the library?

The following databases are only available in a library due to contracts with the database vendor which do not allow access from outside the library:

Other titles you may be familiar with, especially genealogy products, are CD-based and cannot be made available remotely.

Why do I have to sign-on every time I select a database?

The cookie the library would need to write to your computer exceeds the normal size allowed by default in many browsers. Rather than re-write code, in our current release, our vendor has opted to just set up an automatic cookie expiration. This insures you are prompted to re-select your county and re-enter your library card.

From a benefit point of view, this method does alleviate the Cookie/Cache Corruption issue where you would authenticate through us and go to one database, select another and be rejected by the vendor.