On May 7, 2025 the M. Louis Salmon Library activated the new EZProxy server hosted directly by OCLC. This change will be very beneficial to not only the M. Louis Salmon Library but to the entire University of Alabama in Huntsville community. This new proxy server:

  • Improves ease of maintenance and enhances up-time;
  • Improves access to online materials and ensures the library’s large collection of online materials remains just a few clicks away;
  • Helps the library collection to stay more responsive to rapid changes in security and privacy. 

For those accessing the M. Louis Salmon Library’s materials through the online list of articles and resources or through the library’s main LibGuides there will be virtually no change for the end user. The necessary information and redirects have already been loaded. 

However, those who have persistent links (also called permanent links) or bookmarks to the old materials might have to update their links to keep them valid going forward depending on if those links directly included or encoded the old proxy server’s information into the link.. 

THINGS TO LOOK FOR

The old proxy links were of the elib.uah.edu formation. Examples might include

  • https://www.jstor.org.elib.uah.edu/stable/20441734
  • https://elib.uah.edu/login?url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20441734

Those links need to be updated to the new proxy server address: uah.idm.oclc.org. 

  • https://www.jstor.org.uah.idm.oclc.org/stable/20441734
  • https://uah.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20441734

Any old link using elib.uah.edu will need to be updated. 

THINGS WHICH MIGHT BE IMPACTED

The following items might include links to the old proxy server:

  • Bookmarks stored on your browser(s) or any sort of link aggregator or bookmark manager.
  • Handouts including direct links to library resources.
  • Syllabi and other Canvas course materials that had direct links to library resources.
  • Descriptions in videos recorded and posted for classes if those included links to the library's subscription services. 
  • Online pages that had links to resources. 
  • Articles, Conference Papers, Dissertations, and Theses that had URLs included for the articles cited. 
  • Citation Managers and similar tools that allowed proxy server information to be included in their settings or were stored in the files. 

Other online and print resources might also have the proxy server stored, depending on how extensively you used proxied resources and included the whole link. 

THINGS NOT IMPACTED

Note that not all links had the proxy embedded. Some of the library’s online resources do not include the proxy server in their URL. For example, the above linked article, if accessed through Primo Pathfinder (the library’s discovery service and default search) has this link:

Since that does not include the “elib.uah.edu,” it will remain fully functional as is. 

Other things not impacted include:

  • Open-Access materials that do not require the proxy server.
  • Links to public resources such as .gov websites that do not require proxied access.
  • Other "open web" resources (newspapers, archives, and other materials) that do not require subscription.
  • DOIs that were not edited to include the elib.uah.edu. Note, if the DOI was edited to include the old proxy server, it will need to be updated.
  • Other methods of accessing the files such as full citations that did not include the link to the proxy server in the citation.

For more information, see the Persistent Links LibGuide: https://libguides.uah.edu/permalinks

IF YOU NEED HELP

The M. Louis Salmon Library librarians would be glad to help you to update your online and course materials to reflect this change. 

Your liaison librarian will be a great resource during this transition. If you do not know which subject specialist works with your college or department, then view the linked page to find the librarian to best assist you: https://www.uah.edu/library/research/subject-specialists.

If you prefer, reach out to the Research Help Desk:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I continue to use the old proxy server? 

No. While the M. Louis Salmon Library is working with OIT to allow a bit of a grace period to redirect old links, it is a temporary measure to continue some access but over the next few months this will cease and links not updated to the new proxy server address will no longer work.

If I have previously used the old proxy server, will it interfere with the new one?

It should not. While they are virtually identical experiences for the end user and based on the same technology and settings, they are two different servers so your browser and the vendors should see them as completely separate entities. 

What do I do if I have issues with the new proxy server?

Reach out to refdesk@uah.edu and let the library know.