University of Alberta Library Home > Our Policies > Access to University of Alberta Electronic Resources

Access to Library Electronic Resources

The University of Alberta Library licenses a wide range of electronic journals, ebooks, abstracting/indexing databases, and numerical databases from commercial vendors. These licenses restrict use of these resources to primary affiliates, i.e. current University students, faculty and staff (based on valid student or employee numbers). However, our licenses do permit "walk-in"/on-campus use by guest affiliates and the wider community at public computer stations within the University Library or via the University of Alberta wireless network (UWS).

For more specific license information, click on the "Conditions of Use" symbols (listed below) for individual titles in the Databases Titles List. If you have further questions, please submit them via the following email form.

Use of this product is restricted to members of the University of Alberta community and to users of the Library's physical facilities (ie. Library Network Access ID users).

Use of this product is restricted to students, faculty, and staff of the University of Alberta and requires login with a current CCID.

Use of this product is restricted to students, faculty, and staff of the University of Alberta and requires first-time users to create an individual registration. When registering for library databases, please use your University of Alberta email address.

Open Access resource and is not licensed by the University of Alberta. The contents are open to all users.

PRIMARY CCIDs (Current U of A students, faculty and staff)

Remote access (from outside the University computing network) to library licensed online resources by primary members of the University community (current students, faculty and staff) requires login to the Library's proxy server using a personal Campus Computing ID (CCID).

Those with CCIDs who are no longer current students, faculty or staff, with the exception of Professors Emeriti, will not have remote access to library online resources.

Problems logging in to the proxy server should be reported using the following web form.

GUEST CAMPUS COMPUTING IDs

Guest Campus Computing IDs (Guest CCIDs) are issued by U of A faculties/departments to those without a primary affiliation but who maintain a “direct benefit" relationship to the University of Alberta, e.g. academic visitors, AASUA/NASA staff, St. Stephens College students and staff.

Those with Guest CCIDs will have on-campus access to library online resources via library computers, computers in campus offices or labs, or via the University of Alberta wireless network but will not have off-campus access to these resources.

Guest CCIDs must be renewed by the sponsoring department, normally, on an annual basis. For more information on Guest CCIDs, see I’m a guest at the university, how do I get a CCID?

Library Network Access IDs

Those without a current primary or guest relationship to the University of Alberta (e.g. members of the general public, students from other educational institutions) may access U of Alberta Library resources on-campus using a Library Network Access ID.

Library Network Access IDs are available at Library Service Desks with photo identification and proof of current Canadian address.

Acceptable photo identification:

  • Current University of Alberta staff, student, or Alumni ONEcards
  • Current NEOS partner library (eg. MacEwan University) staff or student cards with photo
  • Valid driver's license from any country
  • Current government issued photo identification from any province or country
  • Current high school, college or university student identification (also requires second piece of ID validating current Canadian address)
  • Current passport from any country (also requires second piece of ID validating current Canadian address)

Examples that are not acceptable:

  • Fitness or sports club memberships
  • Workplace identification
  • Association or trade union identification


Acceptable proof of current Canadian address:

  • Current University of Alberta staff, student, or Alumni ONEcards
  • Current NEOS partner library (eg. MacEwan University) staff or student cards with photo (NEOS staff with cards that do not include a photo must provide photo identification as outlined above in addition to their NEOS Library Card)
  • Valid Canadian driver's license
  • Letter of confirmation from a local hotel or University residence
  • Letter of introduction from a University of Alberta department
  • Credit card or utility bill issued in the last three months
  • Bank statement issued in the last three months
  • Current automobile or home insurance policy
  • Current Government ID from any Canadian province/territory
  • Provincial Education student record

Examples that are not acceptable:

  • Addresses not written in Roman letters
  • Bills or bank statements issued more than three months ago
  • Passports (without a second piece of ID validating current Canadian address)

Network Security

Security is a top priority for the campus information technology community. To ensure the security of our networked services, the University of Alberta Library requires authentication for the use of all public workstations.

What does this mean in practice? Through the public workstations, patrons can search and navigate the Library website and catalogue without authenticating. However, when you leave the Library domain to access databases, ejournals or other Internet resources, you are required to authenticate with a CCID or Library Network Access ID. It will be important that you remember to close the browser and logout when you are done to prevent your ID being used by the next person who uses the workstation.

CCIDs are issued to the University's faculty, staff and students by IST. For more information about the University's information technology use and management policy, visit: Information Technology Use and Management Policy