Some of our users, generally faculty, have set up custom accounts that allow them to receive table of content alerts via e-mail.  They open the email, find a link to their journal of choice to browse which takes them directly to the provider,
bypassing our proxy driven authentication system.  They subsequently receive a notice that they are “not subscribed” or are prompted for payment.

Our work around has been to offer directions for permanent URLs as found on this page:  http://www.library.umaine.edu/general/appendproxyIP.htm
This has not been entirely satisfactory from the faculty perspective as requiring too many steps.

Any other suggestions?  We’ve talked to our rep at one prominent provider about allowing the proxy address in the “My Account” registration process to make it more transparent to our users but they are not inclined to allow this.

Sharon Quinn Fitzgerald
Head, Technical Services and Library Web Manager
Fogler Library
University of Maine
207-581-1667
207-581-1653 fax