Trouble logging in?

Ensure you are using your UWE Bristol network username and password (this is not the same as your student ID number).

Try again, ensuring that the 'Caps Lock' key is off.

Your passwords may have got out of synch. You can synchronise your UWE Bristol passwords using Password Manager.

• You will need to fill out your details the first time you use this system.
• Once in, click 'Change My Passwords', login and enter a new password.

If you are still have problems, check your username and password details with your college administration staff.

Follow the advice on checking and synchronising your password.

Due to licensing restrictions, not every database provider allows access to students and staff at UWE Bristol's partner institutions.

To check what you can access:

• Try logging in - if you are denied access, the login screen may explain why.
• Consult the database record in the database lists and look under the 'Access' heading.

Many workplaces, and some educational institutions enforce security controls that prevent your computer from setting permanent 'cookies' that are often needed to complete the login.

If you see an error message that says "There was a problem setting the EZ Proxy cookie..." this may be why.

There are a couple of ways to help resolve this issue:

• Try a different web browser (the problem usually appears in Internet Explorer).
• Change the cookie security settings in your browser. In Internet Explorer you need to find Internet Options, then click the Privacy tab, then try changing your security level to Medium, and if that doesn't work, to Low.

If you still get the same error message, please report the problem to the library, including details of where you are connecting from and your browser type.

Some logging in problems are caused by the cookies saved in web browsers.

You can follow these instructions for clearing cookies.

Generally you should only have to log in once when using the library search. If you are asked to pay for access or for full text, it's possible that the site hasn't picked up that you are already logged in.

Login links can often be found near the top-right corner of a page. Look out for any links which identify as Shibboleth, Open Athens, UK Access Management Federation, or Institutional Login.

You can find out more about these on the 'alternative access methods' tab.

We recommend you connect to databases using the database records on the library website.

Databases

The links are regularly checked and are more likely to lead to a successful log in.

If you are still experiencing problems, please contact us.

You can find more with Library Search!

Whilst Google Scholar can be used for searching for journal articles, we recommend you use library search as there are two common problems using Google Scholar:

• It can be complicated to log in to see full-text articles. Try using library search instead.
• Google Scholar sometimes gives links to journals UWE Bristol does not subscribe to.

Find out if we subscribe to the journal

We do not subscribe to every electronic journal published. If you are having problems accessing a particular title, you should check whether we subscribe to it.

• Go to library search or the e-journals: A-Z to look for your journal title.
• Connect to the journal and see if they offer the volume/year you need.
• If UWE Bristol does not subscribe to the journal, or to the volume you need, you may wish to use the inter-library loan service.

Are you trying to access a particular database?

Please try connecting to the database through the library's own list of databases. The library links often trigger hidden login steps that will make it easier for you to connect.

If you still get the same request for an Athens username and password, follow the advice below.

Try an alternative login

If you see a generic Athens login screen (below), please ignore the password box and follow the 'Alternative login' link to find the UWE Bristol login page. Then follow the instructions in the 'alternative access methods' section further down on this page.

'Shibboleth' and 'Athens' are authentication systems which allow you to log in to a large number of electronic resources using your UWE Bristol username and password rather than needing a separate password for each resource.

On-campus, the systems work behind the scenes to ‘authenticate’ you as a UWE Bristol user so that you can access library resources.

Off-campus, look out for any links which identify as Shibboleth, Open Athens, UK Access Management Federation, or Institutional Login.

You can find out more about these by navigating to the 'alternative access methods' section on this page.

Some rare logging in problems are caused by pop-up blockers in web browsers. You can follow our instructions in the 'how to disable your pop-up blocker' section on this page.

Please contact us.

You may also be interested in our guide on how to use e-books.

When you’re visiting a resource off-campus, look out for any links which identify as Shibboleth, UK Access Management Federation or Institutional Login.

In this example, SAGE have an ‘Institution’ icon at the top.

If we click this, we see an option to use Shibboleth.

This takes us to a Shibboleth page – they will ask you to identify as a UWE Bristol user.

They may ask you for ‘region’ – if prompted, select ‘UK Federation’.

Then select our institution ‘University of the West of England’.

Then enter your UWE Bristol username and password – these are the same login details that you use to login to the student network.

You should now be directed to your chosen electronic resource.

Look out for any links which identify as Open Athens or Institutional Login.

In this example, ScienceDirect (Elsevier) have an ‘Sign in via your Institution’ icon at the top.

If we click this, we see an option to use Open Athens.

This takes us to an Open Athens page – they will ask you to identify as a UWE Bristol user.

From the two options, go to ‘Find your institution’.

In the search box, type in ‘University of the West of England’ and select the top option by clicking ‘Sign in’.

Enter your UWE Bristol username and password – these are the same login details that you use to login to the student network.

You should now be directed to your chosen electronic resource.

How to turn off the pop-up blocker

1. From the menu in the top right of the window, click the 'settings' option.



2. Select 'Privacy and security', and then 'Site settings'.



3. Scroll down and select 'Pop-ups and redirects', then ensure the top option is toggled to 'Allowed'.

How to add a site to the exceptions list

From the pop-ups and redirects menu (see above), click 'Add' in the Allow section. Enter the site name (up to the first slash '/') and click 'Add'.

How to turn off pop-up blocker

1. From the menu in the top right of the window select 'Options'.



2. Select 'Privacy and security' on the left, then scroll down to the 'Permissions' section, and ensure the 'Block pop-up windows' box is unchecked.

How to add a site to the exceptions list

1. From the 'Permissions' menu (see above), check the 'Block pop-up windows' box and then click 'Exceptions'.



2. Add the site name (up to the first slash'/'), click 'Allow' and save your changes.

How to turn off the pop-up blocker

1. From the Safari menu, select 'Preferences > Websites'.
2. From the left-hand menu, click on 'Pop-up Windows'.
3. Click the drop-down menu in the bottom right of the window, and select 'Allow'.

How to turn off the pop-up blocker

1. Select 'Internet options' from the Tools menu in the top right of the window.



2. In the Privacy tab within the 'Internet options' pop-up, ensure the 'Turn on pop-up blocker' box is unchecked, then click 'Ok'.

How to add a site to the exceptions list

1. In the Privacy tab of the 'Internet options' menu, select the 'Turn on pop-up blocker' option, then click 'Settings'.



2. Add the site name (up to the first slash '/') and click 'Add'.