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Created June 12, 2023 17:54
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EZproxy overview
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ezproxy_overview.md

prompt

give a brief overview of ezproxy

response

As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, EZproxy is a widely-used web proxy server software that facilitates remote access to electronic content, such as e-journals, e-books, and databases. It is particularly popular among libraries, as it enables library patrons to access licensed content remotely, using their library credentials, without the need for VPNs or other more cumbersome remote access solutions.

EZproxy works by rewriting the URLs of the requested resources so that they pass through the proxy server, which is usually hosted by the institution’s library. When a user tries to access a resource, EZproxy checks whether the user is authenticated and authorized to access the content. If the user is authorized, the proxy server connects to the content provider on behalf of the user and delivers the content to the user’s browser.

Here are some key points of EZproxy:

  1. Authentication and Authorization: It checks the credentials of users, usually through integration with the library or institutional authentication systems, ensuring that only authorized users have access to the licensed content.

  2. URL Rewriting: EZproxy modifies the URLs of resources so that they pass through the proxy server. This makes the content providers see the requests as coming from the institution’s IP address, which is often a requirement for access to subscribed content.

  3. Ease of Access: For end-users, EZproxy makes remote access simple. They only need their institutional login credentials to access resources, without the need for any additional configuration or software.

  4. Configurations and Maintenance: Libraries need to configure and maintain EZproxy by adding information about the resources they have subscriptions to. This requires some technical knowledge.

  5. Usage Statistics and Logs: EZproxy provides the ability to monitor and analyze usage, which can be important for libraries in making decisions about subscriptions and services.

  6. Vendor: EZproxy was originally developed by Useful Utilities and later acquired by OCLC, a nonprofit global library cooperative.

It's worth noting that while EZproxy has been a standard tool for remote access to library resources, technologies and services can evolve, so there may be new developments or alternatives available since my last knowledge update in 2021.

(ChatGPT-4; 2023-June-12)

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