Off-Campus Access to Databases

When you click on a database name from our Research Databases page, you will be asked to enter a username and password.

For students:

Your username is your student id number.

Your password is your Blackboard password.

IF YOU CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD MID-SEMESTER, it will NOT change your library password! We will update our file with current passwords at the beginning of each semester and the beginning of 1st summer session. You are also welcome to fill out the database registration form and we will update your library password to match.

If none of the above works, you can fill out the database registration form and we will assign you a library password. If you are able to visit the library on either campus in person, we can look up your password for you. (We can only do this in person for security reasons.)

For Faculty:

Your username and password are the same as your my.Pfeiffer or Blackboard username and password, depending on when you got it (we have not updated faculty since my.Pfeiffer switched to using Active Directory credentials, so whatever you were using still works). If you have never used the databases off-campus before, you will need to contact us to put your information into the system. If you can't remember your password, let us know and we can look it up for you! If you've been around for a good while, your username is probably the first intial of your first name and your last name (jdoe) and your password the last 4 digits of your SSN. Call us if you'd like to change it.

Certificate Errors

You shouldn't get a security certificate error, but in case you do, here are the steps for some of the major browsers:

Below are the steps on how you can add a site to the list of trusted sites for Google Chrome.
1.    Click the Chrome Menu icon on the far right of the Address bar.
2.    Click on Settings, scroll to the bottom and click the Show Advanced Settings link.
3.    Click on Change proxy settings (under Network)
4.    Click the Security tab > Trusted Sites icon, then click Sites.
5.    Enter the URL of your Trusted Site (doris.pfeiffer.edu), then click Add.
6.    Click Close > OK.
 
Below are the steps for Internet Explorer:
a. Click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
b. Click the Security tab.
c. Now click on Trusted sites and then click on the sites button.
d. Enter the Website URL (doris.pfeiffer.edu) and click on Add.
e. When you are finished, click on Close.
 

Troubleshooting

When you enter your username and password correctly, you will be taken straight to the database. If you get an error message, the problem may be one of the following:

• If you are running any kind of filtering software to restrict children's access to the Internet, the software may also prevent you from accessing our databases. Try disabling the filtering software.
• If you have changed the security settings in your browser, the tighter security may prevent you from accessing the databases. Try resetting to the default security.
• If you are accessing the databases from work and your employer has set up an Internet firewall, you may not be able to access our databases. If you work at Blue Cross-Blue Shield, this is your problem.
• Cookies must be enabled in your browser.
  

If you still have problems accessing the databases from off-campus, please contact the systems administrator. Please tell us which database you were trying to access, exactly what happened, and any error message you receive. We need this information to be able to troubleshoot your problem!