Connecting from Off-Campus

There are several options for accessing library-subscribed resources from off-campus. Take a look at the options below to see which one might be best for your situation.

Use GalterSearch

If you wish to discover the full complement of library-owned and library-subscribed resources, then you should sign in to the Galter Library website and use GalterSearch. GalterSearch is a comprehensive search of the library catalog regardless of format. This includes journals (print or electronic), books (print or electronic), databases, videos, etc. The library subscribes to journals from many publishers and third-party vendors. Sometimes the library subscribes to a journal directly from the publisher and sometimes the library subscribes to a journal through a third-party vendor. Using GalterSearch as your discovery method will point you to all methods of access to library-subscribed content.

Sign in to the library website now.

First-time users of Galter Library off-campus access will need to create a library website account.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

The NU VPN is an additional connection alternative available to NU affiliates who have an NU NetID. Users of the NU VPN may not have full access to Chicago campus-only resources, i.e. e-journals, e-books, and databases that are usually only accessible on the Chicago campus. For complete access to all Galter Library electronic resources, use GalterSearch (see above).

To learn more about and to use the NU VPN, go to the Connecting from Off-Campus page on the NUIT website.

Get the Galter Proxy Button

The Galter Proxy Button is a bookmarklet you can drag to your browser toolbar. The Galter Proxy Button reloads a web page through the Galter Library proxy server. If you're at home and not yet signed in to the library website, you can quickly access a library-subscribed article by clicking on the Galter Proxy Button. After clicking on the button you'll be prompted to sign in to the Galter Library website. After signing in, the article will be reloaded through the Galter Library proxy server and you'll be able to read the full text.

Let's say you're doing research from home, using Google or some other web search engine, and stumble upon an article you want to read, only to find out that a subscription is required to view the full text.  If you hadn't started your research at the Galter Library website, you would have to sign in to the Galter Library website, locate the journal, and locate the article again. After installing the Galter Proxy Button the process is seamless. When you discover that article, just click on the Galter Proxy Button, sign in to the library website with your NetID/password and you will be redirected back to the article. If that journal is licensed by Galter Library or other Northwestern University Libraries, you'll be able to start reading it right away. Caveats of using the Galter Proxy button are that the library may not subscribe to the journal you are trying to proxy or the library may subscribe to the journal through a third-party vendor and you are trying to access the article directly from a link to the publisher website. In the latter case you may be able to access that article from the third party vendor found in GalterSearch.

For more information, see our guide which explains how to install the Galter Proxy Button.