ProQuest Platform
Entry from the open web | Frequently Asked Questions
Overview
ProQuest recently released several enhancements to improve discovery and access of subscription and open access content on its award-winning platform (www.proquest.com). Now users can search, find and preview the content of nearly a billion documents directly from the open web without authentication and retrieve open access full-text curated by ProQuest.
General questions
Why is ProQuest enabling entry from the open web?Open web entry into the ProQuest Platform enables visitors from the open web to search, find, and preview content – both subscription and open.
This new functionality extends the points of entry to the ProQuest Platform beyond library discovery and learning management systems to the open web. Thereby allowing users to access entitled content (subscription and open) directly from Google search results – the most likely first place to start a search. This is intended to meet users where they are, streamline access for entitled users, and attract new users and affinity for the ProQuest Platform.
ProQuest recognizes the importance of making open access content accessible and not hidden behind paywalls. Open access full-text content that is curated for ProQuest customers will now be accessible with the launch of this new direct pathway from the open web. ProQuest will continue to evaluate and select high-quality and impactful open content to supplement subscription content to ensure comprehensive coverage of all domain areas, from anthropology to zoology.
Is ProQuest content indexed in major search engines?The ProQuest Platform recently opened its doors to Google, Bing, Yahoo, Baidu, and others. Over time, as these search engines crawl and index the platform, more and more ProQuest content will be discoverable within the search results of these popular starting points.
It is important to note that open web entry either from search engines or directly at www.proquest.com, does not require authentication. However, users may seamlessly and automatically authenticate into their institution’s holdings while coming from the open web if they are within IP range (IP authentication) or have an active session running on their browser.
More information on
authentication is provided below.
How do I enable this functionality at my library?There is nothing for libraries to set up – no action is required. These enhancements have been released for the benefit of all customers and users.
My institution currently links to PQDT Open to access open dissertations. What changes should I expect?PQDT Open is being integrated with the ProQuest Platform open web search experience at www.proquest.com. Any visits to PQDT Open will be guided to www.proquest.com. We recommend updating any internal references and browser bookmarks from PQDT Open (www.pqdtopen.proquest.com) to point to (www.proquest.com.) All open-access dissertations and theses previously available through PQDT Open will continue to be downloadable to all users through proquest.com.
Click here for more details about the move.
Authentication
How will my library users be prompted to enter their login credentials?Users coming from the open web are not immediately required to authenticate. However, if and when they choose to log in, they will be prompted to search for their institution (or log in with an individual account) and will be guided through the familiar authentication workflow. The ProQuest Platform will continue to utilize the
Preferred Remote Authentication Method that is available on file in the ProQuest Administrator Module for each institution.
It is important to note that open web entry into the ProQuest Platform does not require authentication. However, users may seamlessly and automatically authenticate into their institution’s holdings while coming from the open web if they are within IP range (IP authentication) or have an active session running on their browser.
My library is not listed in the institutional search on the login screen, how can my users authenticate?Instructions on how to configure your ProQuest account so that your library is listed in institutional search is available in this support article:
https://support.proquest.com/articledetail?id=kA13r0000003VZFCA2Will EZproxy access be impacted by these enhancements?EZproxy access is not impacted. The links from your library website will take users to the same destination as before. When an unauthenticated user is ready to authenticate, they will search for their institution as part of the authentication workflow. If they select your library, we’ll use the EZproxy details provided by your library to securely authenticate the user into the ProQuest Platform.
Search & Discovery
How does search work for an unauthenticated user?Unauthenticated users can search nearly a billion documents covering the full range of disciplines and most major source types. The search experience leverages many of the basic features available on the ProQuest Platform, including the ability to filter results by source type and publication date. Upon executing a keyword search, users will be presented with a simplified listing of search results with visual labels to indicate whether something is a preview, or full text (open access). Unauthenticated users will not be able to change databases or view which ProQuest products the content is included in.
Where should librarians tell their patrons to start their search?Wherever they normally start. There is no change for end-users. The objective of this feature is to meet users where they are, wherever they start their search.
What features are available for unauthenticated users?Users can use a limited set of basic features of the ProQuest Platform without authentication. However, most features are reserved for authenticated users, including FT access via link-resolvers, cite, email, print, and My Research.
Content
What ProQuest Platform content will be discoverable from the open web?Nearly a billion documents are discoverable. These will cover the full range of disciplines, including business, health, literature, science & technology, social science, the arts, and history. Source types include scholarly journals, books, newspapers, magazines, trade journals, working papers, video, audio, dissertations, and more. Note, certain content sets are excluded such as third-party databases, A&I only products, dissertations with author-bound royalties, and others.
How can customers request trials for content (products) that they are not subscribed to?The process for requesting a trial has not changed. Customers should continue to access the trial request system through the support links on the ProQuest Platform, or by contacting their account manager.
I am a dissertation author; how can I make the full-text of my dissertation available from the open web?For authors that have opted not to receive royalty payments and instead make their full text downloadable on the open web, ProQuest offers an Open Access Service with a small publishing fee. These open access titles are the only dissertations and theses that surface on the ProQuest Platform to unauthenticated users.
Usage Questions
What sort of usage is logged for unauthenticated users on the ProQuest Platform?Since the user has not authenticated yet, we don’t know which account they are associated with so we cannot log any of this usage.
Will the usage of preview content be logged to my institution’s account? As noted above, since the user has not authenticated, we don’t know what institution they are associated with, thus we cannot log their usage.
Once the user authenticates, preview content usage will be recorded on standard usage reports under a new ‘database’ called ProQuest Preview Content. The preview records will be logged as citations (Investigations) and the open access full-text documents will be logged as full-text retrievals (Requests). The only exception is for ebooks from Ebook Central, which will be logged on the EBC usage reports and will be retrievable from within LibCentral.
Contact us
These are the first in a series of enhancements that will streamline research, extend pathways to access and increase usage of the materials libraries have invested in.
Please contact us if you have questions, feedback or other concerns.
