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The Alumni & Friends Access Program

  1. What is Alumni and Friends Access?
  2. What are the services offered?
  3. Who can use the system?
  4. Is there a charge for using the site?
  5. How can I submit comments and suggestions?

Ask A Librarian

  1. Is this a free service, or will I be charged if you answer my questions?
  2. How are the in-depth reference service fees set?

Find Articles

  1. Does my alumni netid give me access to the same databases Cornell students and faculty get to use?
  2. Are there alternative options for database access?

Find Web Resources

  1. Why isn't the Find Web Resources Search box turning up any results?

Technical Issues

  1. What kind of software and hardware do I need?
  2. What do I do if my password is rejected or I've forgotten my password?
  3. How can I change my password?
  4. Do I need to change settings on my computer?
  5. How can I get help for my connection and technical problems?

User Information & Privacy

  1. Privacy Policy -- What does the Library do with my personal information?
  2. How safe is my credit card information?
  3. Does the library release information about the questions I ask or the research that I do?
The Alumni & Friends Access Program
  1. What is Alumni and Friends Access?
    Cornell University Library's Alumni and Friends Access service offers a seamless, integrated way to explore and use Cornell's library collections and services online. This suite of information resources and library services is designed by university librarians and information specialists to support the lifelong learning needs of our alumni and friends. It represents a rich array of collections and services from Cornell's 18 campus libraries.

  2. What are the services offered?
    • Find Web Resources offers links to a broad range of quality research tools on the web, including online almanacs, catalogs, encyclopedias, and directories. These free resources, all reviewed by Cornell librarians, will guide alumni in discovering information on various topics, organized by subject for easy access.
    • Free reference and referral assistance via e-mail for short questions.
    • Reference assistance for in-depth research questions via e-mail ($80-$130 per hour, depending on the topic).
    • Online exhibitions from Cornell’s special and rare books collections.
    • Information about new books by Cornell authors with links to let you purchase them online.
    • News about new programs and services, as well as what’s happening at Cornell University Library.
    • Links to Tutorials on Web searching and valuable tips for evaluating the information you find.
  3. Who can use the system?
    Alumni and Friends Access is open to the public and we welcome all visitors to explore our services. We give priority to Cornell alumni when we are fielding reference questions.

  4. Is there a charge for using the site?
    No, although some in-depth reference services are available for a fee through the Ask a Librarian service (the rates and availability of fee-based reference services vary, depending on the subject area).

  5. How can I submit comments and suggestions?
    We welcome your feedback. It provides us with direction as we make changes and improvements to the site. Please use our convenient Feedback Form, or send e-mail comments and suggestions to: alumniref@cornell.edu.
Ask a Librarian
  1. Is this a free service, or will I be charged if you answer my questions?
    Our librarians answer most of the questions we receive for no charge. Still, some questions require in-depth research, and Cornell Library offers a number of fee-based research services for this purpose.  Depending on the subject of your question, a Cornell librarian may refer you to one of these fee-based services.  Should you express interest in using one of these fee-based services, a librarian would provide an estimate of costs for your consideration before beginning work on your question.

  2. How are the in-depth reference service fees set?
    Alumni and Friends Access represents the collaboration of 17 Cornell libraries. Several of these libraries offer fee-based reference services, and set their fees according to the subject areas they cover and their resources and staffing. These services range in price from $75 to $125 per hour.
Find Articles
  1. Does my alumni netid give me access to the same databases as Cornell students and faculty get to use?
    Unfortunately, no. Our contracts with database vendors do not permit us to provide remote access to Cornell alumni or to the general public.   However, when you are paying a visit to campus, you are welcome to use Cornell restricted resources at any public worksation in any campus library.
  2. Are there alternative options for database access?
    Local public libraries through statewide consortia are able to offer increasingly good access to online full-text databases for free. And that changes for the better almost every day. If you are a New York state resident, for instance, access to databases is quite good. A reference librarian at your local public library can explain what is available in your area and how to get access to it. Even if you investigated this option six months ago, it's worth revisiting, because the online environment is constantly evolving.

Find Web Resources
  1. Why isn't the Find Web Resources Search box turning up any results?
    The "search by resource name or category" window is intended to help you find a particular web resource or database (if you know its name), or to produce a list of free web resources that cover a broad subject area. Try broadening your search terms ("agriculture" instead of "soybean production"), or browsing the lists of subject areas in the "Browse Categories" section of the Find Web Resources page.

    When you locate a web resource that you like and expect to return to, you can mark it as a favorite, and have it at your fingertips every time you sign in to Alumni & Friends Access. You'll be asked to create an account with Alumni & Friends Access, which takes about two minutes.

Technical Issues
  1. What kind of software and hardware do I need?
    The site was designed for Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.5 or higher and Netscape Navigator 4.75 or higher. The speed of your internet connection will determine the time needed to download components of any of the Alumni and Friends Access features. We recommend at least a 56.6K modem.

  2. What do I do if my password is rejected or I've forgotten my password?
    First, make sure the e-mail address is entered correctly when you sign in. If you sign in using a different e-mail address than the one you gave us when you created your account, then your password won't match.

    If you've forgotten your password, just click here and enter the e-mail address you provided when you created your account. We will send your password to that e-mail address.

  3. How can I change my password?
    Sign in with your existing password and go to Your Account. Go to Edit Profile, and in the Choose Password box, replace the asterisks with the new password you wish to use, and do the same in the Confirm Password box. Update any other information you wish to change, and hit the Submit button at the bottom of the page when you are finished. Your new password will be effective immediately. If you've forgotten your password, please click here to have it e-mailed to you.

  4. Do I need to change settings on my computer?
    To use the subscription full-text databases in our Find Articles section, you will need to have cookies enabled in your browser. Most people's browsers are already set up to accept cookies under most circumstances, and won't require you to change anything.

    A cookie is a small text file placed on your hard drive by our web server (the same one that provides you with all the pages on our site). In the case of Alumni & Friends Access and the subscription databases, the cookie works like an identifier so that the web site recognizes you each time you return. These cookies do not make use of any personally identifiable information, and they cannot be executed as code or deliver any viruses.

    To enable cookies, you have to choose this option in your browser. For Internet Explorer, look under the Tools menu and select Internet Options. For Netscape, look under the Edit menu and select Preferences. You can also consult the Help provided by your browser to learn how to enable cookies. If you need additional assistance, please contact us at alumniref@cornell.edu.  

  5. How can I get help for my connection and technical problems?
    For all technical inquiries please contact alumniref@cornell.edu.
User Information & Privacy
  1. Privacy Policy -- What does the Library do with my personal information?
    Certain sections of this site require that we be able to communicate with you (such as Ask a Librarian) or that we can verify that you are a Cornell alumnus or alumna. In all cases, the information you provide is confidential and will not be released to any outside sources for any purpose.

  2. How safe is my credit card information?
    Very safe. We use VeriSign Payment Services to process your on-line credit card payments (for fee-based research through the Ask a Librarian service). The credit card information you provide goes through an encrypted connection, directly to VeriSign's secure server for processing, and never actually passes through any Cornell library servers (you may notice the URL changes when we connect you to VeriSign's secure order form to enter your credit card). We have found that VeriSign offers extremely secure and reliable credit card processing services.

  3. Does the library release information about the questions I ask or the research that I do?
    Cornell University Library (CUL) staff members hold in confidence all information about individual Library users and their choices of research or study material, to the extent allowable by law. Please help the Library protect your friends' and colleagues' right to privacy, and your right, by not asking staff members for this kind of information.

    New York State law protects the confidentiality of library records, including, but not limited to the circulation of materials, database searches, interlibrary loan transactions, reference queries, requests for photocopies of library materials, reserve requests, and the use of audiovisual materials, films, and sound recordings. Library patrons should be aware that recent Federal legislation (USA PATRIOT Act of 2001) has expanded the circumstances under which a federal agent may request patron records held by the Library; if such records are requested by federal authorities, the Library is prohibited by law from notifying the patron of that request.

    The library forwards any law-enforcement requests for patron records to the office of the University Counsel. To better protect the privacy of Library patrons, we havepolicies in place that minimize instances of the retention of Library records.
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