Are there recommend stanzas in EZProxy to enable authentication to use Third Iron services?
Yes there are! Please see this OCLC Support Article which has the latest configuration recommendation. We recommend using the "IncludeFile databases/browzine.txt" instruction to allow your EZProxy setup to always have the most up-to-date proxy definitions for Third Iron services.
Is there a recommended configuration for EZProxy to use BrowZine?
While we are also compatible with the "Proxy by Port" configuration we, like OCLC, recommend the "Proxy by Hostname" configuration. It has been our experience that this results in a faster and more reliable user experience for users and also provides general web users of library services with the ability to have a readable URL for bookmarking and sending to other users.
If your library currently is configured as "Proxy by Port" you can transition to "Proxy by Hostname" following these instructions on OCLC's website.
Do I need to setup a proxied link to BrowZine for my users to access it?
Links to BrowZine itself should not be proxied. BrowZine is designed to be an open service to minimize user friction and allow users to get to their favorite journals with as few obstacles as possible. It will automatically apply your proxy when a user requests full text for subscribed titles.
Please also ensure when you link to BrowZine that you use the full URL containing your specific library account number. For example if your account ID is "222" then your link would look like this:
https://browzine.com/libraries/222
If there is a technical or security reason which requires you to access BrowZine through your proxy, please contact us at support@thirdiron.com and we would be happy to assist.
Why am I getting proxy errors for some publishers/platforms but only from BrowZine/LibKey?
Because BrowZine/LibKey achieve speed by utilizing article-level linking, some proxy servers may encounter errors because they are not configured correctly for such a linking scheme. This is most prevalent with publishers who utilize unique subdomains for each title.
Please ensure your proxy server is using the latest definitions available for any publishers and platforms you will be accessing. A list of current definitions is available from the OCLC website. Most reported issues with proxy server errors come back to outdated or incomplete definitions. Ensuring the accuracy of these definitions will also help your users accessing content via your traditional A-Z system and any related integrations or services.