Contact Helpdesk for MWS username & password questions

If you have forgotten your Managed Windows Service (MWS) username and password for the Library please contact the University Computing Services Helpdesk and not the Online Librarian. Computing Services manage the registration system and will be able to advise about MWS username and password questions.

The Computing Services Helpdesk can be contacted at

Email: helpdesk@liverpool.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 151 794 4567

If you send an email please use your Embanet address. Include your full name, Laureate student number, date of birth and place of permanent address.

Certificate warnings with EZproxy and https

When connecting to some Library databases which use the https protocol (secure http), in Internet Explorer 7 you will see a screen like:

You should continue to the web site, despite IE7’s recommendation not to.

The University Computing Services will soon be purchasing a new, signed digital certificate and this ‘error’ message will no longer appear. (It is primarily designed to prevent users unwittingly giving away personal details by logging into ‘phishing’ sites that are impersonating Internet banks, ebay, etc.).

Good news! You can now search multiple Library databases in one quick search!

The Library is moving to a much more powerful searching tool called MetaLib. This allows users to search multiple Library databases in one quick, easy search. The ability to cross-search Library databases is something that many of our users have asked for and we hope it will be a useful search tool. Even if you don't use MetaLib for 'metasearching' it is still a more flexible way of locating Library databases and e-journals.

Use your Managed Windows Service (MWS) username and password to login to EZproxy to give you access to resources. Almost all resources are now linked via EZproxy, which no longer suffers from conflicts with firewalls. Once you have logged in to EZproxy you will be able to follow links to other EZproxy-authenticated resources without having to login again.

Athens login is only used for resources that require it on campus as well as off. Whenever Athens is required, the Library links to a page which offers a link to the login page and a link to the resource, together with tips on using the Athens toolbar and Athens cookie. In the near future the Library login box for Athens and EZproxy login will be removed from the Library pages to play down the need to use Athens.

There is a guide to getting started with MetaLib which explains how to use it, but please note that other guides and Library documentation are in the process of being updated.

The best place to start using MetaLib is from the Online Library home page. Try out a search and let me know if you have any questions or comments. We welcome feedback and we will use it to help refine and improve the interface and instructions.

To enable a smooth changeover to the new searching tool for users, the links for Library Resources for Management, Computing and Public Health subjects located to the left of all Library pages still link to the old style database ASP web pages, but these will soon be altered to link to the MetaLib search tool.

Please do ask if you have any questions.

Want a quick, easy search? Coming soon from the Library...MetaLib!

In the few weeks the Library will be introducing a new search tool called MetaLib. This will allow you to cross-search the key collections in your chosen subject area in one quick and easy search. You will just need to login to EZproxy with your MWS username and password, type in your search, choose the collection you want to search, and from your search results you should be able to link to the full text document if it's available from the Library.

You will also be able to cross-search e-book collections, newspapers, official publications, theses and dissertations, dictionaries & encyclopedias.

Of course you will still be able to search the native interfaces of Library databases if you prefer to or if you want to do more advanced searches.

Watch this space for further announcements....

University computing network down 17.00 - 19.00 UK time, Monday 3rd September

The University computing network will be down between 17.00 - 19.00 UK time this evening (Monday 3rd September) so there will be no access to the Managed Windows Service (MWS). This will mean that you will not be able to login to the Library, self-register for a username and password, or use University email at this time. Please try again after 19.00 UK time. Apologies for any inconvenience this causes.

MWS password queries

Since September 2005, anyone registering for a University of Liverpool Managed Windows Service (MWS) username and email account is asked to set a secret question and answer. This can be used to verify your identity with the University Computing Services Helpdesk in cases such as a forgotten MWS password. If you have not previously set a secret question or wish to change the one you did set, please go to: http://liv.ac.uk/mwssecretquestion. Access to this page requires your Managed Windows Service (MWS) username & password. Please email the University Computing Services Helpdesk at helpdesk@liverpool.ac.uk if you have any questions about this.