• What are the Web browser requirements?
• Why am I downloading webauth.exe?
• What is a cookie and why do I need one?
• Can I set bookmarks or favorites?
• Why can't I access the database(s)?

You must be using Netscape 4.08 or later, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 SPK2 or later, or another browser capable of interpreting JavaScript. JavaScript cannot be disabled in your browser and Security Settings should be set to Medium or lower. 

Your browser must be set to accept cookies (these are small text documents that track your library card number, so you won’t be required to authenticate again at the vendor’s website).  To check if your browser is set to accept cookies, do the following:
 

Internet Explorer : Click Tools Click Internet Options Click the Privacy tab Make sure the slider is set for medium or lower.

Netscape :  Click Edit Click Preferences Click Advanced Make sure the button to accept all cookies is filled in.

There are known issues with some database vendors and the AOL browser.  The only recommendation is to NOT use the AOL browser and launch a secondary browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. 

Using Internet Explorer 6.0? Make sure the privacy settings are set to Override Automatic Cookie Handling. This can be set from within your Internet Explorer 6 browser: 

          Click on Tools
          Click on Internet Options
          Click on the Privacy Tab 
          Click on the Advanced button 
          Place a check in the box Override Automatic Cookie Handling

All download managers or download accelerators should be turned off or disabled when connecting to databases through the Virtual Reference Desk. These services see the "webauth.exe" that is part of the database URL as an executable file that must be downloaded first before you can access the site, and this is not the case. Examples of such services that should be disabled or turned off include: Speed Bit (speedbit.com, download accelerator), GetRight (GetRight.com), Netscape’s Smartdownload, Real Download (real.com), and GetBot (getbot.com, download manager).

A cookie is an individual file that stores information about you, logins, encrypted passwords or any of a variety of pieces of information. 

Cookies can and do become corrupt through no malicious reasons. Should you find you are being prompted for a User Name and Password instead of your library card number, your RPA cookie may have become corrupted. 

To resolve this, wait 30 minutes for the cookie to expire, close the browser, re-open it, and login to the database again, or delete your cookies manually.  The instructions are as follows:
 

To clear your cookies in Internet Explorer: Click on Tools Click on Internet Options Click on Delete Cookies Click OK Click OK again

To clear your cookies in Netscape: Click on Tools Click on Cookie Manager Click on Manage Stored Cookies Click on Remove All Cookies Click OK

Yes, but only bookmark or add to your favorites the URL: http://www.asklargo.com/databases.html  or  http://www.asklargo.com/databases2.html

Do not bookmark or add to your favorites any URL beginning with http://rpa.tblc.org/

Accessing from any other link, bookmark or URL will corrupt your cookies file and you will not be able to access remote databases, likely you will end up with excessive browser errors or blank pages.

Your library card must be either issued by or registered at a SUNLINE library.  The following libraries are members of SUNLINE.
 

Largo Public Library Dunedin Public Library Safety Harbor Public Lib. Oldsmar Public Library

Tarpon Springs Pub. Lib. New Port Richey Pub.Lib. Remington College

Florida Southern College  Southeastern College Clearwater Christian College

If you have never used your library card at one of these locations, please call (727) 587-6715 x2517 for information about registering.

Your library card may have expired. Largo Public Library cards expire every three years. If it has been more than three years since your card was issued or last renewed, you will need to come to the library to have your card renewed before you can access the Virtual Reference Desk databases.

You may be attempting to access a database from an invalid bookmark or favorites link. You must access subscription databases ONLY from: http://www.asklargo.com/databases.html or http://www.asklargo.com/databases2.html

Vendors set time-outs differently. You may have been idle too long and your connection has been reset on the vendor's end. The cookie the library places on your PC expires (times-out) in 30 minutes. After that time, you would have to re-authenticate (tell us again who you are). When a vendor times you out, you MUST close your browser and re-connect to the Virtual Reference Desk. 

Cookies and caches: These often fillup, are overwritten or become corrupt. You may find that deleting your cookies and cache will solve many database connection problems, as well as improve the performace of your browser.  To delete your cookies, see the section "What is a cookie and why do I need one".  To clear your cache, take the following steps:
 

To clear the cache in Internet Explorer Click on Tools Click on Internet Options Click Delete Files Click OK

To clear the cache in Netscape: Click on Edit Click on Preferences Double-click on Advanced Click on Cache Click Clear Disk Cache

Personal Firewalls: There are reported problems with Norton Internet Security and Norton Personal Firewall.  If you use these programs, you will either need to disable them during database use, or create a rule in Norton to allow referrer information.  To create a rule that permits referrer information, take the following steps:

1. Open Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall.
2. Do one of the following.
   • In Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall 2003: Click Options > Internet Security, and then click the Web Content tab.
   • In Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall 2004 or newer: Double-click Privacy Control, and then click Advanced.
3. In the bottom of the Advanced window, click Add Site.
4. In the New Site/Domain box, type the name of the site that you want to receive the referrer information, and click OK.
   The site name appears in the left frame of the Options window.
5. Click the name of the new site.
6. On the Global Settings tab, under the Information about visited sites section, uncheck Use default settings.
7. Click Permit.
8. Click OK to close the Options window.

Using Internet Explorer 6.0? Make sure the privacy settings are set to Override Automatic Cookie Handling. This can be set from within your Internet Explorer 6 browser: 

          Click on Tools
          Click on Internet Options
          Click on the Privacy Tab 
          Click on the Advanced button 
          Place a check in the box Override Automatic Cookie Handling

System Reboots: Every 6 hours, the Remote Patron Authentication server reboots itself beginning at 12am (12am, 6am, 12pm & 6pm). During this time (about 2 minutes) accesses to subscription databases will fail.