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Passwords and Accounts

You may have several accounts and passwords to remember at Trent. Some accounts are specific to the library, managed by library staff. Others are maintained centrally by Trent's IT Department. Why are there so many accounts? It's because each system does something specific, and some systems can't communicate with others. Whenever possible, the IT department have tried to centralize your accounts so they use the same username/password combination.

Here is a description of some accounts, information on how to find them, and how to get help if you need it.

You probably have some or all of the following accounts:

 


Library Accounts

Your Library account is only used within the Library catalogue, TOPCAT. It allows you to:

  • see what you have signed out,
  • renew items you have signed out,
  • place a "Hold", and
  • check your fines and "holds".

Information on using this account is on the Library website at My Account in TOPCAT.

Your ID and PIN for this account are library-related and are found on your student ID card (Campus Card), which is also your library card.

  • Your ID is the long (13-digit) barcode number on the front of the card, starting with "111".
  • The PIN is
    • the last 4 digits of your student number, if you are a current student,
    • the last 4 digits of your staff number, if you are staff or faculty, or
    • the last 4 digits of your barcode number, if you are an External Borrower.

External Borrowers: your PIN is the last 4 digits of your library barcode.

If you are having problems with your Library Account, see the Circulation Desk in the Library or contact Information.


Library Proxy Server

The Library Proxy Server allows off-campus access to restricted databases subscribed to by the Library. We are obligated by our purchase agreements to ensure that only current Trent students, faculty, and staff have access to these expensive databases. When you are on campus, the servers hosting these databases recognize your computer's IP address and allow access. But if you are using your own computer, even in a residence room, you won't be recognized. The Proxy Server is a server on campus that routes you through to other databases and provides a Trent IP address.

Here is another example of systems working together. In order to use the Proxy Server, you need to be authenticated as a valid Trent user. This authentication is done through your myTrent account. The username and password are always the same as your myTrent account.

Trent alumni do not retain these privileges after graduation, although we're working on a new service to provide alumni with some online services.

If you have problems connecting to the proxy server, see our Help page.


RefWorks

RefWorks is an online personal database and bibliography creator, aka "citation manager". To use RefWorks, you set up an account for yourself. You provide your own username and password. (You might want to use the same one you use for some of your other accounts, so that it's easy to remember. Use your Trent email where it asks for your email address.)

Once you have registered for a RefWorks account, you will receive an email with your username, password, and Group Code. Save this where you can find it again. If you forget your username and password, there's a button you can click on to have it sent to your email address. If you forget the Group Code, see the webpage.


Library Databases

The databases to which the Library subscribes are expensive and restricted to Trent users only. You need to use the Proxy Server to access them from a computer outside of the campus network.

Follow the steps to the Proxy Server carefully and you will NEVER be asked for a username and password when connecting to one of these databases. If you are asked, something has gone wrong and you should check our proxy server help page. We do not have passwords for individual databases, except in the case of some trials.


Interlibrary Loans (RACER)

Our ILL system is RACER, used by all Ontario University Libraries.

This system requires that you register yourself and create your own password. For help with RACER, see our webpages or come to the Interlibrary Loans Office in the Library.


myTrent, myLearningSystem, Email, and Novell (Network) Accounts

These systems work together and are managed by the IT Department. Although technically they are separate accounts, the same username and password applies to all of them. You can access most official Trent services through the myTrent portal, where you'll also receive news updates.

"ClaimID" is a webpage where you can pick up your account information. Go to www.trentu.ca/claimid. Enter your student number and last name, and you will be provided with your original username and password for many of your accounts. If you've changed it, this won't help you find your new one, and you need to contact the IT HelpDesk to have it reset.

Your Novell (network) account gives you computer privileges on campus. It allows you to log in to a campus computer and provides space on the server for you to save your work. It also supplies you with any software applications that you should have, such as Word, Excel, Statistical packages, and Internet browsers. When you are logged in to your Novell account, you are connected to the pay printers in the Computer Labs and you can retrieve your print jobs from any of the pay printers.

You also have an email account. All your official Trent email will be sent to this address. If you prefer to use a different email service, set a "forward" on your Trent account so that messages sent to it will be forwarded on to your prefered service. Alumni retain their email account after leaving Trent, but they do not retain their other accounts.

For more information on these Trent accounts, go to the IT Help Pages or contact the IT HelpDesk.

 

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Last Modified: January 12, 2011
Maintained by , Thomas J. Bata Library.