1. Have a valid library card.
2. Configure your web browser with the required proxy setting.

You only need to configure your browser once before you use the databases for the first time.

Select your browser from the list below to see instructions on how to configure it with the required proxy setting. If you don't know which version of Netscape or Internet Explorer you are using, click on Help on your menu bar, then click on About Navigator, About Communicator, or About Internet Explorer. We strongly recommend that you use a Netscape browser for remote access to our online resources.

• Netscape v3
• Netscape v4
  Note: Netscape 6 cannot be configured to access the library databases.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer v3
• Microsoft Internet Explorer v4
• Microsoft Internet Explorer v5 (Dial-up)
  Note: Microsoft Internet Explorer, version 5.5 cannot be configured to access the library databases. You must use Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 1.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer v5 (LAN)
• America Online (AOL)

For example:

If the library has your name listed as "John Q. Public"
And your library card number is "738 4775 88216 23".

You would enter public as your username
And 73847758821623 as your password.

If you get a message that says your IP address is not valid when you try to access a database: You are either trying to access a database that does not allow remote access or your browser has not been properly configured to use the library's proxy server. If necessary, review the instructions on setting up your browser.

1. select Options
2. select Network Preferences
3. select the Proxies tab
4. enter in the Configuration Location (URL): http://www.halan.lib.tx.us/ptn.pac
5. click Reload and OK

1. select Edit
2. select Preferences
3. click on the '+' to the left of the Advanced option
4. click on Proxies
5. click on the Automatic proxy configuration button
6. enter in the Configuration Location (URL): http://www.halan.lib.tx.us/ptn.pac
7. click Reload and OK

1. select View
2. select Options
3. select the Advanced tab
4. at the bottom of the Advanced page, click on the Automatic Configuration button
5. enter in the URL: http://www.halan.lib.tx.us/ptn.pac
6. click on Refresh then click on OK in the popup box
7. click on Apply then OK on the Options menu

1. select View
2. select Internet Options
3. select the Connection tab
4. in the Automatic configuration box click on Configure
5. enter this URL: http://www.halan.lib.tx.us/ptn.pac
6. click on Refresh
7. click on OK then OK again on the Internet Options menu

1. Select: Tools
2. Select: Internet Options...
3. Select: Connections
4. In the Dial-up settings box find the icon with the name of your dial-up service. Click on the icon once to highlight it.
5. Select: Settings...
6. Check the box next to: "Automatically detect settings"
7. Check the box next to: "Use automatic configuration script"
8. enter this Address: http://www.halan.lib.tx.us/ptn.pac
9. click on OK
10. click on OK on the Internet Options menu

1. Select: Tools
2. Select: Internet Options...
3. Select: Connections
4. Select: LAN Settings
5. Check the box next to: "Use automatic configuration script"
6. enter this Address http://www.halan.lib.tx.us/ptn.pac
7. click on OK
8. click on OK on the Internet Options menu

The web browser that is usually included with the AOL software is a modified version of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Unfortunately, it is not supported by our automation system because it does not include the automatic proxy configuration function which is required in order to access our Online Databases remotely. The same applies to the version of Netscape that was previously included with the AOL software.

The following link will take you to Netscape where you can download Navigator 4.08 (Stand Alone). "Stand Alone" means that you will download Netscape's web browser only. E-mail software, newsreader, chat software, etc. will not be included.

After you've downloaded and installed Netscape, return to the setup page and select the instructions for setting up Netscape v4.

Set Netscape's Home Page to the Library:

1. Click in the location box at the top of the screen and type in the library's URL: http://www.ptn.lib.tx.us/
2. Click on Edit on the menu bar
3. Click on Preferences
4. Click on Navigator on the left side of the window
5. Click on the Use Current Page button in the Home Page area on the right side of the window