[Eril-l] ACS IP block redux (EndNote)

[Diane Westerfield]

We also had an ACS IP block over winter break.  A professor was using EndNote to download about 100 to his EndNote Library. The automated nature of downloads, occurring in a short amount of time, is probably what triggered the block.

The professor was using the direct URL rather than the WAM proxy when the block was triggered. I checked our WAM logs and it looks like after the IP was blocked, that he went through the WAM proxy. This didn't trigger a block on our hosted server IP (thankfully). Maybe the proxy gives enough of a delay that it doesn't trigger blocks?

Diane Westerfield, Electronic Resources & Serials Librarian
Tutt Library, Colorado College
diane.westerfield at coloradocollege.edu<mailto:diane.westerfield at coloradocollege.edu>
(719) 389-6661

From: Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] On Behalf Of Donley, Leah
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2017 7:52 AM
To: eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
Subject: Re: [Eril-l] ACS IP block redux (EndNote)

Todd,

Thank you.  I discussed this with ACS after posting to the list and got the same response.  They also indicated that the main trigger is the number of articles downloaded (as opposed to size which another publisher has mentioned can be a trigger).

Regards,
Leah


Leah Donley
Research Library - Building 477
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Email: donley at bnl.gov<mailto:donley at bnl.gov>


From: Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] On Behalf Of Wallwork, Todd
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2017 2:09 PM
To: 'eril-l at lists.eril-l.org'
Subject: Re: [Eril-l] ACS IP block redux (EndNote)

Leah,

We've had a couple of issues with ACS concerning excessive download IP blocks although not associated with the EndNote feature you're referencing so I can't speak to that part.  However, when we asked for more information concerning their excessive download threshold for blocking an IP address, we were told that the "downloading rates that trigger blocks are too rapid for any human to achieve."  I hope this helps.

Thank you,

Todd

Todd Wallwork
Catalog Librarian, Resource Acquisition & Discovery
University Libraries
The University of Alabama
Gorgas Library 400C
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Office 205-348-3251 | Fax 205-348-6358
tmwallwork at ua.edu<mailto:tmwallwork at ua.edu>

From: Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] On Behalf Of Donley, Leah
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2017 2:35 PM
To: 'eril-l at lists.eril-l.org'
Subject: [Eril-l] ACS IP block redux (EndNote)

Hello everyone,

We've had two instances in the past week of users triggering ACS' excessive download IP block via EndNote's "Find Full-Text" functionality.

Are you aware of a certain number of downloads that triggers the block with ACS?  For example, one of our users employs this feature in EndNote on a regular basis, usually downloading a few articles at a time (not a problem).  The IP block occurred when they had a problem with their EndNote account and lost all previously downloaded articles, and then attempted to replace the missing articles all at once.  So I know the problem lies somewhere between downloading a handful of articles and hundreds...

Is ACS the only publisher that is sensitive to this?   We do on occasion have IP blocks from other publishers, but these two incidents are the first time they've been connected to EndNote (that I'm aware of).

How are your institutions handling this?  I'm not sure yet how to advise our users on "Find Full-Text" in EndNote.  I don't want to unnecessarily scare them from using functionality that is useful, but of course want to protect ourselves and educate as much as possible.  I did some googling and some institutions advise against even using the functionality and others caution against using it for "too many articles at once", and include a warning against  "excessive downloads".  What are you saying to users and where are you posting/saying it?


Thanks!
Leah Donley


Leah Donley
Research Library
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Email: donley at bnl.gov<mailto:donley at bnl.gov>







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