FAQ’s

LiLISchools.org is sized and curated for the needs of K-12 students. There are some databases at LiLI.org that are outside the mission of K-12 education, and so are not included here. 

For many years, Idaho’s publicly funded schools have used filters as curation controls for digital content accessed on school desktops, laptops, and devices. Consequently, search results done at schools look different from the same searches done at home. LiLiSchools.org is a more curated set of databases that have been selected to meet the needs of K-12 students. 

No. Schools can choose from a few options:

• Use LiLi.org in its curated form as they have for the last 20 years;
• Use LiLISchools.org; or
• Make both options available for students and teachers.

Yes.  Just like LiLI.org, LiLISchools.org can be accessed by any Idahoan from anywhere with an internet connection. 

Probably not. If you cannot find a database you’ve used recently at LiLiSchools.org , check LiLI.org. If it isn’t there, contact us. 

LiLI for Schools is a more curated source of information, which means students will not be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information that is available at LiLI.org.  Age-appropriate content that has been grouped according to grade level makes it easier for students who are novice researchers to find the content they need for school. It is intended to support K-12 curriculum but is not suited to research needs beyond that scope. Content that is intended for an adult audience and more advanced research pursuits is not available at LiLI for Schools. 

There are several reasons to choose databases for academic/scholarly research:

• While it certainly seems easier to enter terms into a search engine and scan the results, it is not easier to sort through millions of search results. Database searching requires some know-how to begin a search, but the results returned will likely be fewer and on point.
• Databases like those in the LiLI for Schools databases give students access to content that is not freely available on the internet and would not be found with Google or another search engine. Without access through LiLI for Schools, users would have to pay to access the same content.
• Database results are pulled from books, periodicals, journals, and newspapers along with other sources that have been edited, peer-reviewed, and vetted. On the other hand, anyone with a device and an internet connection can publish a website that can be discovered by a search engine. That is not a bad thing, but since authority is in question, extra information literacy skill and effort must be applied before using information from a free website.

• When searching for things that happened today, like breaking news or the weather report.
• When searching for local information, like local news or concerts coming to town.
• When searching for restaurant reviews, movie times, and sports scores.
• When searching for general reference information like temperature conversion from Fahrenheit to Celsius.

• Searching for homework assignments for K-12 students.
• Independent research about topics of student interest.
• Readers’ advisory for grades K-8.
• Search results in texts accessible to English language learners and struggling readers.

• Searching for articles in popular newsstand magazines.
• Searching for topics related to sexuality.
• Advanced research that may be necessary for dual credit, AP, or post-secondary courses.

There are a number of known issues that can affect the way PDF files open within internet browsers, preventing files from opening as intended. The solution can vary depending on the set-up of your PC. Possible solutions include:

• Upgrading your version of Adobe Acrobat or Reader and/or internet browser
• Changing the preferences in Adobe Acrobat or Reader so that PDF files do not display in the browser

In some cases, documents can be accessed in different formats or through alternative download sites. If you continue to have difficulty, please contact us and we will be able to advise you if any alternative options are available.

EBSCO has launched an enhanced PDF viewer which was designed to make it easier to browse an entire issue of a journal. However, this enhanced PDF viewer appears to have caused problems for a number of users. In most cases, this results in the enhanced viewer options appearing but the PDF file itself never stops loading.

The problems appear to affect various combinations of browsers and versions of Adobe Reader in different ways, resulting in the user being unable to view the PDF file. Upgrading to the latest version of Adobe Reader has solved the problem in most cases that we are aware of.

There are a number of potential causes and solutions, which are outlined below.

• Does your computer or network block referral information?

Our website gives access to online resources through a system called referring URLs – it allows you to access eBooks, online journals and databases when you click on links on certain authorized web pages. For this system to work, the details of each authorized web page (the referring URL) must be checked against our service provider’s database and it will only allow access if there is a match. Sometimes the referring URL (also known as referral information) is not correctly passed on to the database and this may happen if you are using some firewall or privacy software.

• How can I tell if my computer or network is blocking referral information?

You can run an authentication test to find out whether your computer or network is blocking referring URLs by clicking on the link below:

http://search.ebscohost.com/testauth.aspx

This will load a page with information that can help diagnose your problem. If there is an empty space next to “Referring URL=”, this means that your computer or network is blocking referring URLs.

Referring URLs can be blocked by firewall or privacy software or through network restrictions. Please refer to the user manual of your firewall or privacy software for information on how to allow referring URLs or contact the IT department in your organization for help.

Note for Google Chrome users: Due to issues with the browser, referring URLs will not work if you choose to open them in a new tab or window through the right-click menu. Links to eBooks and other electronic resources should automatically open in a new tab or window when you click on them.

• What can I do if my computer or network is blocking referral information?

We advise you to consult the support available from your firewall or internet security software suppliers for further advice on how to configure firewalls or internet security software to allow access. In order to allow the referring URL authentication system to work you should permit full access to particular IP ranges and web domains. Our supplier has an updated list of IPs and Domains for Firewalls, Proxy Servers, and Whitelists as well as the following list:

• auth.go.galegroup.com
• find.galegroup.com
• go.galegroup.com
• infotrac.galegroup.com
• vs.galegroup.com
• search.ebscohost.com

You may also find the following tips for popular software useful:

McAfee Virus Scanner / Internet Security Suite

1. Open McAfee Virus Scanner.
2. Choose Internet & Network option.
3. Click Advanced.
4. Uncheck ad popup blocker & web blocking.

           EZ Armor / eTrust EZ Firewall provided by Road Runner internet service

1. From your Start Menu, choose Programs, then choose eTrust EZ Firewall or EZ Armor Security Suite to open the program.
2. On the left side of the window, click Privacy.
3. Look for the section titled Cookie Control and click the Custom button.
4. The Custom Privacy Options window will appear – you will notice that it includes three tabs across the top. Make sure the Cookies tab is on top, and look for the section of the page labeled 3rd Party Cookies. In that section, uncheck the box labeled Remove private header information.
5. Click Apply then OK to close the Custom Privacy Options window.
6. Close the program, restart your browser and try accessing the databases again.

            Zone Alarm Security Suite

1. In Zone Alarm, select Privacy.
2. Under Cookie Control, click Custom.
3. In Custom Privacy Settings, uncheck the box that says Remove Private Header Information.
4. Click OK. 

Please note that the LiLI Team is unable to provide technical support to help you configure your firewall software.

If you still have a problem with access to our e-resources, we suggest you contact the supplier of your firewall product directly.

If you have a different problem with our online resources, please contact the LiLI team. State the address of the page that you were looking at when the problem occurred, the error message that you received, and any additional details of the problem to help us diagnose what went wrong.