The University Library's website contains links to electronic information resources. Most electronic information sources (databases, e-journals, e-books) are available because the library has a paid subscription to them. When subscribing to electronic information, a license is signed. Licenses specify who may use the application, for what purposes, and in what way.
As a general rule, there is access for all students and staff of the UAntwerp. By default, students and staff have an active/valid UAntwerp account, which indicates that they are authorized users. Not everyone who follows classes or who teaches at the UAntwerp has a UAntwerp account. For example, students who take a single course are not considered regular students.
External users usually have access to electronic resources on campus via PC’s provided for this purpose. External users include students/staff from other universities, from the AUHA, guest speakers, etc.
We strive to provide licenses as widely as possible, with access for students and staff on and off campus and access for external users in the reading rooms. However, there are some information resources that deviate from this and impose restrictions. For example, it may be that external users are completely excluded from access or that only one specific group within the UAntwerp has access. Some publishers also don't allow remote access. Details in this regard are provided in the overview of databases.
The use of electronic information sources is always limited to study, teaching and research. Commercial purposes are never permitted.
The way in which electronic information resources may be used is subject to standard copyright law, as well as any additional specifications in the licence.
Use of electronic information
Allowed:
Search and read electronic information resources and print or download.
Use information for research, lessons, or for personal study.
Make articles from electronic journals available to students in Blackboard by creating a link.
NOT allowed:
Use electronic information resources for commercial purposes.
Forwarding material to unauthorized users.
Create systematic downloads by, for example, downloading an entire issue of a journal.
Download in bulk.
Use crawlers.
Grant access to unauthorized users.
Share your UAntwerp account.
Upload copies of articles in BlackBoard.
Change the content of a copyrighted text or remove copyright provisions from documents.
Contact the helpdesk of the UAntwerp library if you have any questions or doubts about the correct use of electronic information.
Text and Data Mining (TDM) in e-sources
Licenses may prohibit text and data mining or contain specifications about text and data mining.
Using automated tools to do TDM without consulting the publisher, is not recommended. In collaboration with the publisher it is often no problem. This is the case, for example, for the databases NexisUni and BelgaPress.
For TDM, always contact the helpdesk of the UAntwerp library.
Use of content from e-sources in AI applications
Legislation on AI is in full development, with the EU AI act as a starting point. This does not prevent publishers from including clauses on AI in licensing, for example on the inclusion (or not) of content from the publisher in AI models and restrictions in this regard.
When in doubt, contact the helpdesk of the UAntwerp library to check this.
E-sources and personal data
For a number of e-sources, a personal account must be created in order to gain access. This is the case, for example, for Lexis 360, European Pharmacopoeia Online, SciFinder, etc. In the registration process, you are usually asked to accept terms and conditions. Always read these carefully!
For the exchange of personal data, a separate agreement is sometimes concluded, a user agreement. This is the case, for example, with the Bureau for Standardisation (NBN). Such an agreement states exactly which personal data is stored, in what way, etc.
If you choose to create a personal account on a platform or in a database to make use of individualized features, you can always read on the website how the publisher/provider handles your data.