Karoli Gaspar University

Of The Reformed Church In Hungary

Academic online databases FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions)

Which databases does the university subscribe to in the current academic year? 

The list and brief description of the databases subscribed to in the current year are always available at https://corvina.kre.hu/databasesxxxx.html , where xxxx is replaced by the current year.

For example, in 2025: https://corvina.kre.hu/databases2025.html

This way, it is also possible to view descriptions of databases ordered in previous years.

How can I access the databases subscribed to by the university for the current academic year?

The databases can be accessed at the university's sites using public IP-based identification. The content provider recognizes that its website is being accessed from a registered IP address,

thus, no separate identification is required: the content is immediately accessible from both university workstations and personal devices using university WiFi.

You can log in to the databases remotely (for example from home) using eduID. This service allows the institution (KRE) to identify the user

to the content provider. The eduID login method varies by provider - detailed information about this can be found at https://corvina.kre.hu/eduid.html .

Here you will also find general information about the operation and technical background of the eduID service.

 
How do I know if my login was successful? 

Upon successful login, the name of the institution (KRE) will appear on the website, usually at the top right, but in some cases this information can be found at the bottom of the page.

Often the university logo/coat of arms also appears, along with the note "Access provided by ..."

I logged in successfully, but I can't access all books/articles!

Most online academic databases are divided into sections/units. We can only access content that the university has access to in the current academic year.

Therefore, in such cases, it is worth checking the link above to see which package from the given database the subscription is for, and whether the content you are

looking for is included in this package.

Can all books and journal articles be downloaded from the databases for offline reading?

Content providers individually regulate the possibility of downloading, so there is no general rule for this. For example, books available on the Szakt rs platform

can be downloaded in blocks of 50 pages (as PDFs), however, the number of blocks that can be downloaded in one session is still limited. These limitations are

in effect to avoid automated "harvesting" of the database by external entities.

What is the Szaktars Platform and how is it related to Arcanum? Isn't Arcanum a specific database?

Arcanum (Arcanum Database Ltd.) is a Hungarian company whose best-known database is Arcanum Ujsagok (Arcanum Newspapers), which was previously known as ADT+,

or Arcanum Digitalis Tudastar+ (Arcanum Digital Knowledge Base). Arcanum also created the Szaktars platform so that smaller domestic book publishers without serious

IT background capacity can also use a high-quality, unified interface to provide their digital content at.

Where can I get more information about the specific content available in each database?

The vast majority of databases are ordered through EISZ (Electronic Information Service), and EISZ contracts directly with the content providers.

On the EISZ website, you can view the descriptions of the databases and their address lists in a detailed breakdown, which provide a deeper insight

into the content available in each section: https://eisz.mtak.hu/index.php/hu/adatbazisok.html

In the case of non-EISZ databases i.e. ordered directly from the content provider the staff of the University Library Association can provide assistance if

there is a problem accessing content.

What does the term OpenAccess mean, and where can I find out more about it?

OpenAccess is a broad international movement that aims to provide free and open online access to scientific information, such as publications and data.

For details about OpenAccess - abbreviated as OA - see https://btk.kre.hu/index.php/2015-10-20-12-46-08/bod-peter-konyvtar/open-access.html

I realised retrospect that a supposedly important database was not subscribed to for the current year. What should I do in this case?

Unfortunately most content providers do not offer subscription options for fractional years, so in such cases the database can only be ordered for the following year.

However they often provide trial access, which can be requested directly from the service provider. 

In addition at https://compass.mtak.hu/ you

can find out whether a specific database is accessible in Hungary, and if yes, in which institution(s). 

Compass is a search engine for electronic scientific content available in Hungary, hosted by the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.