Actually, they ALL have the ability to provide IP authentication.  It isn't completely trivial to do so, but it isn't rocket science either.  If they can manage to set up a server (or pay someone to do so), then they certainly have the ability to do the IP authentication.  And they'll find in the long run it is the much easier way, and more secure.

dan

 ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
  From: "Bothmann, Robert L" <robert.bothmann@MNSU.EDU>
  To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
  Received: 6/18/2007 7:05:49 PM
  Subject: Re: [SERIALST] how do you provide access to online resources requiring password?

  >We instituted a policy to not subscribe to resources requiring passwords, except for
  >staff tools like Goldrush, ClassWeb, etc.

  >For one or two things we've had to abandon that policy, such as for a foundation
  >directory that is only available in print and needed for certain classes, but otherwise
  >it's making electronic resource management life a little easier.

  >Unfortunately, some small vendors may not have the ability to provide IP
  >authentication.

  >*******************************************
  >Robert Bothmann
  >Electronic Access/Catalog Librarian
  >Assistant Professor, Library Services
  >Minnesota State University, Mankato
  >P.O. Box 8419, ML3097
  >Mankato, MN 56001
  >Voice: 507-389-2010
  >Fax: 507-389-5155
  >mailto:robert.bothmann@mnsu.edu

  >-----Original Message-----
  >From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum on behalf of Dan Lester
  >Sent: Mon 2007-06-18 3:18 PM
  >To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
  >Subject: Re: [SERIALST] how do you provide access to online resources requiring
  >password?
  >
  >All of us have that issue with some journals, I'm sure.  A very few
  >indexes/abstracts/databases cause the same problem.

  >I suggest that all of us beat on the publishers to set up IP authentication.  Why
  >should they bother?

  >1) It ensures that only users from the university (or other agency that has
  >purchased/licensed the product/service) can access it.  Make sure they understand
  >that you authenticate it with ezproxy, squid, or whatever.

  >2) Make sure they understand that by having a password they've REDUCED
  >security.  If I have a password for Journal of Underwater Basketweaving there is
  >nothing to prevent me from sharing it with many others, such as faculty at other
  >schools who can't afford, or choose not to buy, their wonderful journal.

  >3) Let them know you won't buy their journal/index/etc without ip authentication.

  >If enough of us beat on them, they will eventually come around.  It has worked with
  >many other publishers/vendors.

  >dan

  >  It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you;
  >  it's what you leave behind you when you go.

  >dan@riverofdata.com
  >Dan Lester, Boise, Idaho, USA

  >  ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
  >  From: "Barbara Pope" <bpope@PITTSTATE.EDU>
  >  To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
  >  Received: 6/18/2007 8:26:28 AM
  >  Subject: Re: [SERIALST] how do you provide access to online resources requiring
  >password?

  >  >Hello, Evalyn.  We are in the same fix with some of our online
  >  >journals.  Most of our online databases, journals, and e-books work very
  >  >well with ez proxy and do not need the publisher-specific user id and
  >  >password.  The ones for which ez proxy works well allows the patrons to
  >  >go directly into the content with a problem, but a few still ask for a
  >  >separate user id and password.  We have also resorted to having an
  >  >envelope at the reference desk with user ids and passwords for those
  >  >products.  I don't like this because it does make the product less
  >  >convenient and harder to use and it puts the reference librarian in the
  >  >position of having to figure out who it is okay to give it to.

  >  >I would welcome any suggestions on how to better deal with this.

  >  >Barbara Pope, MALS
  >  >Reference/Periodicals Librarian
  >  >Axe Library
  >  >Pittsburg State University
  >  >Pittsburg KS  66762
  >  >bpope@pittstate.edu

  >  >Stone, Evalyn wrote:
  >  >> I need your collective wisdom.  We have some online journals (TLS, Art
  >  >newspaper) that provide access to their online archives only by password.  We
  >don't
  >  >have a way (or don't know of a way) to put the passwords into our catalog, so
  >  >we've resorted to having the password at the reference desk.  This process
  >forces
  >  >patrons to ask for the password, making the resource harder to use.
  >  >>
  >  >> Does anyone have a better suggestion?
  >  >>
  >  >> Thanks.
  >  >>
  >  >> Evalyn Stone
  >  >>
  >  >>
  >
  >><<<<<*>>>>>*<<<<<*>>>>>*<<<<<*>>>>>*<<<<<*>>>>>>*<<
  ><
  >  ><<*>>>>>*<<<<<*>>>>>
  >  >> Evalyn Stone
  >  >> Serials Librarian, Thomas J. Watson Library
  >  >> The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  >  >> 1000 Fifth Avenue
  >  >> New York, NY 10028-0198
  >  >> tel: 212/ 650-2446      fax: 212/ 570-3847
  >  >> e-mail: evalyn.stone@metmuseum.org
  >  >>
  >
  >><<<<<*>>>>>*<<<<<*>>>>>*<<<<<*>>>>>*<<<<<*>>>>>>*<<
  ><
  >  ><<*>>>>>*<<<<<*>>>>>
  >  >>
  >  >>