UD Library, Museums and Press Migrates to OpenAthens for E-Resource Authentication

The University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press will begin using the OpenAthens platform to access electronic resources, including databases, e-books, journals and streaming video, on January 30, 2024. Access to these resources was previously managed through EZProxy.

The move to OpenAthens will provide expanded access to our e-resources and will create a more seamless experience for the UD community.

Most users will not be impacted by the transition as there will be no visible change for those who are accessing e-resources through the Library’s website; our online catalog, DELCAT; or our A-Z Databases directory.

While we recommend accessing e-resources through the Library’s website, users will now have access to many resources directly from the publisher or vendor website after authenticating their UD credentials via single sign-on (SSO) technology. Once a user is logged in via OpenAthens, they can access any of our licensed content on any platform for eight hours at a time. After the session expires, simply sign in again for continued access.

Faculty and other users who link to e-resources on their syllabi, in Canvas, etc., may need to update relevant URLs in light of the transition. Bookmarks and course links that go directly to materials accessed via DELCAT, such as articles, e-books, streaming videos and other online resources, will not need to change. Links to items outside of DELCAT will need to be reviewed and updated. For more information on changing EZProxy links to OpenAthens links, visit the Permalinks Research Guide.

If you have any comments, questions or challenges accessing our electronic resources, please reach out to OnlineAccess@udel.libanswers.com.