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OpenAthens Guide

Using OpenAthens

What is OpenAthens?

What is OpenAthens?

OpenAthens Logo

OpenAthens is an identity and access management service that you login to with your JCU account via SSO. OpenAthens then 'brokers' authentication with the hundreds of resource platforms the Library subscribes to for your use. It is used by many institutions globally and replaces the EZproxy service.

OpenAthens current status

OpenAthens issues and news

Report a problem with OpenAthens

How do I turn on OpenAthens?

How do I use OpenAthens?

Using any of the Library's discovery tools will automatically invoke OpenAthens - e.g. Readings, One Search, Find It @ JCU Library, Browzine/LibKey, Library Guides and the A-Z of databases.  

But if you locate a resource not using one of our discovery tools (say through a post on social media or a Google Search) and you see a 'Sign in via institution' or 'Sign in via OpenAthens' option on a web site you will see a James Cook University Library (OpenAthens) option appear if you search for 'james' (and we have a subscription to something on the platform).

An OpenAthens session lasts 8 hours, at which point it will simply ask you to login again.

How do I create a link to a resource that uses OpenAthens?

To create a link that makes a user authenticate via OpenAthens to a JCU subscription resource go to the desired resource copy the link in the address bar and paste the link into the Link Generator. 

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International License, unless otherwise noted. Content from this Guide should be attributed to James Cook University Library. This does not apply to images, third party material (seek permission from the original owner) or any logos or insignia belonging to JCU or other bodies, which remain All Rights Reserved.

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