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OpenAthens

This guide will help you navigate the changes associated with our new library resource authentication.

FAQs

Why is the library changing authentication services?

To ensure you are using a more secure, reliable and flexible service, one which allows you to access licensed content no matter where you start your search, reduce the frustration of multiple authentication points and allow you to move from resource to resource faster.

 

Will I need to log in when I am on campus?

Yes, however your Open Athens session will last 8 hours. You will also need to log in again if you are switching browsers or you clear your cache. While inconvenient, this is normal behavior and ensures your security and the security of the Libraries' resources.

 

My saved links or bookmarks to the Libraries' resources no longer work. What should I do?

The best solution is to create a new bookmark following these steps:

  1. Start from the Library homepage Wahlstrom Library
  2. Search for and locate the saved or bookmarked resource in the library collection.
  3. Save a new link or bookmark using the permalink provided by the database or publisher website.
  4. If saving a link or creating a bookmark to one of the Libraries' databases, click on the Share  icon to the right of the database title  and use the friendly URL.
  5. You can also use the OpenAthens Link Generator to create an OpenAthens link to the resource. (Note: The link generator will NOT work if libproxy.bridgeport.edu appears anywhere in the old URL. For detailed instructions on how to update these links see the Creating/Updating Resource Links page in this guide.

 

If I need help with my saved links or bookmarks, whom do I ask?

Contact one of the library staff members below and we will help you:

  • Brianne McKissick-Health Sciences Librarian bmcki@bridgeport.edu- 203.576.2383 
  • Heather Siemon- Assistant Systems Administrator- hsiemon@bridgeport.edu -203.576.2414
  • Juliann T. Moskowitz- Instruction and Information Literacy Librarian - Liaison to: College of Science and Society; College of Engineering, Business, and Education -jmoskowi@bridgeport.edu 203.576.4528

How will this affect your course?

Beginning June 26, 2023, your course links to items such as articles, ebooks, videos, and other library online resources may need to be reviewed and updated in Canvas, on your syllabus, and in other instructional areas. Converting links to OpenAthens is easy and disruption should be minimal. However, we want to support you to ensure that library resources are linked and ready for student use.

What do instructors need to do?

1. Please check all your links to library resources in the next few weeks.

If your link begins with http(s)://libproxy.bridgeport.edu/login?url=

OR

contains libproxy.brigeport.edu

then the link must be updated.

2. Create the updated links (URLs) and save them for use on June 26th.

3. June 26th, update the links in Canvas, syllabi, bookmarks and any other place you have saved or provided library resource URLs.