OpenAthens

OpenAthens is a Single Sign On (SSO) service that we rolled out for our researchers in April 2024.

What is OpenAthens Single Sign On (SSO)?

A Single Sign On (SSO) service allows users to have a single username and password to login to multiple sites. OpenAthens is one 'brand' of SSO. It is run by JISC, which is a UK non-profit that focuses on higher education and technology. OpenAthens is popular with higher education and cultural heritage institutions.

Where can I login with my OpenAthens SSO acount?

We have implemented OpenAthens SSO for the Folger's library systems and library subscription databases. These include:

• the catalog
• your request account (for requesting items in the Reading Room or for Virtual Reference)
• subscription databases that require a login for access

On the back end of our library systems, we have linked researchers' OpenAthens accounts to their existing accounts for the catalog, the request system, and subscription library databses. That is, the OpenAthens SSO does not change anything in your existing accounts. You will still be able to see your past reading room requests, etc.

If you are affiliated with a university, you have likely seen SSO accounts already, since you can probably use one username and password at your institution to login to most of the systems and sites there. Outside of universities, you may have encountered SSO if you have ever used an Amazon, Google, or Facebook account to login to websites that are not Amazon, Google, or Facebook.

Does this work for all Folger sites?

No. We have only implemented OpenAthens SSO for registered researchers to use library systems and services. If you have an account on the Folger website for ordering event tickets, please continue to use your existing username and password to login. If you have a Teacher Member account to access Folger Teaching, please continue to use your existing username and password to login. We do not currently have plans to implement OpenAthens SSO for every login across the Folgerverse.

How can I tell if I should login with an OpenAthens account?

The Folger's OpenAthens login screen looks like this:

The name "OpenAthens" appears above the username field and at the bottom of the screen.

Can I use this OpenAthens account to login anywhere I see an OpenAthens login option?

Regretfully, no. There are dozens of sites that offer the option of using an OpenAthens SSO login that will not work with your Folger OpenAthens SSO account. This is because we do not have paid licenses to access their content. For example, we cannot access the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), Farmers Weekly, New England Journal of Medicine, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. We're sure those are all awesome resources, but we focus on paying for licenses to resources that are more closely focused on Shakespeare and the early modern world.

Can I find a list of resources I can access with my Folger OpenAthens SSO account?