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OpenAthens - our new authentication system

We are changing the system that manages access to the Library's licensed online resources. Here you will find information about the change and how it is likely to affect you.

UPDATE 28/11/2023: Bad Request error message

We believe the Bad Request error message has been resolved.

If you are still experiencing an error message please contact:


Users who experienced a error reported that Microsoft Edge and Safari have had more success over other browsers like Chrome.

In some circumstances the following instructions have resolved the issue.

  1. Close all browser tabs/windows
  2. Open the following url in a new browser window: my.openathens.net/signout
  3. In the browser address bar, select settings/slider icon (the padlock icon in the address bar)
  4. Select 'Clear cookies and site data' and remove all cookies for openathens.net and my.openathens.net
  5. Then clear full browser cache (for all time) using browser settings. For comprehensive instructions, please see the University of Iowa How to Clear the Cache and Cookies in Your Web Browser guide
  6. Close browser window
  7. Open a new browser window, and clear your cache again
  8. Try accessing library resources

EBSCO manual link creation

Due to unforeseen circumstances after switching to OpenAthens authentication your EBSCO links now require a manual update. 

EBSCO links in Canvas or saved in browsers will not work. EBSCO links make up approximately 6% of links in Canvas.

Good news, links can be updated to the new format using the Link Generator on our OpenAthens library guide. Please test any links created to ensure access is working.
 

Authenticate your links

Convert existing link

Use the Link Generator to convert the outdated ‘ezproxy.lib.rmit.edu.au’ links.

Create new authenticated link

To create new authenticated links to Library resources, use this dedicated: OpenAthens Link Generator.

We still recommend copying the already-authenticated links from LibrarySearch and to only use this link generator if it wasn't possible.

First time users, please note

  • Always test your new link. The Link Generator does not check if the link is valid, or whether it will work with Open Athens.
  • There are some links with EZproxy which do not need to route via Open Athens. EZproxy is removed from these links.
  • We may need to update the Link Generator to accommodate changes to database URLs. Let us know if the output link does not work.

Resources excluded from the OpenAthens authentication

You should still run Ezproxy versions of these links through the link generator.

  • Google scholar  
  • EBSCOHost
  • ProQuest
  • Lexis Advance
  • LinkedIn Learning
  • Clickview
  • Kanopy

Resources which don't support deep linking

Selected resources support authentication via Open Athens but do not then land on specific content pages. Instead, after authentication they will land on the resource home page. One way of managing this in Canvas is to have one link dedicated for authenticating. This link should have an instruction to authenticate first. Then have the subsequent content links. Example:

  • Link 1 - place this on each page with a WARC link.
    Authenticate to WARC
    https://go.openathens.net/redirector/rmit.edu.au?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.warc.com%2F

    Once the Authenticated session to WARC is active then deep links will work
    Link 2 
    WARC Global Ad trends (remember to authenticate to WARC first using above)  
    https://www.warc.com/global-ad-trends
    (Note that ezproxy has been removed and the hyphens in the base url converted back to dots.)

  • Databases in this category include:

    • Elsevier eLibrary

    • Therapeutic guidelines

    • Uptodate

    • WARC

Acknowledgement

The link generator was developed at Swinburne University Library.

Background

OpenAthens has replaced EZproxy as our authentication and electronic access management system that provides access to the Library's licensed online resources, both on and off campus. 

Read on to learn more about the new system, and how the change may affect your access to the Library's online resources.

If you have any further questions or need help:

Reasons for changing the system

OpenAthens enables seamless access to RMIT's owned and subscribed resources. In addition to accessing online resources via LibrarySearch, the new system will also let you:

  • Access our online resources from a list of web search results
  • Log in directly to large database platforms such as SAGE, Elsevier, or ProQuest.

How this change will affect your access

If you are accessing resources via LibrarySearch or the digital collections, there will be no change.

After the go-live date, you will be able to log in to some databases and e-journals directly from their websites. You will only need to log in once if using the same browser on the same device.


Links that will stop working

All links containing '.ezproxy.lib.rmit.edu.au' in the URL will no longer work. If you have any links in your documents or bookmarks that include 'ezproxy.lib', you will need to update them once we switch to the OpenAthens system.


Endnote and other citation managers

If you are using a reference manager, such as EndNote or Zotero, you will need to replace all links.

The citation details such as author and title will remain the same, but there is no automated way to change link authentication from EZproxy to OpenAthens. You will need to update all links containing '.ezproxy.lib.rmit.edu.au' manually.

There are two options to update the links:

  • Find the citation in LibrarySearch and import it to your reference manager.
  • Use the Authenticated Link Generator to create a new link and manually update it.

Google Scholar access

Yes, we will update the link and access will continue as normal. If you have any issues, use LibrarySearch.

Logging in on different devices and browsers

OpenAthens uses cookies to remember your device. You will only be asked to log in again if you:

  • change web browser, for example from Firefox to Chrome
  • change devices, for example from a laptop to a mobile
  • clear your cookies.

Direct login access to databases and e-journals

Not all databases have the technical capacity to support OpenAthens direct login. There will be cases where you will still need to log in to LibrarySearch to access your resources. However, direct login access will be available on most larger databases and e-journal platforms. Look for one of the following options in the top right corner of the database web page:

  • an ‘OpenAthens’ link
  • ‘Institutional Login’ link
  • or the following linked image:

OpenAthens logo.

Select the available option and then choose 'Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology' or 'RMIT University' to log in.

Please note that each database will have a different login screen.

Personal accounts on EBSCO and ProQuest

New and returning users signing in via OpenAthens authentication for the first time will have a new Personal Folder created on EBSCOhost, and Bookshelf on Ebook Central, ProQuest.

If you have items saved in your existing Personal Folder/Bookshelf, follow these instructions:

Ebook Central:

Alumni access to resources

RMIT Alumni will continue to have access to the same resources as before.

For a full list of resources available to RMIT Alumni, including links, please refer to Library services for RMIT Alumni.
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