Library news: changes to e-resources access from 14 December
Tuesday, 01 December 2020
Library users should note the following two updates, which are due to come into effect from 14 December 2020.
Authentication server migration
After the end of term on the 14 December 2020, we will be migrating our OpenAthens authentication for e-resources access from our locally hosted version (a server on campus) to a server hosted by OpenAthens themselves. We will remain members of the UK Federation so you will still look for "Institutional Login" style links for login on the resources.
You should not notice a break in access to resources or a change to your experience of them but we wanted to inform you of the migration in case you wish to back up any personalisations you may have made on individual platforms. These features may include the ability to save highlighted phrases or quotes, add notes, save annotated images, create alerts, save searches or simply bookmark a certain chapter.
Please read this blog post for full details and recommendations.
Changes to e-resources login method
From 14 December, you will start to see changes with how you log into e-resources. The University Single Sign On page will change and look the same as the page you see when you log into other University services such as your emails or other Office 365 services. This also means that you will need to use a different username to log into e-resources. Where previously you only used your two letter and six digit username (e.g. ab123456) to log in, you will now need to add the suffix of your email address (e.g. ab123456@student.reading.ac.uk). This is the same username you will already use to log into services such as Blackboard. Your password will not change.
This change will not affect how you log into your Library account to renew loans, place holds etc, this username will remain as ab123456 without the email suffix.
You can find further details in this blog post.
Queries
If you have questions about either of these changes, please contact eresourceshelp@reading.ac.uk or by submitting an e-resources problem report form.