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OpenAthens and Shapiro Library

A guide on how to athenize library links for off-campus access.

Overview: What is OpenAthens?

OpenAthens is an advanced authentication system that provides seamless access to digital resources. It simplifies the login process for users, enabling them to access a wide range of library resources with a single set of credentials. By replacing traditional authentication methods like EZproxy, OpenAthens enhances security and user experience, making it easier to access academic articles, databases, and other online resources from anywhere.

Accessing Library Resources with OpenAthens

Automatic URL Generator

We have created an automatic URL generator to help you convert EZproxy links to OpenAthens links. This tool removes the EZproxy prefix and Athenizes the link according to specific criteria.

How to Use the URL Generator:

  1. Paste any link that needs to be Athenized or de-proxied into the URL generator box.
  2. The tool will automatically:
    • Remove the EZproxy prefix.
    • Remove the EZproxy embedded URL.
    • Handle any specific exceptions required for Athenization.
  3. The output will be a new URL ready for use with OpenAthens.

Anatomy of an OpenAthens vs EZproxy Link

The table below illustrates the difference between OpenAthens and EZproxy links. The prefix in each link serves the purpose of routing the authentication process. EZproxy uses a prefix to redirect the user through its proxy server for authentication, while OpenAthens uses a different prefix to perform the same function but through the OpenAthens system. The resource URL remains the same, but the athenized URL includes the respective prefix and encodes the base URL to ensure proper redirection and access.

  EZproxy OpenAthens
Prefix https://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/snhu.edu?url=
Resource URL https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00027642221086954

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00027642221086954
Proxied URL https://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00027642221086954

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/snhu.edu?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjournals.sagepub.com%2Fdoi%2Ffull%2F10.1177%2F00027642221086954

Exceptions

Certain resources do not require Athenization if they include an internal identifier in the URL; though, the links will still work when Athenized.

Note: The URL Generator has been configured to account for these exceptions.

EBSCOhost
  • Must include &custid=shapiro&authtype=ip,shib after direct=true.
  • Example: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&custid=shapiro&authtype=ip,shib&db=prf&AN=76534651&site=eds-live&scope=site
Gale (Cengage Learning)
  • Must include u=nhc_main somewhere in the link.
  • Example: https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A778646552/ITOF?u=nhc_main&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a7e51268
Credo Reference Search
  • Must include aid=105049 somewhere in the link.
  • Example: https://search.credoreference.com/articles/Qm9va0FydGljbGU6ODE3MzY5?q=kittens&aid=105049
Kanopy
  • Must include /snhu/ somewhere in the link.
  • Example: https://www.kanopy.com/en/snhu/video/2931954
ProQuest
  • Main: Must include accountid=3783 somewhere in the link.
    • Example: https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/featured-pets-kittens-frontier-animal-society/docview/2885397415/se-2?accountid=3783
  • EBook Central: Remove EZproxy prefix from links.
    • Example: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/snhu-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1441228
  • Chadwyck-Healey: Must include accountid=3783 somewhere in the link.
    • Example: https://www.proquest.com/books/nurses-song/docview/2248565774/se-2?accountid=3783

Key Terms

Athenized Link:

A link to a database or resource that includes the OpenAthens prefix and has the base URL encoded.

Encoded URL:

Browsers handle URLs better when they are in ASCII format without special characters. An encoded URL replaces characters like / with %2F and : with %3A.

Proxied Link:

A link that includes the EZproxy prefix or has EZproxy information embedded to route authentication through EZproxy.

EZproxy Embedded URL:

A link that contains EZproxy information within the link itself.
Example: https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu

EZproxy Prefix:

The prefix added to a URL to route authentication through EZproxy.
Example: https://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=

OpenAthens Prefix:

The prefix added to a URL to route authentication through OpenAthens.
Example: https://go.openathens.net/redirector/snhu.edu?url=