Remote Authentication: One Library’s Journey on Offering EZProxy and OpenAthens

Abstract

Academic libraries need a reliable, secure, and easy to manage authentication system to verify campus users. Until early 2021, Buswell Library of Wheaton College provided authentication for electronic collections using EZproxy for on- and off-campus access. During 2020, Buswell Library was given the opportunity to trial OpenAthens to see if authentication through SAML and SSO might be a better fit for the Wheaton College campus. This article will explore the two authentication methods and the pros and cons of each. In addition, the migration process and management of the two systems will also be discussed.

Keywords:

• OpenAthens
• EZproxy
• SAML
• SSO