GALILEO, Georgia's virtual library, is changing its method of access to electronic resources to ensure a more secure single sign-on experience for everyone. GALILEO is moving from a proxy-based method of authentication to OpenAthens. OpenAthens is an identity management system that ensures registered Georgia Gwinnett College users have appropriate access to Kaufman Library's electronic resources. OpenAthens uses SAML, or Security Assertion Markup Language, a standard that allows identity providers (IdP) to pass along the credentials of authorized users to service providers (SP)--in our case, electronic resource vendors. This technology provides secure access to library resources tied to your MyGGC login. With the change to OpenAthens, our resources remain the same, the only change is how you access them off-campus.
On-campus access to library resources is still routed through IP authentication, so it is business as usual when accessing our electronic resources on campus. Off-campus you will need to enter your MyGGC credentials and follow the steps for multi-factor authentication (MFA) like you normally do to access your email and/or your D2L courses. With the switch to OpenAthens, there is also the possibility of accessing resources directly from publishers rather than locating the resource through the Library's page. This experience will vary from website to website, but where supported, you will encounter the option of selecting your affiliation (Georgia Gwinnett College). Once you choose GGC, you will be able to login with your MyGGC credentials.
Since OpenAthens does not use proxy authentication for accessing library resources, this will change the look of links you might have bookmarked. Therefore, you will need to update any saved resources you maintain in platforms such as D2L and others. This change will mainly impact faculty users who have embedded multiple links into their courses. Fear not, though, your embedded links can be easily updated using the OpenAthens link generator. The embedded links on the Library's website will be updated shortly after we Go Live with OpenAthens on December 10, 2019. Please note that Library staff is happy to assist with this process. All links requiring proxy authentication should work for the foreseeable future as proxy authentication and OpenAthens authentication will be running in tandem for a while. The process of updating links is time-consuming. Until all links are "athenized," or switched over to OpenAthens authentication, might impact the login screen you encounter, either a form branded with Kaufman Library information or the regular MyGGC login page.
The purpose of this guide is to provide you with information about the transition to OpenAthens authentication, providing tips and tricks about accessing Library resources using OpenAthens, including information about how to update your links and how to switch your MyEBSCOhost accounts. Please feel free to Ask a Librarian, we love to help!
Kaufman Library thanks Georgia Southern University Libraries for permission to adapt their OpenAthens LibGuide, with special thanks to Mr. Jeff Mortimore.