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Remote Access to Library Resources via OpenAthens

This guide provides information for remote access to UMB online library resources via OpenAthens. OpenAthens was launched on June 21, 2022.

Best Practice for Linking

To comply with vendor licensing agreements and accessibility best practices, please link directly to electronic content rather than posting downloaded files, such as pdfs. 

Persistent Links/URLs are the best way to link to library resources.

  • The URLs from the address bar may work temporarily but are likely to be inaccessible at a later date or from off campus. Don't copy the URL from the address bar unless instructed. 
  • Also called durable, permanent, stable, standalone link, document URL, or permalink
  • Typically contain UMB information in the URL so the resource will know to route you through UMB access.
  • Some databases provide persistent links with this information in the URL and others do not

Update Your URLs for OpenAthens

With OpenAthens authentication, the syntax for the links to library resources has changed. If you have any persistent links/URLs with the term, ezproxy.lib.umb.edu ,saved or bookmarked or shared on your reading lists, you will need to update them. As of January 2024, they no longer work.  

Use the Athenizer Tool below to strip out the ezproxy string and add the OpenAthens prefix:

Athenizer (Remove ezproxy.lib.umb.edu and Add OpenAthens prefix)

 

Test out your links before sharing or posting them!

The URLs will be encoded (which means, certain special characters will be replaced by percentage signs and codes), which is best practice, but not necessary in most cases. Keep in mind that there are some content providers which won't work with the tool since they don’t use the OpenAthens prefix.  EBSCO, Gale, Kanopy, Proquest (except Pivot and African American Heritage), Proquest Ebook Central, Digital Theatre Plus, and Skillsoft URLS will not be using any sort of prefix.  In those cases, try taking out the proxy with our Deproxifier:

Deproxifier (Just remove ezproxy.lib.umb.edu)

Use the Deproxifier to remove the ezproxy.lib.umb.edu from old proxied URL.

 

 

How To Create Persistent Links

Create persistent links to databases

Find the Share icon beside the database and copy the link provided.  

Create persistent links for books, articles, films

One way is to find the resource in UMBrella and use the “Permalink” option. This link will point to the UMBrella record, which will have the most up-to-date links. Your umbrella.lib.umb.edu permalinks do not have to be updated with the switch to OpenAthens. 

 

Some publishers and content providers provide persistent links. Find where they are in the below chart.

If the publisher/content provider isn’t listed, it is usually pretty safe to just copy the url from the address bar and to make it work off-campus, prefix it with the OpenAthens prefix:  https://go.openathens.net/redirector/umb.edu?url=

 For example:

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/umb.edu?url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9780691232768/html

Or use our handy Athenizer tool!  

Vendor/Resource

Linking Instructions

Alexander Street Press

Select the Share button or icon on the page. Copy the link under "Via permalink".

BrowZine Journals & Subjects

Copy the URL in the address (navigation) bar.

Credo Reference

From the top toolbar, select Copy Link. This will copy the link. 

Digital Theatre Plus

Do not use any sort of prefixes here! 

The most recommended method is to copy the permalink from the UMBrella record for the video. if you copy the URL from the browser, be sure to let users know they can click on the sign in button on the Digital Theatre Plus site, type in their UMB email and click Next so they can be sent to the UMB login screen.  

The links in UMBrella are specially constructed to bring users directly to the UMB screen, which is why we recommend that. 

DOI 

A digital object identifier (DOI) can be used to link to electronic articles. Add following URL to the beginning of the DOI https://go.openathens.net/redirector/umb.edu?url=https://doi.org/[DOI]

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/umb.edu?url=https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000000501

Ebook Central Books

Below the Read and Download buttons, select Share Link to Book link

Ebook Central Book Chapters & Pages

From the toolbar above the book content, select the Share Link Icon.

EBSCO Articles, Books & Journals

From the Tools section on the right, select Permalink.

EBSCO Search

From above the results, select the Share button. A small box will pop up. Copy the Permalink.

EBSCO Flipster Copy and paste the URL from the browser address bar.  No need to add any sort of prefix.  

Films on Demand - Videos 

From below the video, select the Share button. Then select Embed/Link and copy the Record URL

Films on Demand -Collections

Select a collection and a Page Link will appear in the above (and to the left of) the collection name

Gale Databases

From the top navigation, select the Get Link button.  

Google Scholar Searches

Copy the URL in the address (navigation) bar

JSTOR (also includes Artstor)

Copy the URL under the publication/item information. Add prefix, https://go.openathens.net/redirector/umb.edu?url=

Kanopy

From below the video information, select the Share link.

NexisUni - Articles & Sources

From beside the article title, select the Link to this Page icon. 

NexisUni - Searches From beside the "Results for: [search term]", select the Actions link. Then select Link to this Page

Oxford Music, Oxford Art

From below the title and author, copy the DOI link and add prefix, https://go.openathens.net/redirector/umb.edu?url=

Ovid Articles

From the links above the article, select the Email Jumpstart link. Copy the Jumpstart URL and add prefix, https://go.openathens.net/redirector/umb.edu?url=

ProQuest

From the article, select the Abstract/Details link. From the Details section, copy Document URL.

ProQuest Search

From the row of links above the search results, go to Recent Searches. From the row of the desired search, select Other Actions. Select Get link.

PubMed

Copy the URL in the address (navigation) bar

Skillsoft

After launching the book, go to the list of tool icons and expand it, by clicking on the More Options icon.  Select the Share icon and copy the link either directly to the section or summary page.

UMBrella Records

From under the "Send to" section in the middle of the item record screen, select Permalink.

WorldCat Records

From the top of the record, select the Share button.

   

OpenAthens Linking Exceptions

No Prefix Please!

For the following databases, do not add any prefix. They will use the account/institution information in the link to prompt authentication. If you need to remove ezproxy.lib.umb.edu from an old link, use our Deproxifier

We recommend the database platforms' built-in persistent link tools, which are typically accompanied by the label, permalink or share link. These persistent links will typically have account info in them.

EBSCO authtype=ip,shib&custid=s5071694
Gale mlin_b_umass
Kanopy umb
Proquest.com (except Pivot and African American Heritage, which still need prefixes) accountid=28932
Proquest Ebook Central umboston
Skillsoft umb
Digital Theatre Plus no account info.  Users can just log in with their UMB email.
Boston Business Journal username/password resource. Use the following link: Boston Business Journal
Vimeo-hosted videos username/password resource. Use the UMBrella link.  
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