OpenAthens is an authentication service that offers you a more secure and flexible way to access Library-subscribed electronic resources from both on and off campus.

Single Sign-On: you will only need to authenticate once using your university credentials during a single browser session to access Library electronic resources for the next 8 hours. You will not be asked to authenticate again regardless of the number of different content platforms you visit during that session.

More ways to access content: you can now use your university credentials to access subscription-based resources directly from many publisher sites without the need to first navigate to the Library website, giving you the flexibility to start your research from wherever you are.

Access resources as you normally would when using Library platforms such as Library Search and the AZ databases page.

When accessing online content from publisher sites, look for an OpenAthens or Institutional login option. Search for the University of Sydney Library when asked to “Find your organisation/institution”, then follow the prompts to sign in with your university credentials. If you see the University of Sydney’s name appear twice when trying to find your institution on a publisher site, please choose the option “The University of Sydney Library”.

Some platforms may ask you to select your federation when logging in, so please select OpenAthens Federation if needed.

Each publisher site can look a little different and not all platforms will support OpenAthens authentication. To find out what the Library has access to, please visit our AZ Databases and eresources page.

If you encounter access issues, please see our Frequently Asked Questions for troubleshooting tips or reach out to Live Chat for assistance.