The Library subscribes to an extensive collection of online resources, including more than 900 research databases, that connect uOttawa students, faculty, and staff to a vast body of scholarly literature.
What is OpenAthens?
OpenAthens is a secure access system that helps libraries connect users with online content. As user expectations and technology continue to evolve, the Library has decided to adopt OpenAthens to provide a more modern and seamless authentication experience.
The Library subscribes to online resources on behalf of the uOttawa community, and OpenAthens helps ensure that eligible users can easily access this content from on or off campus. OpenAthens serves a similar purpose to EZproxy, the access solution that has been in place for more than 25 years.
OpenAthens is widely used by academic libraries around the world, with an increasing number of Canadian universities adopting the service.
Key benefits
- A smoother user experience: Users can access licensed resources using a single sign-on process with fewer authentication barriers.
- Better privacy protection: OpenAthens reduces the amount of personal information shared with publishers and content providers.
- Stronger security: The platform uses modern authentication standards that align with the University’s security policies and best practices.
- Improved reporting: The platform offers better tools for analyzing resource usage, helping the Library make informed decisions about collections and services.
What to expect
At the beginning of the Fall 2026 semester, links to online resources on the Library website, including Omni, will be updated to use OpenAthens. Going forward, these new links should be used.
Existing links in other places, such as bookmarks, citation managers, and course syllabi, may stop working as we transition to OpenAthens. If you encounter a broken link, rest assured that the Library still provides access to the content. However, you may need to search for the resource in Omni and update your saved links.
Additionally, the sign in experience will be slightly different. For more information, see “Sign in to online resources”.
If you need help during the transition to OpenAthens, contact the Library at [email protected] or get in touch with your Research Librarian.