InC-Library

The InCommon Library Services collaboration formed in 2007 to explore implementing access to library services and electronic resources using Shibboleth authentication. Shibboleth provides single sign-on convenience to protected resources. Patrons use their campus userID and password and Shibboleth leverages the existing campus identity management system for authentication. The vendor no longer maintains a list of IP addresses, nor an identity database, but instead accepts information provided by the campus identity system (through Shibboleth).

Phase I

In phase I, the collaboration studied the issues involved in Shibbolizing library access pertaining to various user groups, including students, faculty and staff, and walk-in library users; as well as methods for providing remote access for users with university credentials. Also studied was a combination of Shibboleth and EZProxy. EZProxy can use Shibboleth for initial user authentication, providing a single login for both remote access and campus resources, as well as a seamless user experience when transitioning individual resource access from IP to Shibboleth. Phase I of the project included six institutions: Cornell University, Penn State, UC-San Diego, The University of Chicago, University of Maryland, and the University of Washington.

Phase II

Phase II of the collaboration will involve IdPs that are implementing Shibboleth and/or the Shibboleth/EZProxy combination for access to protectd library resources.

What is Shibboleth?

For an overview of Shibboleth Single Sign-on and Federating Software, follow this link to the Shibboleth website.