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InCommon Library Services Collaboration
The InCommon Library Services collaboration formed in 2007 to explore implementing access to library services and electronic resources using Shibboleth authentication.
Access to library online resources and services has skyrocketed as opportunities for distance learning and the user expectations for availability of online information have increased. Providing access to these resources requires substantial time and resources by libraries, as well as often being complex for the users.
Phase I - Understanding the Problem
Use Cases and Technology Recommendations
What: Libraries face special situations in making online resources available. Some resources, such as the catalog, may be open to all who enter the building. For other resources, such as specialized databases, the library may have a vendor contract that restricts access to those with university credentials (faculty, staff and students). Add to this the desire for campus-wide single sign-on, remote access for those with university credentials, and providing a positive experience for walk-in public users; and the situation becomes complex.
Who: Several libraries formed the InCommon-Library collaboration to explore solutions to these various issues. After exploring various potential solutions, InC-Library settled on a hybrid, using EZProxy (for remote user authentication) and Shibboleth for single sign-on convenience and federated access to external resources.
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.
See the Phase I page for use cases and presentations and other information. Phase I included six institutions: Cornell University, Penn State, UC-San Diego, The University of Chicago, University of Maryland, and the University of Washington.
Phase II - Piloting Technology Approaches
You can help the InC-Library collaboration take the next step and implement the EZProxy/Shibboleth hybrid technology. This will be a collaborative effort among several schools to use the hybrid solution in providing access to protected library resources, as appropriate, to campus-based users, walk-up users, and remote users with campus credentials. We are looking for colleges and universities interested in implementing this solution -- and working with others in making it better. To participate, contact Steven Carmody (Steven_Carmody AT brown DOT edu.
Participate in Phase II
Join the Phase II pilot community -- this will be a collaborative effort, with schools working together through implementation and deployment. If you plan to implement Shibboleth and/or EZProxy as a solution to accessing protected library resources, please contact Steven Carmody (Steven_Carmody AT brown DOT edu) to join Phase II.
Use Cases and More
See the Phase I page for background information on the collaboration, use cases, presentations and more.
Sponsored Partners
This page has links to other federations that have, as members, a number of library resource providers.