The Library pays for subscriptions that enable Queen Mary users to access databases, e-journals and other electronic resources. Some resources are only available on campus but most are available both on- and off-campus. Access to resources is controlled in various ways:

• via IP address control, with access only from computers on the QM campus
• via a proxy server, so that users appear as if they are on-campus when logged in
• via Athens accounts (usually off-campus)
• via publisher supplied usernames and passwords

Athens

• Download the Library's Athens leaflet [77.5KB] for more information.

Athens is an authentication scheme that is used in the UK Higher Education sector to provide access to a wide range of databases (e.g. Compendex, IBSS, Web of Knowledge, etc) and e-journals. Your Athens account identifies you as a current QMUL student or member of staff which then enables you to access the Athens-authenticated resources that QMUL subscribes to.

You can not search Athens for information – it is just an account that allows you to access resources, such as the databases, that you can use to search for information. For example, if you wanted to look for legal information you could use your Athens username and password to login to the Westlaw database of case law.

Athens at QMUL
Your Teaching Service account, i.e. the one that you get from Computing Services, is also your Athens account. When you try to login to an Athens resource, e.g. Westlaw, you will be re-directed to the QMUL Athens Login page. You login with your Teaching Service username and password and you will then be re-directed back to the resource that you want to use.

For the system to work each resource has to know which university you belong to and they do this by looking for a “cookie” in your browser. You can install the QMUL cookie by going to the QMUL Athens Login page and clicking on the Set Athens Home Institution link. Clicking on the Go button on the next page will install the cookie. You only need to install the cookie once on each web browser that you use.

• For an online demonstration of this procedure, see the Athens set up video.

How do I get my Athens Account?
Undergraduate and taught postgraduate students are automatically issued with a Teaching Service (TS) account when they register with the College. Staff and research students need to contact Computing Services to either AthensDA-enable an existing TS account or to create a new one.

Which resources can I access using my Athens Account?
Students can use their Athens accounts to login to MetaLib which provides a single point of access to all of the Library’s electronic resources. A leaflet with more information about MetaLib is available in the Library.

You can also see a list of Athens authenticated resources that are available to you by logging in to the My Athens web page.

Can I use my Athens Account from Off-Campus?
Yes. Your Athens account can be used to access any of the Library’s Athens-authenticated resources from any computer. If you want to use a computer at home or in the Halls of Residence you will need to set up the cookie, following the instructions given above, on that web browser as well.

More Information
If you have any questions about your Athens account please contact Computing Services Liaison (Tel: 5298, E-mail: athens-administrator@qmul.ac.uk).

If you have questions about using Athens to access Library resources please contact your Subject Librarian or e-mail ejournals@qmul.ac.uk