Step 4: update links

Using a new resource access management system requires that you update any links on your library portal to either give users access to relevant content or send them to the login page.

Back to onboarding guide Move on to step 5

The simple answer: redirector links
What are redirector links?

Redirector links take your users to defined landing pages with compatible resources when they are signed in. If you are familiar with WAYFless URLs, our redirector links perform the same function.

Redirector links are used for two main functions:

  1. When coupled with redirector IP bypass addresses they are used to pass users within your network straight to the resource without the need for users to enter username and password and without the need for you to maintain separate links for each resource for local and remote access.
  2. With or without Redirector IP addresses they can be used with link resolvers and portal tools such as library catalogs as they provide a static link you can use as a prefix for target URLs.
How do I make redirector links?

You can make redirector links using the OpenAthens redirector link generator.

This nifty tool simplifies link management by eliminating the need for librarians to maintain two sets of links: one for on-site use, another for off-site.

The link generator encodes the specified target URL and adds it to the end of a prefix address specific to your domain. This format allows this kind of link to be used instead of a proxy address in portal tools such as library catalogs.

If you have a large and varied list of links that need updating, you can bulk upload them in a CSV or TXT file to be processed and updated. You can check your redirector links work for all your resources using the test button.
The not-so-simple stuff

The Redirector uses a consistent format for links comprising of a customer-specific first part followed by a target. The link format has been designed this way so that it can be used in place of a proxy server URL in many situations. The link will look something like this:

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/<customer-domain>?url=

A percent encoded (sometimes called URL encoded) target link is added to the end to tell the Redirector where you want the account holder to end up, e.g:

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/athensdemo.net?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2F

If the resource is not redirectable but only bypass-able, the access URL will be used and the user can only be sent to the general sign-in page rather than the specified target page. The link generator will not work for these resources.