This guide introduces you to the Athens authentication service.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
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1. What is Athens?
Athens is a registration system which controls access to many of the databases and other resources purchased by Information Services.
Athens allows the same username and password to be used for a variety of databases. These are hosted by a number of different services, and they can all be accessed via the eLibrary Gateway (available through the Information Services website or the portal) or, in most cases, directly via the web address of the host.
Students and staff need to follow different procedures to obtain an Athens username and password:
2. Using the self-registration interface to obtain a Classic Athens username and password (first year undergraduates only)
If you are a first year undergraduate you can access most resources using your campus (Novell) username and password.
When you try to access a resource, you will see an option to log in using alternative methods. Follow the instructions under section 6 to access resources in this way.
In some cases, however, you may not be able to login using your campus (Novell) username and password and instead you will be asked for an Athens username and password. To obtain this, go back to the registration software available on the PCs in the Information Services Computer Resource Areas (ISCRAs) and other networked PCs in the Libraries. PCs will display the Windows XP login dialog box. Log in to the software by keying in the username register (no password) and click on OK. Then follow the link to create an Athens username and password.
Alternatively, you can register by visiting
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/is/self-reg
3. Using the self-registration interface to obtain a Classic Athens username and password (all postgraduate and research students; undergraduates other than first year)
Students should obtain an Athens account by using the registration software available on the PCs in the Information Services Computer Resource Areas (ISCRAs) and other networked PCs in the Libraries. PCs display the Windows XP login dialog box. Log in to the software by keying in the username register (no password) and click on OK.
Alternatively, you can register by visiting
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/is/self-reg
You will be given an Athens account as well as a username for use on the local PC Network.
4. Forgotten your Classic Athens username and password?
If you have forgotten your Athens username and password you can look it up again by visiting the self-registration software at https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/is/self-reg
N.B. Your Athens password remains as the initial default password you were given when you self-registered. If you have forgotten what your default password is, click on the show default password button to display it. If you want to change your Athens password, you will need to go to the Athens website at http://www.athens.ac.uk
Log in to MyAthens and follow the links. If you forget the password after you have changed it, please contact your Subject Librarian.
5. Using a Self-registration Account to create a Personal Athens Account (staff)
Staff should set up an Athens Personal Account by using the Athens interface. You first need to obtain details of your Self-registration account from your Subject Librarian. (Full contact details can be found at http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/is/
support/library/subject.phtml.) You can then access the Athens web site and create your own Personal account:
Go to http://www.athens.ac.uk using any PC on campus
· When presented with the Athens interface select Self-registration.
· Type in the Self-registration Account username and password (which you have obtained from your Subject Librarian).
· At the next screen, fill in the online form:
- add to the characters shown beside the username to create a personal username (N.B. your username consists of the whole string including the characters already shown)
- select a password
- complete the rest of the form
- Click on the Submit button and wait for the confirmation screen to appear.
· Make a note of your personal username and password; it should not be shared with others.
Should you forget your Athens details, please contact your Subject Librarian.
For more help see the User guide to Athens – creating your own personal account at
http://www.athensams.net/myathens/
selfreghelp.php
6. Logging in to resources
A wide range of resources, including full-text electronic journals and bibliographic databases are accessible with an Athens account.
For a full list, see the eLibrary Gateway, accessed from the Information Services website http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/is or from the portal http://my.nottingham.ac.uk. All resources requiring an Athens username and password are identified.
There are two different way of accessing resources, as below:
First year undergraduates
When you reach the login page of the service you wish to access, select the option to log in using alternative methods. Then, search for the word Nottingham and select University of Nottingham. Confirm this choice and then click on the log into Athens using Novell password option. Enter your Novell username and password and log into your chosen resource.
Some resources will require you to use a specific Classic Athens username and password. If this is the case, you will not see the option to log in using alternative methods. Instead, you will need to request an Athens username and password. (See section 2: Using the self-registration interface to obtain an Athens username and password)
Undergraduates, other than first year; all postgraduate and research students; staff
Once you have an Athens account you may access resources via the eLibrary Gateway or, in most cases, directly via the web address of the host. You do not have to go to Athens to access resources. The only reason you might wish to return to the Athens site would be in order to amend any of your registration details which are held there or to change your password.
7. CHEST code of conduct
Users of the databases purchased by Information Services are bound by the CHEST Code of Conduct and its associated Copyright Acknowledgement
http://www.chest.ac.uk/conduct.html
All University of Nottingham employees and students are assumed to have read and agreed to abide by the standard Code of Practice for Users of the University Computing Facilities, see
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/is/about/
policies/it-code-of-practice.phtml
This applies to the use of the network and its resources and which encompasses the CHEST conditions.
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