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Accessing Digital Library Resources (off campus)
- How do I access Digital Library resources off campus?
- What is a Central Computing Service (CFS) username and password?
- How do I use my CFS username and password to log in?
- How do I use 'institutional login'?
- How do I use individual resource passwords?
- Access using NHS Athens
- Further questions
How do I access Digital Library resources off campus?
When you are using a machine which is not on the University network (off campus) you will be required to login to access Digital Library resources (such as electronic journals and databases) by being prompted to either:
- Enter your University IT account (CFS) username and password OR
- Use the Institutional login then your CFS username and password OR
- Use individual resource passwords
What is a University IT account (CFS) username and password?
In order to use our electronic resources and ensure that you receive your email correspondence from the Library you need to register for and use your University IT (CFS) account. Once you have registered for CFS, most of the Library’s electronic journals, books and databases can be accessed off campus.
These resources are for use only by University of Leicester staff and students. Usernames and passwords are for personal use only, and must not be divulged to anyone else.
How do I use my CFS username and password to login?
From the list of Databases and Electronic Resources or your My Subject page and select the resource you wish to use. You will be prompted to log in using your CFS username and password.
Enter your CFS username and password as requested.
When searching for journal articles via Leicester eLink from any of the Library web pages you will also be prompted to login using your CFS username and password.
How do I use Institutional login?
Some resources require us to use a different method for validating who is accessing them. For these resources you have to confirm that you are from the University of Leicester. The system the University of Leicester is using is called OpenAthens.
At the resources website locate the Login box which will either say "Login via UK Federation" or
via UK Federation or Login using "Shibboleth" or "Athens ID". You will then be sent to the UK Access Management Federation screen. Enter University of Leicester in the search box and then choose University of Leicester from the list displayed:
At the Athens Authentication point click on the Alternative login link. DO NOT type your CFS username and password into this box
You will now be sent to another search box. Type University of Leicester and click ‘Go’.
Choose University of Leicester from the list displayed. You can then choose to store 'University of Leicester' as your home institution in your browser so that you do not need to repeat this operation every time you use this service.
You will now be sent to the University of Leicester Authentication Point for Athens (institutional login). Please enter your CFS Username and Password and then click the Login button.
How do I use individual resource passwords?
A few resources continue to use individual resource usernames and passwords for both on and off campus access. A list of these is available on the Passwords page.
When you are off campus you will be asked to login to the passwords page using your CFS username and password to verify that you are entitled to use these resources.
Access using NHS Athens
NHS Athens is used to authenticate access to many of the electronic resources available to NHS staff. All NHS staff and medical students on clinical placement may apply for an NHS Athens username and password. Details are given on the NHS Athens website.
From September 2008 all first and second year medical students are eligible to be registered for NHS Athens. This will take place at an appropriate time in the medical course.
Further Questions
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions page.
