Researchers and other library users want remote access to research materials. To access valuable password-protected resources — for instance online subscription based journals — users have to register.

To avoid needing new credentials for each individual web application, academic users should be able to login with their existing institutional credentials. To achieve this, user databases from universities and academic institutions have to be connected to password-protected web applications. This connection is based on mutual trust. First, the user logs in at the home institution (which checks the validity of the password). Then, a signal is sent to the protected website that the user is trustworthy.

These trust networks (identity federations) already exist, but mostly on a national level. There is a strong need to further expand this network of trust on the international and interdisciplinary level. To make this happen, the interoperability of existing Authentication and Authorisation Infrastructures (AAI) for Research and Education needs to be improved.

LIBER’s Role

As part of the first phase of AARC, LIBER gathered contributions to a gap analysis and promoted federated identity management to the library community. LIBER also ran workshops to increase awareness and develop skills in the use of federated identity management.

LIBER’s involvement in AARC2 relates to the Research Infrastructure section of our 2018-2022 Strategy.