Introduction
The FIM4L (Federated Identity Management for Libraries) Working Group aims to develop a library policy for federated authentication which is broadly supported by libraries and publishers. The group forms part of LIBER’s Strategic Direction on Research Infrastructure, which is one of the key pillars of the LIBER 2018-2022 Strategy.
This is a library-led working group to further the usage of FIM technologies by providing guidelines for libraries on how to deploy such technologies while at the same time preserving the privacy of users.
The key concern of FIM is that libraries must be at the core of managing the privacy of users when they access library e-resources. When federated authentication is implemented, users authenticate with the Single Sign-On (SSO) service of their institution. Depending on the configuration of this SSO, a user can remain anonymous or not. It is up to the institution, the library, to maintain this and protect the privacy of its users. As such, FIM4L contributes to upholding the principle of academic freedom.
The group was initiated within the AARC project and now maintains its own website.
Feel free to view the group’s latest publication, LIBER FIM4L Recommendations 2020 v.01, which is also available on Zenodo.