Accessing e-resources off-campus
If you are on campus you will not need to log in to access most of our electronic resources. You should access all our resources via MetaLib, and there are two options for off-campus access:
VPN
The only way to access all of our electronic resources off campus is to install the Virtual Private Network (VPN) service, also known as 'CampusAnywhere'. VPN allows people connecting from off-campus to access restricted services and information. Your home computer is given the appearance of being part of the RHUL campus network, thus avoiding the need to log in to resources separately.
Find out how to install VPN on your home computer.
MetaLib log-in
You can access a large number of our electronic resources off-campus by using your Library barcode and PIN. Starting first from MetaLib, log in by clicking on the padlock, and then enter your details. Your barcode is the number in the centre of your college/library card. If you don’t know your PIN you can find it on the College Portal 'CampusConnect' by selecting the library tab, or by asking a member of library staff.
But what about Athens?
You may already have heard about Athens authentication. Athens is an access management system which controls access to the library's electronic resources. When you log in to a resource it checks to see if you belong to the institution that has paid to use that resource, before allowing you to link through. At Royal Holloway the barcode on your Library or College card, together with your PIN, functions as your Athens log-in, but you must use your MetaLib log-in (see above) to access these resources.
If you find yourself taken to a resource with Athens validation without going through MetaLib, from a Google search for example or Moodle, it is possible to log in directly. From the Athens login box, select "Institutional login", then "Universities" and "Royal Holloway". This will take you to the RHUL login page where you can enter your barcode and PIN as before. Remember, though, that we do not subscribe to all the resources which are available through Athens.
A word of warning: Athens registration through any route works by creating an enduring cookie on your machine. To security software such as ZoneAlarm or Spyware Doctor, this is a suspicious third party cookie, and they are likely to wipe it. You may have to turn down your security settings, or enter "auth.athensams.net/" as a trusted site, to ensure that this cookie survives. We also recommend turning off auto refresh in MetaLib (there is a link for this at the bottom of the MetaLib page) as that sometimes seems to lose the cookie.
Known issues for off-campus MetaLib log-in access
Science Direct - To access this resource off campus, first log into MetaLib then locate Science Direct. From the Science Direct homepage click on the 'Athens log in' on the top right hand corner of the page. The first time you access this resource from off campus you will be required to complete a simple registration form.
Project Muse - To access this resource off campus, first log into MetaLib then locate Project Muse. Once you have selected the article you wish to view you will be asked for a log in, simply click on the Athens option on the left hand side of the page.