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Transforming: Systems & Technology

Federated Authentication: Does Enhancing User Experience Mean Libraries Need to Sacrifice Privacy?

Sunday, June 25, 2023
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CT
Location: McCormick Place, W176ab
For online users, libraries play the important role of facilitating easy access to resources. The choice of authentication method directly affects the user research experience. Single sign-on using Federated Authentication is a common mechanism for surfacing enhanced functionality, but can raise concerns about privacy. Does supporting an enhanced user experience mean libraries need to sacrifice privacy?

This session will introduce practical, real-life applications for Federated Authentication, and outline specific actions libraries can take to protect patron privacy. Library and Vendor panelists will share recommendations, best practices and tools available to ensure successful access and privacy in the evolving web environment.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define Federated Authentication, particularly how it differs from IP and proxy authentication, connects library systems, contributes to a “seamless” and enhanced research experience, and affects patron privacy
  • Relate the junctures of the Identity Provider > Federated Authentication > Library Vendors to their own systems and exercise control over data release, based on related best practices
  • Anticipate implications for user privacy, authentication and successful access from evolving web technologies

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