What OpenAthens Collects

In order to authenticate to specific resources (databases, e-journals, and ebooks) OpenAthens collects your name, email address, and department when you sign in to the system.

This information is generally not passed on to vendors.  Instead, OpenAthens passes a system-generated numeric ID to resource providers.

Exceptions

• Specific vendors, including ProQuest and EBSCO need your TSTC email address to establish an account. 
• If you wish to opt in to special account features, you may affiliate your OpenAthens account with your name and other personal information.  See Personalization for more information. 

What the Libraries Use

The Libraries use the aggregate data concerning

• resources (databases and publisher platforms) accessed
• user departments or majors
• user internet providers and network locations

The Libraries will not share this data with vendors.

Security

OpenAthens connects with TSTC's central directory to ensure that the familiar TSTC username and password remain the one set of login credentials to access licensed online resources.

Read more about OpenAthens, Data Security, and User Privacy on the Ebsco support site.