myAU | AU Library | myWCL | Library Home | myLEAGLE Library Account

Pence Law Library Guides

Library Home | Research Guides | LEAGLE Catalog | E-Journals & Articles | Library Databases | Frequently Used Resources | Ask a Librarian

Skip to Main Content

Remotely Access Library E-Resources via OpenAthens

Information about using OpenAthens for authorization to access the library's electronic resources

How to Log In - Current Students, Faculty, and Staff

Authenticating from Pence Law Library Links

When using links to resources found in WCL Library Catalog, the A-Z Databases list, or Subject Guides, OpenAthens will prompt you to log in at the familiar AU login screen:

myAU Sign In

Authenticating from Other Websites

If you locate a licensed digital resource on some other website (not WCL's), look for a login link. (Most publisher websites will provide some sort of login link). Login links might contain terms such as: 

  • "Check access"
  • “Login through your institution”
  • "Access through your institution"
  • "OpenAthens"
  • "Sign In"

While the navigation may vary from publisher to publisher, after clicking on the login link, you will typically be prompted to specify “American University Washington College of Law" and then prompted to enter your AU username and password.  

Visitors (walk-in users) choose 'Sign in with your OpenAthens account', obtained from the library Circulation Service. See the 'Onsite Visitor' tab below for more information.

Onsite Visitors

If you're not a current WCL student, faculty, or staff and would like to use electronic resources like databases, online journals, and electronic books on-campus you'll need a guest login. As a guest you can access these resources anywhere on the AU campus over our RCN-Guest or EagleSecure wireless networks. Pick up your login information from the Circulation desk on the first floor of the Library and then follow the instructions below.

  1. Go to the OpenAthens sign-in page at https://my.openathens.net/auth
  2. Sign in with the provided username and password
  3. Return to the A - Z database list and visit your chosen resource