MSU Libraries to begin transition from EZproxy to OpenAthens in May
Beginning in early May, the Michigan State University Libraries will be moving to a new system, OpenAthens, for accessing online library resources from off-campus. This change affects how users sign in to journals, databases and other electronic resources. This move will require faculty and staff who utilize stable links (also called permanent links) for library resources in course materials, syllabi or research documents to update those links to comply and work correctly with OpenAthens.
The decision to move from EZproxy to OpenAthens came after an August 2025 assessment conducted by the MSU Libraries to inform future access management strategies. The assessment included a comparison of EZproxy and OpenAthens, with the recommendation to move to the cloud-based OpenAthens because of the platform’s approach to authentication and user access, which are based on university credentials rather than campus IP addresses as used by EZproxy.
While the work to switch from EZproxy to OpenAthens will begin in May, the full migration will take place in phases. EZproxy will be maintained temporarily for IP-only resources and immediate stability through 2026, and both IP and SSO options will be retained where available to help ensure continuity for users.
For questions about this transition, including assistance with creating or accessing stable links, please contact the MSU Libraries Discovery Services team at (517) 353-8700 or via our Ask Us page.