From 0 to 100 in 16 weeks: how to revolutionise a library with secure hosted authentication and discovery — the case of DSTO Research Library (DSTORL) [slides]

ALIA Information Online 2015 Conference, 2-5 February 2015, Sydney: at the edge.
 
Abstract:
 
This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) discusses challenges faced by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation Research Library (DSTORL) in operating services within a shared and highly secured IP environment. A major change to existing connectivity arrangements to online resources and services in June 2012 resulted in the suspension of seamless access and the reintroduction of individual usernames and passwords for DSTO’s extensive range of online resources. The impact on DSTO researchers and Library operations was swift and immediate. A project was initiated to identify, evaluate, test and implement a viable, secure and dynamic solution that would not only restore seamless access to our resources but also extend and exceed current online service delivery using a unique approach to hosted single sign on (SSO) authentication. A further objective was to combine this technology with a customised web scale discovery service. This paper explores the challenges confronting many government libraries in delivering electronic resources and services via restricted and highly secure environments and how one library was able to exploit an opportunity to pioneer an innovative approach and reposition itself as an important enabler to research.