We offer flexibility to fit your institution's technical needs. Choose from the following authentication methods:
IP Authentication
IP authentication allows users to access VitalSource Explore content when connected to the university's network or through a proxy server. This method requires:
The university to provide VitalSource with a list of IP addresses or ranges to whitelist. Please see the acceptable IP formats here.
Faculty and students will be required to create their own VitalSource Bookshelf account using their institutional email address.
Off-campus access typically requires connecting through a VPN or proxy server.
Learning Management System (LMS) Integration
VitalSource can integrate directly with the university's LMS for seamless access:
Single sign-on (SSO) allows users to access content through their LMS credentials. Usage data can be tracked within the LMS
Third-Party Integration (e.g.: Open Athens, EZProxy, LMS LTI)
VitalSource integrates seamlessly with your identity provider to provide direct access for faculty and students.
OpenAthens/SAML/Shibboleth/Microsoft/Google auth allows users to sign on with their known university-provided credentials and be taken to a permanent VitalSource account.
EZProxy is IP-based, but can sometimes send a user identifier - depending on the configuration. If a user ID is provided, users can land in the same account each time. VitalSource can also support oAuth.
You can set up an allow list of approved email domains:
The VitalSource admin configures a list of approved email domains (e.g.: @university.edu)
Users create accounts with their university email address
Access is automatically granted to users with approved email domains
If universities would like full control over the exact users who should have access, it's possible to use a roster tool to enable access for specific email addresses.
Do students and faculty need to log in?
Students and faculty will need to log into their VitalSource Bookshelf account to access titles.
How does reporting work on VitalSource?
COUNTER 5.1 reports are available via the VitalSource Admin portal.
Sage Catalyst stats can be harvested using the SUSHI initiative. More information can be found here: https://developer.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040095334-Academic-Library-Compliance-Format
VitalSource also offers an Instructor Dashboard view designed to help instructors to manage their classroom. More information on capabilities and how to login can be found in the User Guide. The platform they will be using is analyze.vitalsource.com.
Can student and COUNTER 5 analytics data be exported from the analytics dashboard?
Yes, you need to be set up with the relevant permissions on your Manage account, but once you are there, the data can then be exported into .CSV or.xls.
What are the key accessibility features of the VitalSource reader?
Catalyst titles use the VitalSource E-Reader. VitalSource has a long-standing commitment to meet the needs of learners of all ability levels. For nearly two decades, they have worked to ensure their products are designed from the beginning with accessibility in mind.
With the recent release of content controls* in the Bookshelf online, mobile, and desktop apps, readers can now:
Reading Options
Screen Readers
Bookshelf is compatible with:
Read Aloud
Bookshelf Online and the native apps have a built-in text-to-speech function
You can read more about VitalSource’s accessibility commitment here: https://success.vitalsource.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360052316273-VitalSource-Accessibility-Commitment
In September 2019, VitalSource was awarded the DAISY Consortium Award for Accessibility in Publishing. In July 2020, they were ranked as one of the top publishing platforms by ASPIRE with an incredible score of 100%.
For general queries about your subscription, driving usage, and more, contact Christopher Goldie at Christopher.Goldie@sagepub.co.uk or alternatively, don't hesitate to get in touch onlinesupport@sagepub.com