What is LibKey Discovery? 

LibKey is an intermediary web service provided by Third Iron that works between your browser and the publisher of a publication. It automatically determines the best source for the full text and redirects you directly to it, if necessary after authentication via Shibboleth.

LibKey Discovery automatically checks all platforms available to our library (publisher websites, databases, open access sources) for each hit and redirects you to the best possible full-text version of the article with a single click. The display is compactly integrated into the hit list and detailed view, reducing detours via paywalls and intermediate pages.

How to use LibKey Discovery in Primo

• Blue LibKey links indicate the functions.
• Three buttons appear for suitable matches:
  • "Download PDF" leads directly to the PDF file of the full text.
  • "Read article" leads to the HTML version of the full text.
  • "Show magazine contents" leads to the table of contents of the magazine issue in BrowZine.

  
  

• Magazine covers are displayed automatically.
• After clicking on "Download PDF" or "Read article", a LibKey loading page will open briefly. The PDF will be loaded in the background and then displayed.
• Information on withdrawn titles: Instead of the LibKey links, the link "Withdrawn article" appears with further information.

  
  

  
  

Advantages at a glance

• Direct PDF access with one click.
• Automatic selection of the best possible full-text version of the article.
• Significantly fewer broken links and "paywall dead ends".
• Uniform, compact display in hit list and detail page.
• Additional information on withdrawn articles.

Data protection

• LibKey does not process any personal data, except for the connection data commonly used by web services (e.g. IP address, browser type), which may be further processed anonymously for statistical purposes.
• The University Library has adapted the integration of the service to ensure that no personal data is passed on to the service provider when searching the catalogue alone. Only when you follow a specific link to the full text of a publication will your connection data become visible to the service provider and the provider of the full text.
• If a Shibboleth login is required to access the full text, LibKey will redirect you to this login, but will not process it itself.