Access and Passwords
There is a wide range of databases and electronic journals accessible through the Faculty Library web pages and University Library web pages. Most of these can be accessed inside the .cam domain without a password. If you wish to use these resources outside Cambridge you will need a Raven Password. Raven is a service provided by the University of Cambridge Computing Service that allows students and staff of the University to authenticate themselves in order to use resources on the web. Raven passwords are available only to current staff and students of the University, and all new undergraduate and postgraduate students automatically receive a Raven password along with other Computing Service passwords when they first register (see http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/new-students/).
If you are a returning student and have previously used an ATHENS Password to access electronic resources, please read the following information.
From September 2007 Cambridge University will be introducing a replacement for the ATHENS authentication system. Although current unexpired ATHENS accounts will continue to work during this Academic Year the University will not create or distribute any new ATHENS accounts from September 2007. All new users will use RAVEN to authenticate themselves as current staff or students of the University and obtain access to ATHENS protected services. Existing ATHENS users are encouraged to move to using RAVEN during this year.
For more information please see the University's Frequently Asked Questions page on the changes to ATHENS:
http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/electronicresources/athens_faq.html