Improving remote access to resources allows students to study easily at Silpakorn University

Silpakorn University’s libraries offer many kinds of digital resources, from a variety of vendors. But library users only log in once to access them, even off campus, because library staff have made remote access to resources simple.

The Thai university is a leading center for creative industries, delivering 220+ study programs to 33,000 students across six campuses. That means investing in digital resources from providers specializing in art and design, architecture, social sciences, science, technology and more.

Study and research practises at Silpakorn are changing, and library users expect to work off campus on their own devices. Staff in the university’s three libraries wanted to do more than just provide them with remote access to resources. They wanted to improve access too, by removing the need for users to log in multiple times and remember different passwords.

Improving remote access to resources

That’s why, in 2022, librarians implemented OpenAthens Compass to authenticate library users wherever they choose to work. It is our premium, SAML-based single sign-on solution for complex library environments like the one at Silpakorn.

Now the library’s users only sign in once, using their credentials for the campus network portal SU-Net to access databases, journals and e-books as well as the university’s own research, theses and artworks.

Librarians chose OpenAthens Compass for its security and privacy features, as well as reporting tools. They also welcomed ongoing support from our locally based partner EBSCO. EBSCO helped from planning right through the set-up. It gave guidance, help with system configuration and coordinating communications with vendors, and assistance with testing before the system went live. Its expert team customized the implementation and made sure OpenAthens Compass is integrated within the university’s wider digital library ecosystem, including the institutional repository SURE, and EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS).

Ongoing support

The EBSCO team resolved issues quickly, kept the project moving forward and reduced the library staff’s workload. Four years later, EBSCO still supports Silpakorn University’s libraries with training, resource connections, troubleshooting and configuration if issues arise with database access.

Benefits

Librarians at Silpakorn have said OpenAthens Compass is improving remote access to resources by making the process much more streamlined. Users understand it more easily and librarians spend less time giving guidance. OpenAthens Compass is helping students do their best work.

It is also providing detailed user data and reporting that helps with service planning and managing resources. Librarians say they may want to customize their authentication solution further in future – an option that is always possible with this product.

Thinking about single sign-on?

These thoughts from Silpakorn University’s librarians could help you get started:

• Look at the issue from the library user’s perspective. How many steps must they go through to access resources when they’re off campus?

• Review your institution’s system infrastructure, including user account systems, current authentication systems, subscribed databases, e-books and journals – and which authentication methods each provider supports

• This isn’t a project for the library alone, so get your IT team on board and choose an authentication solution provider that provides real, ongoing support

At OpenAthens we offer extensive, long-term support for all our customers. Having EBSCO as our local partner provides customers in the Asia Pacific region with unrivalled levels of support and guidance.