Tailored to your needs, ready for your future

Our premium library single sign-on solution provides secure, seamless access to digital resources. Backed by a team of industry experts, it offers personalized guidance and simplifies complex authentication, allowing librarians to manage their users' access to subscriptions without the technical overhead.

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OpenAthens single sign-on solution resource catalog on a laptop screen

Premium support

Say goodbye to technical headaches. Our team of experts provides personalized support at every step of your customer journey, from a tailored onboarding to ongoing customer service, so you can focus on what truly matters.
Personalized to your needs

Every institution is unique, and so is our product. It can be customized to fit the specific needs of your library, regardless of the size, the number of users or resources you manage and how complex they are.
Robust, safe and reliable

We provide a highly secure authentication method trusted by governments, defense departments, healthcare and institutions worldwide. It ensures your users have safe and dependable access to the information they need.
Better user journeys

Meet your users’ preferred workflows by providing them immediate access to content. Quickly get students and researchers to the content they need from global publications by simply authenticating with OpenAthens.
Save time and money

No more struggling with complex technical tasks. Rely on our team of experts, available to help and guide you Monday to Friday, 20 hours a day. Our reporting helps you make smart, data-driven decisions by tracking actual user resource usage, helping monitor cost per user and cost per use. This saves you both, time and money.
True single sign-on

Easy access without relying on IP addresses. We can integrate with the organization’s existing authentication system to create a true single sign-on experience. Once authenticated, your users’ session will stay open for 8 hours so they can navigate seamlessly across different publisher resources.
A complete solution

Our products supports SAML, a highly secure, privacy-preserving authentication method, while also offering a managed proxy service for resources that only support IP-based authentication.
Privacy preserving

Keep your users safe. All the data is encrypted, and only anonymized** identifiers are used by default. However, users can still be identified to prevent cases of misuse.

Access to the only global federation: Access the OpenAthens Federation, the only global federation in the world. You can also connect with the UK Access Management Federation and the InCommon Federation.

Managed proxy solution: With the OpenAthens Complete Solution there is nearly no publisher we cannot connect to. We can even connect you to those smaller ones that have not yet adopted federated SAML authentication.

Advanced reporting: Get detailed, customizable statistics that help you make informed decisions about subscriptions and renewals, while helping prevent access misuse. Download reports and share them with your patrons when necessary.

Advanced access controls: Manage access to your resources across the organization. Set user permissions, create and manage temporary users when needed. You can also provide access to walk-in users through the use of Access accounts.

Premium onboarding: We take care of everything for you, ensuring you have a smooth start.

Dedicated account manager and premium support: You have access to expert technical support, and a dedicated account manager to help you throughout your entire OpenAthens customer journey.

Resource setup support: Enjoy unlimited resource requests, supported by OpenAthens customer success team. We ensure rapid activation and access for your users.

Attribute support: You can determine what to release to which publisher, so they can give your students or group of students access to their resources.

Local directory integration: OpenAthens seamlessly integrates with multiple local directory systems such as Azure/Entra, Okta, Shibboleth etc. We support a variety of integration methods such as SAML, OIDC, LDAP and have a REST-based API for those who want to develop a custom integration.

Reporting dashboard

Our reports area provides insight into provider usage, number of authentications, active accounts, location of successful session logins and much more!

Account management

Create, edit and activate accounts. Assign users to permission sets. Integrate with your organization's active directory.

Permission sets

Create permission sets to control resource access based on departments, faculty, libraries or whatever your organization needs.

Compare library single sign-on solutions

–	OpenAthens	EZproxy	Shibboleth IdP
Admin dashboard	Comprehensive portal for managing all configuration e.g. user management, reporting, and resource management.	All configuration is managed on the server.	All configuration is managed on the server by a Shibboleth administrator.
User management dashboard	Option to create OpenAthens accounts and /or integrate with any local directory. Ability to create personal accounts or access accounts (e.g. for walk-in users, etc.) organization accounts. The administrator can also disable accounts if misuse is suspected.	Text file-based system for user management or the option to connect to a local directory.	No in-built user management function.
Reporting module	Reporting available on any attributes the library wants to see usage on e.g. department and user group, international students, walk-in users, alumni. Reporting API available for data integration with systems such as Tableau or Power BI.	Basic reporting that provides information about remote users’ activity only.	No inbuilt reporting capabilities. There is access to Shibboleth log files or the ability to integrate with 3rd party applications.
Web portal	MyAthens portal available. Provides a lightweight knowledge portal to curate resources and add content discovery widgets.	Not available.	Not available.
Two factor authentication	Can point to an institutional Identity Provider that has been configured for multi-factor authentication.	In development.	Can point to an institutional Identity Provider that has been configured for multi-factor authentication.
Personalization	Users can save their searches/ annotated content/ preferences and login to publishers’ websites that support it automatically.	Access is all based on IP recognition, so personalization is not possible.	Users can save their searches/ annotated content/ preferences and login to publishers’ websites that support it automatically.

MLA

Our Platinum win in the 2024 Modern Library Awards highlights our great customer service and innovation in library access solutions. Thank you to our loyal library customers who scored us so highly six years in a row!

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Helpful resources

What publishers and service providers are we compatible with? Search our database of publishers and service providers that are compatible with the OpenAthens service. Filter on those that are in identity federations, or compatible with the OpenAthens Redirector or managed proxy.
Setup and onboarding. Our detailed six-step guide walks you through everything to consider and carry out when onboarding to OpenAthens. And we’re there to support you at every step.
Listserv community. Our OpenAthens Listserv connects our customers. Join our global community to share best practices, expertise, ideas, and information, ask questions, gain knowledge, explore opportunities and collaborate with each other!

How do I get an OpenAthens account?

Learners or researchers, you will need to speak to the library or information management team at your organization about access to online journals and databases.

How to get an OpenAthens account

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First name*First name*
Surname*Surname*
Business email address*Business email address*
Organization*Organization*
Job titleJob title
Do you have e-journals, databases or e-book subscriptions already set up? Do you have e-journals, databases or e-book subscriptions already set up?
If yes, please provide a list of current subscriptions:If yes, please provide a list of current subscriptions:
How many end-users (e.g. patrons) use your subscriptions? How many end-users (e.g. patrons) use your subscriptions?
How do you currently manage access to your subscriptions? How do you currently manage access to your subscriptions?

Proxy/ IP

Username/ password

Other – detail below
Tell us how you currently manage access to your subscriptionsTell us how you currently manage access to your subscriptions
Which user directories, library systems/ apps do you need OpenAthens to integrate with?Which user directories, library systems/ apps do you need OpenAthens to integrate with?
When are you looking to implement a new access system? When are you looking to implement a new access system?
Are you happy to purchase OpenAthens via one of our third party resellers? Are you happy to purchase OpenAthens via one of our third party resellers?
How did you hear about OpenAthens? How did you hear about OpenAthens?
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Tailored to your needs, ready for your future

We handle the technicalities, you focus on what matters