Introducing OpenAthens Connect: a new era for effortless authentication
A milestone launch for the library world: simple, secure access for organizations with essential needs, backed by three decades of industry expertise
- (1888PressRelease) October 17, 2025 - In its 30th anniversary year, OpenAthens is proud to unveil OpenAthens Connect, a brand new product designed to empower libraries and organizations with smaller number of resources to offer secure, seamless access to digital content - without the complexity of currently available authentication systems.
For three decades, OpenAthens has been the trusted leader in federated authentication, helping over 3,200 libraries across nearly every country in the globe connect users to knowledge. Now, with the launch of OpenAthens Connect, OpenAthens is expanding its library offering to support its mission, bridging an industry gap by providing a secure and seamless authentication to those less complex organizations that have long struggled to find a solution that fits their needs and budgets.
Effortless authentication for organizations on a budget
OpenAthens Connect is a simple, affordable single sign-on solution tailored for less complex libraries and organizations. It offers:
• Secure remote access to digital subscriptions on and off campus.
• User-friendly interface with no technical expertise required.
• Access to thousands of publishers, with the ability to choose up to 20.
• Built-in library portal, basic reporting, and multi-admin support.
• Available in English and Spanish, with more languages on the way.
OpenAthens Connect makes it easy to manage user access and deliver a seamless experience on and off campus for academic libraries, public institutions, private organizations and non-for-profit.
Completing the library offering
Earlier this year, OpenAthens marked a major milestone by renaming its flagship library product to OpenAthens Compass, giving it a distinct identity from the brand in order to reflect its leadership in the industry and prepare for growth. The launch of OpenAthens Connect now completes the library offering- introducing a secure, seamless authentication solution designed for organizations with less complex needs. Together, Compass and Connect offer libraries around the world a flexible, scalable path to seamless access.
A milestone for the industry
This product launch comes at an important moment for the industry. With technology becoming an indispensable part of our lives and learning, many libraries still rely on outdated, insecure authentication methods due to budget constraints or lack of technical support. OpenAthens Connect bridges that gap, offering a complete solution that includes federated authentication and supports managed proxy, while backed by 30 years of expertise.
“OpenAthens Connect is more than a product – it is a promise to libraries everywhere that secure, user-friendly access to digital resources should be an option for all,” said Jon Bentley, commercial director at OpenAthens. “We are proud to launch this product in our anniversary year and continue to support our mission of removing barriers to knowledge.”
About OpenAthens
OpenAthens is a global leader in federated identity and access management, helping libraries and publishers connect people to knowledge. Founded in the University of Bath in 1995 as the “Athena project” it’s aimed at simplifying access to digital content as the Internet started to become more present in our daily life. Today, OpenAthens is part of Jisc, a not-for-profit membership organisation based in the UK, that delivers the vital digital infrastructure and shared services that inform, protect and promote education and research.
OpenAthens is trusted by over 3,200 libraries in nearly every country in the world, ensuring their students and researchers have secure remote access to digital resources both on and off site. With a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and simplicity, OpenAthens continues to shape the future of digital access - one connection at a time.
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