As we celebrate 30 years of helping organizations around the world, our mission to remove barriers to knowledge has never been stronger. We have long recognized the unique needs of libraries with simpler requirements. That's why today, we are proud to launch OpenAthens Connect – a product years in the making, and successfully piloted with organizations across multiple countries over the past year. Connect bridges a gap in the industry by offering a simple, core-based, and affordable single sign-on solution.

OpenAthens Connect marks a milestone for the library world: a product designed to empower libraries and organizations with fewer resources to offer secure, seamless access to digital content without the complexity of traditional authentication systems. It brings remote access to all, including those with simpler needs or tighter budgets.

This is especially relevant for librarians working with limited IT support and time, who strive to provide access to digital resources despite constraints in capacity or technical knowledge. Connect is intuitive and user-friendly, with built-in guides that make it easy to offer secure access to students – whether they are in the library or at home.

While many organizations still rely on older authentication methods like IP recognition or basic username and password systems, they are looking for solutions that better meet their specific needs.

OpenAthens Connect offers a different approach: effortless authentication for organizations on a budget, focusing on what truly matters: secure, reliable, remote access and reporting insights.

Core-featured, only the essentials

OpenAthens Connect addresses these challenges by focusing on connecting users to digital resources and providing essential reporting to support informed decisions about subscriptions usage. We have intentionally removed all the extra features that complex organizations need, to deliver a simple and core-focused solution. No added complexity.

Connect offers easy access to up to 20 publishers, with the flexibility to choose from thousands; from the world's biggest vendors, to smaller, specialized providers.

Empower your library to do more with less

OpenAthens Connect is easy to set up and manage, with helpful in-product guides, that support librarians every step of the way. It is designed to be maintained with no technical expertise or ongoing IT support.

This user-friendly approach includes language flexibility, with Spanish and English available to support non-English speakers – more languages will be added over time. Beyond language support, Connect integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Entra and Google user directories, working with your existing systems rather than requiring new infrastructure.

It also includes an integrated library portal, allowing librarians to customize it for their users, so they can easily find and access the library digital resources.

Bridging the authentication gap

For over 30 years, we have led the market with our premium product, OpenAthens Compass, supporting more than 3,200 libraries nearly in every country around the world. While many libraries benefit from advanced solutions like Compass, we know that others have simpler requirements. For them, the current market offerings can feel overly complex or beyond what they need, leading many to rely in outdated and insecure authentication methods.

Built for simplicity, powered by expertise

OpenAthens Connect upholds our mission of removing barriers to knowledge. It was developed with the deep expertise and industry knowledge of the OpenAthens team, filling this industry gap, empowering more libraries to do more with less.

OpenAthens Connect; Core-featured. Nothing unnecessary, only the essentials.

To find out more OpenAthens Connect, get in touch and see how this solution can support your library's needs.