OpenAthens software to integrate with EBSCO tools

OpenAthens, the single sign-on software that helps libraries connect their patrons to online subscription content, has announced a global partnership that will see its identity and access management services integrated with EBSCO content and discovery tools.

EBSCO’s worldwide network of representatives will help to drive awareness and sales of OpenAthens in key regions and markets across the world including North America, Europe & Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Libraries’ and publishers’ identity and access management requirements have grown increasingly complex in recent years, with diverging user expectations, increasing demand for off-site access, changing business models and the growing insecurity of IP authentication shaping the development of more sophisticated systems such as those offered by OpenAthens.

EBSCO’s customers will benefit from a proven system that enables easy online access to all the items in a library’s collection with one login, with comprehensive, granular usage statistics for organisations and personalisation for individuals. OpenAthens will benefit from the visibility afforded it by EBSCO’s existing relationships with tens of thousands of libraries representing millions of readers.

Stuart Pearce, executive director of OpenAthens, said: 'This new agreement extends our successful partnership agreement with EBSCO in Australia and New Zealand to the rest of the world. It brings together the leading single sign-on solution for libraries with the leading discovery service provider and leading provider of electronic books and journals. We look forward to offering the benefits of OpenAthens to EBSCO’s existing and new customers.'