OverDrive content catalog joins OpenAthens Federation
NISO Member News
We are excited to announce that OverDrive, the world’s largest digital content provider, has joined the OpenAthens access management federation. OverDrive took the business decision so it can more easily scale access to libraries in the education and healthcare sectors, creating a more seamless experience for users worldwide.
Based in the US, the B-Corp Certified business works with more than 92,000 public libraries, schools, colleges and universities, and corporates in 115 countries. Its range of services include the Libby reading app, Sora reading platform and Kanopy streaming platform.
Following the pandemic, more organizations are now investing in wellbeing and professional development resources to support their staff, reduce sickness absence and improve retention. OverDrive helps support education and healthcare organizations by delivering relevant content at point of need via the Libby reading app.
One reason for OverDrive’s move to the federated access model is to support the NHS, one of the world’s largest healthcare providers. Previously, OverDrive supported single sign-on via multiple one-to-one connections which large and complex organizations would struggle to support. OverDrive is increasingly being used by NHS trust libraries to provide wellbeing and professional development for staff to access anytime, anywhere.
Key benefits of joining OpenAthens include:
- Scalable, seamless access to more industries and organizations through the OpenAthens access management federation
- Improved security: OpenAthens helps protect published content by working with publishers and library organizations to identify and act on any signs of misuse.
- Reduced overheads: Federated access removes the need for multiple one-to-one connections for sub-organizations.
Founder and CEO Steve Potash said:
“At OverDrive, we believe that knowledge and educational resources should be easily accessible. Joining the OpenAthens Federation is a natural extension of our mission to connect people with the content they need, when and where they need it. By streamlining access for organizations in the education and healthcare sectors, we’re not only enhancing user experience but also helping institutions like the NHS make meaningful impacts on their communities through seamless, secure access to digital resources.”
OverDrive’s mission that all people should have equal access to explore new ideas and enrich their lives through digital content aligns closely with OpenAthens core values of creating simple, secure access to content and knowledge.
Jon Bentley, commercial director at OpenAthens commented:
“OpenAthens connects millions of people each month, securely, to high quality digital resources. It's fantastic that one of the most used resources in our communities, OverDrive, is joining the OpenAthens Federation to help manage access.”
Explore the OverDrive website.
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About OverDrive
OverDrive is a mission-based company that stands with libraries. Named a Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 92,000 libraries and schools in 115 countries with the industry’s largest digital catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, video, and other content. OverDrive empowers libraries and schools by expanding access for all through tireless industry advocacy and consistent innovation. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading platform, Kanopy, the leading video streaming app for libraries and colleges, and TeachingBooks.net, which offers one of the largest catalogs of supplemental materials that enhance literacy outcomes. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
About OpenAthens
We make it easy for people to access knowledge through single sign-on. Our mission is to enable people to achieve great things by connecting them to knowledge and information, whenever and wherever they need it.
We strive to be the world’s most user-friendly single sign-on experience and help more than 3,000 organizations worldwide to provide simple and secure access to online resources for their end users.
OpenAthens is part of Jisc.