15 January 2026
For the eighth year in a row, OpenAthens’ premium single sign-on solution has earned Platinum in LibraryWorks’ twelfth annual Modern Library Awards (MLAs). Judges awarded Compass an impressive 9.12/10, across quality, functionality, value, and customer satisfaction, based on the feedback from librarians who use the product.
This achievement reflects Compass’s ability to solve the real access challenges librarians face in their day-to-day work. Backed by a team of industry experts, OpenAthens Compass provides secure, seamless access to digital resources while offering clear, personalized guidance that simplifies authentication even for the most complex organizations. This allows librarians to manage their users’ access to subscriptions more efficiently and make informed decisions on renewals.
OpenAthens Compass integrates with existing library systems including learning environments and discovery services. Trusted by more than 3,200 organizations worldwide, Compass serves libraries across nearly every country, offering true single sign-on that allows users to access all digital resources with one login, whether on campus or remotely. It also provides advanced reporting and premium support from dedicated account managers and technical specialists. According to the MLA evaluation, customer satisfaction and competitive positioning both earned 9.3, followed by product quality at 9.1, functionality at 9.0 and service quality 8.9.
These scores reflect what Compass delivers. Backed by industry experts who provide personalized guidance, the solution simplifies complex authentication, allowing librarians to manage user access without technical overhead.
The MLAs were created to recognize the top products and services in the library industry through an unbiased evaluation process. Products are reviewed by librarians who have hands-on experience using them in their own institutions. This ensures scores reflect real-world performance and genuine customer satisfaction.
Jon Bentley, commercial director at OpenAthens, reflected on this achievement: “Eight years of platinum awards means everything to us because this recognition comes from the library community we serve. We started at the University of Bath in 1995 with one goal: solve real access problems. This shows we’re still doing exactly that, more than 30 years later.”
Customer feedback highlights consistent excellence
LibraryWorks anonymized customer feedback to maintain objectivity. The comments left by their customers demonstrate why OpenAthens Compass continues to earn top recognition year after year. One long-term customer said: “My institution has been using OpenAthens for nearly ten years and we have been continually impressed with the level of service we have received. The Support team has been consistently excellent and has provided helpful advice as well as resolving issues for us.”
Other customers highlighted technical reliability and efficiency. One noted that users now “report far fewer authentication problems” since migrating to OpenAthens, while another emphasized how the solution “saves hours of student and staff time across the organization.”
Recognition from the Modern Library Awards program
Kathy Dempsey, producer of the Modern Library Awards program, commented, “it’s hardly a surprise that OpenAthens scored so well. They’ve been a strong force in the industry since their company entered the market in 1995.”