Products & Services / OpenAthens / OpenAthens options in the CARLI Consortia Manager System
Related product OpenAthens

OpenAthens options in the CARLI Consortia Manager System

Revised: March 2, 2026

To subscribe, from your CARLI ConsortiaManager Dashboard, click on the Open Catalog to see the available SaaS product offerings during the "Software as a Service" (SaaS) Cycle, then select the appropriate option(s):

  1. MyAthens Plus
  2. OpenAthens Compass
  3. OpenAthens Set Up Fee

Note: In 2025, OpenAthens was renamed to "OpenAthens Compass" and the vendor introduced a new product called "OpenAthens Connect." CARLI licenses OpenAthens Compass for CARLI member libraries. CARLI does not currently license OpenAthens Connect, which is a "light" version that CARLI's EBSCO representatives said is not recommended for academic institutions.

For more information on OpenAthens, see CARLI's OpenAthens webpage. 

MyAthens Plus

  • MyAthens is an optional library-controlled information portal that is part of OpenAthens.
  • MyAthens has two tiers:
    • MyAthens Basic is available to all OpenAthens customers at no extra charge and includes basic account management functionality and limited customization options.
    • MyAthens Plus is an add-on available for an additional cost that has more features including more customization options, a full list of resources available to the user, and content discovery widget integration.  
  • See the OpenAthens MyAthens website for more information about MyAthens Plus and a comparison of the included vs. add-on versions.
  • CARLI member libraries that are already using OpenAthens and wish to add a MyAthens Plus subscription must select both the OpenAthens Compass and MyAthens Plus options.

OpenAthens Compass

  • CARLI member libraries that wish to subscribe for the first time or continue to subscribe to OpenAthens must select OpenAthens Compass.
  • If a CARLI member library (or an I-Share member library who joined I-Share after 2020) is a first-time subscriber, they must select both the OpenAthens Compass and OpenAthens Set Up Fee options.

OpenAthens Set Up Fee

  • This fee must be selected for any non-I-Share CARLI member library that is a first-time subscriber to OpenAthens after July 1, 2023; that is, the library did not previously "opt IN" to OpenAthens during the CARLI-funded project period before June 30, 2023, and is not a current subscriber to OpenAthens directly.
  • If a CARLI member library (or an I-Share member library who joined I-Share after 2020) is a first-time subscriber, they must select both the OpenAthens Compass and OpenAthens Set Up Fee options.

Every CARLI member library has as least one staff member who is authorized to sign in to the CARLI Consortia Manager system. If you do not know who that person is at your institution, contact CARLI Support at for more information.

If you have any questions, please contact CARLI Support at .