LDAP Authentication New Option for Schools

Last summer, OverDrive piloted a new method of authenticating users that has become increasingly popular with our school partners: LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol). Using LDAP allows users to sign into their OverDrive-powered website using their existing network username and password that they are already very familiar with. Once LDAP is setup for your OverDrive service, there is no additional maintenance on user accounts required! In many cases, the setup is as easy as filling out a brief form including the specifics of your LDAP server, and allowing the OverDrive servers to connect to it. We also support working with LDAP over SSL.   Common LDAP systems include Microsoft Active Directory, Novell eDirectory and Apple Open Directory. Users will still sign in directly to your OverDrive-powered website, as they have previously, to check out and download digital titles. Authentication happens in real-time, so we query the LDAP database and confirm if the user is valid at the point of signing in. User updates such as new or removed users or updated passwords are seen immediately on our side as a result. Partners using LDAP authentication can also still take advantage of the full range of reports that they are accustomed to.   LDAP is an optional authentication method suitable for individual schools or school districts, corporate libraries, or any institution with a closed network. For partners that currently use our Library Card Manager because their library system (such as Follett Destiny) does not have a compatible protocol to communicate with our servers, LDAP is effective in automating the authentication process and eliminating the need to add new users manually.   The first school district to go live with LDAP authentication was Leander ISD in Texas, using their Novell eDirectory product. We also worked with the Marlborough School in California to transition their existing Library Card Manager account to LDAP authentication using Microsoft Active Directory. Since then, dozens of schools have started using LDAP authentication, and currently about 7.5% of our partners are utilizing this method. Several of the latest schools to take advantage of LDAP authentication are the Chicago Public Schools (IL), the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township (IN), and The Dalton School (NY).   If you are interested in this authentication method for your OverDrive digital library or have any questions on how it works, please contact your Account Specialist.   Melissa Higey is an Account Specialist at OverDrive.

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