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OPAL Updates and Tips

OPAL Update April 15, 2021

by Heidi Beke-Harrigan on 2021-04-16T17:07:00-04:00 in ALAO, Events, GEER, Member News, OhioLINK, OhioNET, Springer | 0 Comments

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Feedback about your OhioNET membership and the services we offer is crucial to helping us improve the ways we support Ohio's libraries.

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Phone Extensions Have Changed at OhioNET


Today our phone service provider changes from RingCentral to Zoom. While the OhioNET main phone numbers have stayed the same, the extensions are now 3 digits with a 0 tacked on to the orignal 2 digit extension. For example, extension 28 is now 280. 

Local number: (614) 486-2966 plus extension
Toll free: (800) 686-8975 plus extension
Fax: (614) 486-1527


Films on Demand GEER Records Will Not Be Loaded into the OPAL Catalog


After a careful analysis of the records, we've determined it is not feasible to load the Films on Demand GEER packages into the OPAL catalog. This is due to the unique, library ID based URLs required for each institution and the limitations inherent in the loading processes involved in our shared environment. Unique links (rather than the usual shared OhioLINK common URL) are also necessary for customizations, additional content your library subscribes to, and accurate usage counts. In making this determination we also considered the short-term availability of the resources.

Selecting the Films on Demand packages in EBSCO Holdings Management and including your unique, proxied URL in database A-Z lists and guides will provide reliable, permalink-friendly access points. 


Feature Films for Education Update


Access to the Feature Films for Education collection (part of the OhioLINK GEER resources) has been activated and will run through May 31, 2022. The Feature Films collection is separate from the other Films on Demand resources with its own URL and some differences in functionality, such as not being able to create segments. The unique URLs and institution-specific codes were sent out by OhioLINK to the Leads last week. Initially, there was an issue with off-campus access to the Feature Films for Education collection through the OhioLINK proxy, but that has since been resolved. 

For EBSCO Holdings Management you will want to select the “Feature Films for Education” collection and enter your institution’s ID code from the spreadsheet. This will be the same code entered for the other Films on Demand packages. 

Any necessary adjustments to EZproxy configurations have already been made, and the local proxy prefixes requested by Infobase have been submitted for all OPAL institutions. We've received confirmation that they have been added, which will enable users to create permalinks and access video links off-campus.


Springer eBook Access Issues are Ongoing


A number of OhioLINK institutions (including some OPAL members) are experiencing ongoing problems accessing Springer titles. We have been working closely with OhioLINK to get this issue resolved, and they have been in touch with the vendor. If you are getting an ebook paywall instead of access to titles, please let us know and we will add you to the OhioLINK support ticket.


Upcoming ALAO Sustainability Interest Group Event Features Baldwin Wallace

This month marks the 51st Earth Day and the 149th Arbor Day. Chuck Vesei, director of the Baldwin Wallace Libraries and past Co-Chair of the ALAO Sustainability Interest Group (SUSIG), will be joined by Franklin Lebo, Assistant Prof. of Sustainability at BW (with whom Chuck co-teaches a sustainability course), to give a presentation on major themes in environmentalism and sustainability today.  All are welcome to tune in to the event on April 23 at 11 a.m. via Zoom.
Join Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87832632668?pwd=UGt1a3Nxb1k5M3RJWmh0aCtMMmhPQT09
Meeting ID: 878 3263 2668
Passcode: 179522


Save the Date for Virtual OpenCon 2021


OpenCon Cleveland is an annual event that celebrates the benefits of open education to student learning. Faculty, students, librarians, instructional designers, and administrators are all welcome to attend this free virtual conference on Thursday, May 13 and Friday, May 14, 2021. Register for OpenCon here: https://forms.gle/J5a2KuL4Xfn8V8oX9.


How OhioLINK Implementation Teams Work

New to OPAL/OhioLINK or want a refresh about Implementation Teams? This week's OhioLINK Webinar focused on the roles of Lead Implementers (Leads), Patron Initiated Circulation (PCIRC), and E-Resources, as well as the Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center Advisory Council. What do these teams do? Who are the members? Where can people find more information on Ostaff? If you missed the session you can view the video on the OhioLINK Ostaff webinars page (usually posted a week after the live webinar). 

The next webinar, Ask OhioLINK Anything, will be an open Q&A session on May 12.


Upcoming OPAL Meetings

Circulation COI Meeting
April 21, 2021
10:30 am

Cataloging COI Meeting
April 28, 2021
10:00 am

 


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