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Now, if you haven't already, please log in to Alma.
High level overview of electronic resources
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- Ebooks and electronic journals are ordered just like their print counterparts (See acq training), but don't require any item or shelf prep work. Individual title purchases may start with patron requests or the work of selectors. New requests are tracked in the Eresources group using ERIN, a workflow managing tool.
- Electronic In most cases, electronic content lives at the vendor/publisher site, and we essentially lease access to that content via licenses.
- Generally speaking we purchase Harvard-wide electronic access - authenticated use is via ip address. Off campus access goes through the proxy server, for which users must use Harvard credentials (e.g., Harvard Key). A few resources require users to create an additional user account (e.g., WSJ, Financial Times).
- There are many different models for ebook publishing: ebooks take many forms. Integrating resource, pdf or html versions of the print book, downloadable, etc...
- Once purchased and available on the publisher site, books and journals must be activated in Alma for users to be able to find them. This happens via the CZ.
- CZ records are activated in Alma, which creates an instance of the same record in our IZ. Any updates to the CZ record from Ex Libris will be reflected in our IZ records automatically.
- Records from the CZ can be enhanced with additional subject headings, etc. in the metadata editor.
- We get standardized COUNTER reports for journal and book usage via Alma's SUSHI service. These reports inform decisions about whether to keep or cancel low use journals, or buy additional content for heavily used titles.
- Troubleshooting Problems: occasionally we lose access to eresources, sometimes because the publisher detects suspicious activity from a Harvard account, but problems can occur for any number of technical reasons. Troubleshooting electronic resources is a daily activity and can involve staff from LTS and HUIT. Access problems are usually tracked using Footprints tickets.
- Journal cancellations, end of life for ebooks: When libraries cancel journal subscriptions, we often retain access to the years that our subscription was active (not always!). In these cases, we update the coverage statement in Alma to reflect our entitlements.
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- Example: search for 'Arts Therapies in the Treatment of Depression' (1-315-45441-6)
- if no IZ records, check CZ
- click on Portfolio List
- find correct portfolio in list (Ebook central), click 'activate' - creates new portfolio
- click on blue house icon to view new portfolio, click 'edit portfolio'
- click linking tab - from here you can test access
- note proxy settings: do you need to change? (no)
- in header, click 'view all collection's services' - note proxy settings on 'additional' tab
- further work: Relink to another bibliographic record
- are we done?
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