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When we have access to content through multiple providers managed in Alma

When we have access to an article through multiple providers, you will be taken to a preferred provider. Preferred providers are configured by LTS in consultation with the ITS E-Resources team. A list of preferred providers is available at Configuring the Order of Electronic ResourcesTo add, remove, or change the order of electronic resources, please submit a ticket to the LTS Alma Support Center.

To see the full list of providers for a specific resource, click on the Title in the search results and navigate to the Online Access section: 


Links to articles and content from CDI (Central Discovery Index)

These links are constructed or provided by third-parties. We can report errors so that they are fixed, but often cannot make corrections locally. Detailed technical information from ExL. 

Links to licensed ebooks and other formats managed in Alma

These links are managed by the Harvard Library E-Resource department. For problems, select Report a broken link from the HOLLIS navigation menu. 

Links to HathiTrust

From CDI

Records for public domain content from HathiTrust are a searchable collection in CDI. These will only appear when using the "Catalog & Articles" scope in HOLLIS. These records are harvested by Ex Libris on a periodic basis. 

From Alma (FIG holdings)

For Harvard content scanned as part of Google Book Search, we maintain links in Alma holdings ("FIG holdings"). A subset of links point to Google Book Search, rather than HathiTrust. 

 If the record type is a serial, an online link will not appear in the search results because we cannot verify in advance the extent of the online coverage. 

From HathiTrust API

  • If we do not have a FIG or NET holding in Alma, custom code in HOLLIS will check HathiTrust via API for a match on OCLC number. If the API returns a match, a link is added to the search results. The link will NOT appear in the Online access or Access options section of the full record display. 
  • For links created via the API method, the material will be excluded if you use the Online filter/facet. 
  •  If the record type is a serial, the search result link will say "Try online access in HathiTrust" since we cannot verify whether all volumes of a serial are available. 

Links from Alma holdings ('Online Resource' library / NET holdings / other library holdings)

In general these are links to Harvard scans managed locally (DRS). In some cases links may go to non-Harvard resources. These links are all managed one-by-one by staff. 

MARC field 856 will cause an Online Access button to appear in the search results when: 

  • 856 first indicator is 4 or 1
  • 856 second indicator is 0 or 1
  • 856 $x is NOT keycontent (see  Scanned Key Content)
  • 856 $3 is NOT Table of contents, Publisher description, or Book review

When a link goes to a resource that is not available Harvard wide, it will be in a library holding rather than a NET holding. 

If an 856 link is present and it does not meet the criteria above, it will display only in the holdings section of the full record display. 

Links to Google Books ("FIG holdings")

These are scans from the Google Book Search project for Harvard collections that were scanned. Because HathiTrust also ingests content from Google Book Search library partners, most FIG holdings point to HathiTrust, not to Google


Summary of where links appear and whether they are included in the Online facet


TypeSearch ResultOnline FacetFull record displayHow to handle errors
Harvard Google/HathiTrust scans, aka FIG holdings"Online access" if not serialYes, is includedLink will appear with library holdings
HathiTrust via API 

Link rendered via a real-time API call to Hathi:

"Online access"

No, is not includedNo Hathi links appear here

Link is based on matching OCLC number. Verify our data is correct. If error is with Hathi, contact Hathi.

HathiTrust content in CDI - full-text records from HathiTrust in "Catalog & Articles" scope

"Online access"

Yes, is includedLink will appear 


Online Resources (non-Google, primarily DRS material) (aka NET holdings)"Online access"Yes, is includedLink will appear with library holdings
Other library holdings with 856 fields - any library except NET, FIGNo  "Online access"No, is not includedLink will appear under holding library
Open Library

Link rendered via a real-time API call to Internet Archive. Test is based on ISBN matches. 

Requires separate Open Library login. 

No, is not includedNo Open Library links appear here






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