OhioLINK Members: If you have not already done so, you must set a new Ostaff password to login to Ostaff or Member Portal.

Weekly Update, December 8, 2025

December 8, 2025

LSP Migration

Announcements 

Last DUX WG open call, Dec 9, 10AM

Please register for the last Discovery and User Experience (DUX) Working Group open call on December 9 from 10-11AM. We’ll celebrate successes, reminisce about difficult moments, and share information about how we’re planning to move forward with new updates and the Alma Next Discovery User Experience (NDE) that is around the corner.

Watch Me Work: Making and Using Alma Norm Rules, Dec 15, 10AM

Please register to join Rebecca Belford (Oberlin College) of the Cataloging and Metadata Working Group for a demonstration of making, testing, and running norm rules on a set of records for cleanup, using the syntax documentation, ExLibris Developer Network, and existing rules as starting points. Norm rules can also be applied at the point of import. Additionally, there will be a brief demonstration of the rules that Oberlin uses with both Connexion and batch imports.

New OhioLINK Identity Management system arrives next week

OhioLINK has been preparing a new Identity Management (IDM) system that will make it easier to change Ostaff passwords and also will strengthen security for cloud-based platforms. There are three important changes related to the upcoming rollout:

  • Dec 9-16, Ostaff account freeze. OhioLINK will hold any Ostaff account requests from December 9-16 when the system goes live. Self-service password resets can still be used.
  • Dec 15-16, Member Portal downtime. The Member Portal will be unavailable from 8 a.m. ET December 15 through 9 a.m. ET Dec. 16 while we install the new IDM and connect it to Member Portal and Ostaff.
  • Starting Dec 16, new Ostaff passwords required. Watch for emails on December 12 and 15 that will have instructions for changing passwords and links to new Ostaff pages.

OCLC planned maintenance: Dec 20 thru Dec 21

This maintenance will span a 12-hour window from Saturday, December 20, 4 p.m. to Sunday, December 21, 4 a.m. It will impact Connexion, CONTENTdm, EZproxy (hosted), FirstSearch, WorldShare and other services. Due to the complexity of this maintenance, the window may extend beyond the anticipated schedule.

OhioLINK office closed Dec 24 through Jan 1

The OhioLINK central office will be closed for holidays and Ohio State Winter Recess from December 24 through January 1. Tickets will be monitored during this time. If you need to report an emergency outage during this time, please contact the OARnet 24/7 Service Desk at oar.net/support or 1-800-627-6420. To expedite the issue, please identify the report as an OhioLINK issue, provide them with the name of your institution and your contact information. For all other questions and non-emergency issues, please email OhioLINK Support or complete the support form on our site and we will follow up as soon as possible.

New policy: User-facing notes for O’Reilly Online Learning items in Primo

The User Experience Policy Team (UXPT) and the Library Advisory Council (LAC) recently passed a policy regarding user-facing notes for O’Reilly Online Learning platform in Network Zone records. OhioLINK has added these user-facing notes described in the policy so that they will display in Primo results from the O’Reilly collection. The goal of the notes is to add additional explanation for end users within the Primo interface on O’Reilly’s unusual authentication process. Notes appear underneath the “O'Reilly Online Learning: Academic/Public Library Edition” link in the View Online section of the book results page in Primo. As always, if you have any questions you can reach out to your UXPT representative or to OhioLINK support.

Introducing the OhioLINK Alma/Primo Listserv

To further support information sharing among members, we have created a new Alma/Primo listserv (ohl-alma) as an opt-in collaborative space. Participants in the new listserv are encouraged to share their Alma/Primo accomplishments—large and small—exchange documentation, and ask questions about workflows, display issues, reports, and more. The listserv may also help the community identify emerging sub-topics or groups that may benefit from dedicated lists or alternative communication tools. Join the ohl-alma list. See additional information about other OhioLINK lists.

For faculty: KSU call for proposals for lecture series, deadline Jan 16

The 2026 Jerry M. Lewis Lecture Series seeks to advance the scholarship of May 4, 1970, and the Vietnam War era. This year Kent State is welcoming proposals from faculty at any Ohio institution of higher education. Proposals will be accepted until 5 p.m. January 16th, 2026. Visit the Jerry M. Lewis May 4 Lecture Series web site for more information. Questions can be directed to the Dean of Kent State University Libraries (kburhann@kent.edu).