Weekly Update, September 30, 2024

September 30, 2024

LSP Migration

  • Ex Libris is delivering each institution’s Alma environment to LSP Project Leads.
  • The Training and Documentation Working Group has posted new outlines for functional area training for Acquisitions, E-resource Management, Physical Resource Management, Fulfillment, and User Management, along with a downloadable Training Progress Tracking Chart (for your own use).
  • The basic Alma and Primo online training recommendations are still available.
  • The LSP glossary is now searchable.
  • On October 2, Independent and 2-Year institution CIOs/IT staff will be briefed on LSP progress. The IUC CIO briefing was September 17.
  • Your campus LSP Project Lead is your LSP expert. They can answer any LSP question. If they don’t know, they’ll know where to find it.

Announcements

Welcome Melissa Hill and Laney Knight!

We are excited to announce two new librarians will be joining OhioLINK to enhance support and services for our members. Melissa Hill joins OhioLINK from Ohio Wesleyan University as our new Electronic Resource Analysis Librarian. Melissa will manage electronic resources and open access processes for OhioLINK libraries, including configuring systems, performing analyses, and troubleshooting issues. Laney Knight joins OhioLINK from Ex Libris as our new Consortial Systems Librarian. Laney will support the migration and implementation of Alma and Primo VE through project management and technical instruction, and will be the primary contact for member library LSP support. Melissa and Laney will be in the office on October 21.

Annual Membership Report

We’re pleased to share the Fiscal Year 2024 OhioLINK Membership Report. Our progress would not be possible without your valuable collaboration and expertise. Thank you. (You’ll need an Ostaff account to be able to take advantage of many links in the text. If you don’t have an account yet, please ask your manager to request that one be created for you.)

Last week for faculty to apply for OhioLINK OER Course Redesign Grants, Oct 4

Please pass this information along to any faculty/instructors that might be interested in learning more about teaching with Open Educational Resources (OER). Over and over, we heard that lack of time and funding to explore open alternatives are the two main barriers to converting to teaching with OER. OhioLINK Affordable Learning is continuing to offer OER Course Redesign Grants to address those concerns. The program runs November 4 - January 24, 2025, and requires approximately 4-8 hours of asynchronous work, with a synchronous Zoom discussion. Learn more here.

Apply for OhioLINK funding for the 2025 OEN Open Education Librarianship program by Oct 11

OhioLINK Affordable Learning advocates for the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) to reduce the costs of course materials for students. In support of that goal, OhioLINK hopes to develop a team of librarians to help faculty find, adopt, and incorporate OER into their courses. The Open Education Network (OEN), a national OER advocacy organization offers a Certificate in Open Education Librarianship Program designed to meet this very need. Ten OhioLINK librarians are completing their certification this month, joining a group of eight already certified. To continue to build this expertise within the consortium, OhioLINK is sponsoring up to two scholarships for the 7-month OEN certification program in 2025. Apply by October 11. Find more information here.

New Director Orientation, Oct 18, 10AM

Each year OhioLINK provides an orientation for new leadership at member libraries. This is especially useful for library directors who are new to the state and do not have previous experience with OhioLINK. However, it also can be a great review those who are not new. This year’s meeting will be held in person at the OhioLINK office at 10AM. Details have been sent to the All-Directors list. If you have any questions, please contact Tasha Bryant-Willis.

Vendor Information

Enhance Your Users’ Experience with LibKey, Oct 22 or 23

Libraries, including many OhioLINK members, use LibKey to overcome common access barriers like broken links, complex resolver menus, retracted articles, and paywalls. LibKey integrates seamlessly with discovery services, databases, browser extensions, and reading lists, including with Alma and Primo. The content is geared toward existing customers but may be helpful to new customers too. Join Maria Ziemer, MLIS, Director of Global Outreach at Third Iron, to discover how libraries can leverage LibKey's superior linking technology within databases and the Primo discovery platform. You will learn:

  • How LibKey technology delivers fast, reliable, and seamless full-text access.
  • How LibKey can save students, faculty, and researchers time, reduce help desk load, preserve scholarly integrity, and decrease unnecessary ILL requests.
  • How to configure LibKey NOW using your current link resolver settings in databases to simplify your transition to ALMA/Primo next year.
  • How to integrate LibKey with Primo via a customizable API to enhance the user experience from Day 1.

These webinars are identical. If you can’t make either time, a recording will be posted to Ostaff. No registration required.

Professional Development

2024 ALAO conference registration open for Nov 7 & 8

The 2024 ALAO Conference Planning Committee is excited to announce that registration is open for our ALAO Annual Conference! Help us celebrate our 50th conference anniversary! The theme for this year's conference is Ohio Academic Libraries: Past, Present, & Future. Register for the in-person pre-conference, “AI and the Future of Academic Libraries: Insights and Strategies,” a hands-on workshop sponsored by The Ohio Health Sciences Library Association on November 7 at OCLC Conference Center. On November 8, join colleagues for the keynote by Dr. G. Michelle Collins-Sibley, as well as engaging presentations, lightning talks, and interactive poster sessions. Register now!

From Threats to Solutions: Cybersecurity in Academic Libraries, Oct 8, 2PM

The Scholarly Networks Security Initiative (SNSI) invites you to learn about the evolving cybersecurity landscape, practical strategies to implement at your institutions, and resources to support ongoing cybersecurity efforts. Hear from an expert panel of speakers who have extensive experience in authentication and security challenges faced by small to mid-sized institutions. They will discuss the implications of the impending ‘cookie-apocalypse’ and explore the unique role that libraries can play in cybersecurity. Find more information and register here.

Save the Date: NOTSL Fall Meeting, Nov 22

Join us for the Northern Ohio Technical Services Librarians (NOTSL) Fall General Meeting, focused on AI in Library Technical Services. This event will explore the impact of artificial intelligence in key areas of library technical services, including cataloging, acquisitions, and collection management. Our keynote speaker, Terry Reese, Head of Digital Initiatives and Infrastructure Support at The Ohio State University Libraries, will discuss AI and its role in Libraries & Technical Services. More details and registration information coming soon!