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Guide to OER: Open Educational Resources

Check with Your Librarian about eBook Options

It's possible that our library may have an eBook version of a title you assign for a course, or we may be able to purchase an eBook version. Check with your librarian on possibilities.

The Library has many places to find eBooks:

Using eBooks

Tips on Using Online Articles

Copyright fees can make course-packs very expensive! Upjohn Library may already be paying for electronic subscriptions to the journals (sometimes a hefty institutional price!)

It's fair use to link students to electronic articles in the library's collection. Here are some tips for doing so successfully:

1.) Link to articles
Linking to articles is always fair use. Uploading or distributing copies is fair use some of the time. 

2.) Use a stable link that includes the proxy prefix which triggers a login
When using subscription resources, the web address you see at the top of your browser won't always work again for another user. See What is a Stable Link? below for tips on how to create stable links.

3.) Provide full citation info
If the link doesn't work, the student may be able to find the article if they have full citation info. (And, library staff have something to work with to help them.)

4.) Check your links before the quarter starts
Check to be sure links are working. It's easier if links can be fixed, before students panic. A good practice may be to check the links from home to check for off-campus access.

What is a stable link?

Stable links for library resources are links that can be reused, for example to link to an online article as a course reading.

In many library online resources, the URL (address) that displays in the navigation bar of your web browser is not a stable URL.  There are two steps to confirming that a URL will work for all library users:

  • The URL must be persistent. URLs that appear in web browser navigation bars are often dynamic, meaning they expire with the web browsing session.
  • The URL must include K's proxy prefix.  The proxy prefix allows off-campus users to login so publishers can recognize authorized K users.

Library OneSearch provides Permanent Links that are stable and that will direct users through the K proxy.

Detailed Record View from Library OneSearch with Permalink button highlighted

For linking to other library resources, there are two steps:

  1. Find a Permanent Link or Stable Link option.
  2. Check if the link includes the K proxy - http://kzoocoll.idm.oclc.org/login?url= - and add it if needed.

 

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