What are the timelines for updating Library links?
Answer
This information is for faculty at RDP.
What has changed?
Due to a change required by our vendor, the service used to facilitate off-campus access to Library resources (e.g. articles, ebooks, streaming videos, etc.), EZproxy, changed in July 2023.
As a result, links to Library resources (permalinks and embed code) within Blackboard courses will need to be updated by each instructor to ensure continued access, as the old links will no longer work after the transition.
The old "NEOS barcode and PIN method" to access resources off-campus (including within a Blackboard course) will no longer work. It has been replaced by the new "RDP email and password method."
What are the timelines?
August 2023 - Faculty Update their Courses
Before the start of Fall Term classes, faculty must:
- Update links to Library resources in courses (Blackboard, course outlines, etc.), by following a few simple steps. Learn how.
To support this change, the Library is offering drop-in sessions for faculty.
- Remove any reference to the previous method of off-campus access (Library barcode number and NEOS PIN). Replace with suggested wording:
Library Resources can be accessed off-campus using your RDP email address and password.
July 2023 - Transition
Library staff will update each database. When a database is updated by Library staff, faculty will be able to update the individual links within their Blackboard courses to each specific resource within that database. However, since the work done by Library staff will occur over a few weeks, faculty should wait until the Library staff have completed work on all databases before beginning to update links within courses. Communication will be sent out once all databases have been updated and faculty work can begin.
Also during this time, when a database is updated by Library staff, the method to access the resource off-campus will change from the current "NEOS barcode and PIN method" to the new "RDP email and password method." Learn more.
April to June 2023 - Planning
Although links can’t be updated during this time, faculty can prepare for the transition by making a list of all Library resources used in their courses (including the citation and Library database name).
