What are the timelines for updating Library links?
Answer
This information is for faculty at RDP.
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, will be changing 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.
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 your courses (including the citation and Library database name).
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.
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."
August 2023 - Faculty Update their Courses
Before the start of Fall Term classes, faculty must manually update links to Library resources in their courses. Instructions will be provided.
The Library will offer drop-in sessions for faculty to support this change. Dates will be announced closer to this time.
The old "NEOS barcode and PIN method" to access resources off-campus (including within a Blackboard course) will no longer work. It will be replaced by the new "RDP email and password method."
