Accessing 'My Favourites' on old LibrarySearch

The LibrarySearch system was upgraded and moved to another server on 3rd December. Unfortunately we were unable to migrate each user's 'my favourites' and saved searches.

What are 'my library favorites'? 

If you used LibrarySearch or website last year to search the Library catalogue for books or databases for articles, and you saved any records from the search results or if you save any search queries then you may have information saved under  ‘My Favourites’. We upgraded our library system at end of last year and we were not able to migrate individual’s saved records and search queries. Below we outline how you can login to the old system and retrieve your saved list or make a record of it. You have until 20 March to do this. After 20 March we will be switching off the old system. NOTE that you cannot place requests through the old system.

To obtain a record we suggest you email your LibrarySearch favorites to yourself or print out the list and save it.  (The email gives a very brief record, the print option provides much more information.)

In order to do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to old LibrarySearch  http://libsearch.unitec.ac.nz:1701/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=unitec 
2. Login  (click login on top right)
3. Click My Account
4. Click My Favourites
5. Select all the favorited items you wish to have a record of or click top checkbox to select them all
6. Click on the Print; or E-mail link on right, complete the short form that pops up and click SEND
   

           

Old LibrarySearch

 

New LibrarySearch

Note: Unitec Staff and students were first notified of this on 27 November 2014 via the NEST and Library website and facebook

New Library System has gone live!

Hurray – The new library system has gone live! Read on for a summary of how finding books, requesting, borrowing and renewing has changed.

Finding books

You can still search for library books the same way in LibraySearch, but after you search there are a few changes to the results list as follows:

• A new tab called "Find in Library" has replaced the old "locations" and "request" tabs.
• Use “Find in library” for more about where to find print books and journals (including their library shelf location) and request options
• To request items, log in at the top right of librarysearch, and go to 'find in library'>'request'
• If we have more than one edition/version of a title, click the title link or the “view versions ” link (on the right) for a list. The latest edition should display at the top of the list.

You still use “View online” to access ebooks and ejournals, and 'Details' to see the full catalogue record of the book or item.

Finding Databases and eJournals:

• Find databases for your research in your subjects's study guide. We are phasing out the 'Databases A-Z' list in April. However we are cataloguing the databases so you will be able to find and access them by searching LibrarySearch
• Find eJournals by searching the catalogue, or using the 'eJournals A-Z' linked from LibrarySearch top menu
 

Handy new borrowing features:

• Items will be automatically renewed 3 days before the due date, unless someone else has requested it or you’ve reached your renewal limit. If it can’t be renewed, you will receive an email so you know to return it.
• You can ask to get a due date receipt emailed to you from the desk. We will no longer print due date slips at the desk but you can opt to get a printed due date receipt when you borrow books at the self-check machine.
• You will receive a monthly email listing your current loans and the total balance of any outstanding fines as at the date of the email. You can also check your library account online by logging in from the Library webpage.

NOTE: If someone needs an item you have, it still gets recalled. We will contact you with a new, earlier, due date by email. You must return a recalled book by its new due date or you will incur very high fines.

More information about borrowing is available at: http://library.unitec.ac.nz/services/borrowing.htm

Questions and feedback are welcome – post a comment to this blog or email library@unitec.ac.nz

IMPORTANT NOTICE for those with 'my favorites' in LibrarySearch

The LibrarySearch system was upgraded and moved to another server on 3rd December. Unfortunately we were unable to migrate each user's 'my favourites'.

Access to the old LibrarySearch is being made available until 20 March 2015 so that you can get a copy of your favourites.  NOTE that you cannot place requests through the old system.

To obtain a record we suggest you email your LibrarySearch favorites to yourself or print out the list and save it.  (The email gives a very brief record, the print option provides much more information.)
In order to do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to old LibrarySearch  http://libsearch.unitec.ac.nz:1701/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=unitec 
2. Login  (click login on top right)
3. Click My Account
4. Click My Favourites
5. Select all the favorited items you wish to have a record of or click top checkbox to select them all
6. Click on the Print; or E-mail link on right, complete the short form that pops up and click SEND
   

           

Old LibrarySearch

 

New LibrarySearch

Student lab in B110 Hub closed from 3rd December for renovations

The Student Computer Centre in the Mt Albert Campus hub (near the coffee kiosk) will be closed from 3 December 2014 until mid/late February 2015.

This is because the Hub in B180 and B110 is undergoing extensive renovations this summer, which are currently planned to be completed in mid-February.

Please use the Main Library (B110) for your Computing and Printing/Copying/Scanning needs. The Main Library has 52 student PCs and also laptops for loan.

Library Service Disruption - 29 November to 4 December

The Unitec Library is changing to a new Library Management System. As a result there will be some disruption to library services between 29 November until the new system goes live overnight on 3-4 December.

You will still be able to use LibrarySearch to look for books and resources. However some information may not be up to date during this time such as whether the item is currently available. You will also not be able to log into LibrarySearch to check your account or request items.

The libraries will be open for users. Check the library website for opening hours. 

We will still issue items but recommend you borrow/return resources prior to or after these dates to avoid any inconvenience.

Returned books will not be scanned in during this time. (However when they are scanned in the library, the return date will be backdated, so you will not be fined as a result of this disruption.)

Book/Item requests (such as hold shelf requests) will not be processed during this time. If you have an urgent request please ask library staff for help.

During this time the library system will not email nor text library notices such as overdue reminders and request pick up notifications.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the change.

Need some exam tips and techniques?

Check out the hints in the Study Toolbox

 http://libguides.unitec.ac.nz/examtechniques

Extended hours at Main Library during November

Mt Albert Main Library will be open extended hours over the study and exam week period, from Saturday 1 November to Thursday 20 November

• Monday - Thursday:  8am - 10pm
• Friday : 8am - 7pm
• Saturday and Sunday : 9am - 7pm

The other libraries’ hours and the Student Computer Centre hours are not being extended. Their hours will remain the same as during semester time.

See the library hours page for full details.

Library opening hours for Labour Day

Please note that the Unitec Main library will be open on Monday 27th October (Labour Day) from 9am to 4.30pm. Our other branches will be closed.

What teaching staff need to do to prepare for changes to the LibrarySearch URL

On 2nd December 2014 the URL for LibrarySearch (the library catalogue) will change. This change is due to a major upgrade to Unitec’s library systems which goes live on 4 December and includes library systems being moved to the cloud. We want to let you know well in advance what you need to do to ensure your students enjoy uninterrupted access to library resources.

What you need to do:
•    Make a note before the end of November of where you have used links to library resources.  In particular, check links from your Moodle courses and inside course documents.
•    After the move to the new LibrarySearch on 4 December, check these links, and update them if necessary.  See how to update links below.

More detail about what is changing and needs to be checked

The URL change is likely to cause any links you have to LibrarySearch results to be broken.  In particular, links from your Moodle courses and inside course documents may no longer work.  This includes links to books, e-books, journal articles and exam papers.

1.    The main change is to the URL for LibrarySearch

The current base URL will change to this new base URL:
http://unitec.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do? 

2.    Links to Print books: If the saved URL is for a particular book, other parts in the URL will also have changed, meaning that changing the prefix (base URL) highlighted above will not guarantee the modified URL will find the correct book.

3.    Links to articles: Links from Articles-Express will be affected and changing the base URL will not fix them. However articles linked using the PERMALINK from databases such as EBSCO and ScienceDirect should not be affected. 

4.    Links to saved searches: If you change the prefix (base URL) this should update these links

5.    Library Moodle Block:

Within this Search box on your Moodle page, there is an internal URL which will need to be updated.  Te Puna Ako will update these at go-live date (2nd December). The week after go-live please check all Library blocks in your Moodle courses and advise us by 9 December if they are not working.

How to update links:
1.    Before the end of November – note down the books and articles you have linked to
2.    After go-live check all your links in your Moodle courses and course material – if you find a broken link go to the page with the broken link and change the base URL for the link. Check if the link works. If it does not work go to step 3.
3.    In LibrarySearch find the item you linked to and copy the new URL for the item
4.    Paste the new URL into your Moodle course or document to update the broken link

What is not changing and does not need to be checked
1.    Lib Guides: Direct links to the Libguides website (http://libguides.unitec.ac.nz/index.php - also known as subject guides or study guide) should continue to work
2.    Exam papers: Direct URL link to exam papers should continue to work.
3.    Ebooks: Direct links to ebooks from EBL and Ebrary should continue to work correctly.

Thank you in advance for your assistance, the library systems upgrade includes many benefits for teaching and learning at Unitec and we’re looking forward to introducing you and your students to the new features after go live.

More information for staff can be found on our project page (on the Nest), and there will be further updates and some friendly reminders closer to the go-live date.

If you need clarification or help, please contact your Liaison Librarian or the Project Manager (Tom Nimmo).

How will the upcoming Library System upgrade benefit Teaching and Learning?

Unitec's Library Systems are being upgraded and moved to the cloud. The changes are due to go live on 4th December 2014.  Here are 5 benefits of the upgrade to teaching and learning at Unitec:

1)      Enhanced search,  discovery and delivery of resources

Our discovery layer application (Primo) which we call LibrarySearch (including catalogue) will be upgraded as part of the library system project, and this will integrate better with the new back-end library management system (Alma).  Students and staff will benefit from many new and improved features such as:

• More obvious distinction between physical and online access to items
• Facebook ‘like’ your favourite library books / resources. 
• Add a whole page of search results to your favorites in one click
• Ability to create more complex search combinations by simply ticking boxes to include/exclude certain topics.
• Ability to virtually browse shelves  – ie see a list of all books sorted by the number on the book’s spine

2)      Better access to full-text journal  articles and other e-resources

Data about eJournals and other eResources will be centrally managed and provided as a cloud service.  The data will be updated automatically and more frequently.  This means better access to electronic material as there will be a shorter delay between the database vendor/publisher releasing it and it being loaded into the Library system.

New workflow functionality will enable us to better manage our e- resources which will mean new eResources will be easier to try out, purchase and activate.


3)      Better access to usage information and other analytics

Our new system provides real-time dashboard reporting about how library resources and services are being used by students and staff. The improved access to analytics will make it easier to ensure Library resources and services stay relevant.


4) More frequent upgrades and updates keeping pace with future needs

Moving to the cloud means upgrades and updates will happen automatically and far more frequently. We will share our new system (Alma) with a global community of hundreds of tertiary institutions. Shared requests for enhancements needed to meet future needs for teaching and learning will be given high priority. 


5) Less risk of long service outages

The cloud service environment will provide better business continuity processes in the case of outages. Because Alma and Primo will be remotely hosted we do not have to worry about our servers getting old, and being stranded if one of them packs up.  There will be less likelihood of long outages due to server issues.


Want to find out more?

If you’ve got any questions please don’t hesitate to ask your Liaison Librarian or contact the Project Manager (Tom Nimmo).  Unitec staff can see our project page on the NEST for more information, plus there will be more updates posted on the Library website, Nest and Yammer closer to the go live date.

Take part in our survey and be in to win!

Help us improve Unitec's Library services by taking part in the 2014 survey online at

www.unitec.ac.nz/library-survey

You'll also go into the draw to win one of two ipads!


Open to all Unitec staff and students from 8-22 September

Do you ever need to know about New Zealand Law?

Laws of New Zealand 

... is an online encyclopaedia providing a reliable statement of the whole of the law of New Zealand. 

 It contains commentary that explains points of law as well as reference to the relevant case law and legislation pertaining to particular issues. 

You can search and access this resource from the Lexis Nexis Database.

Staff and postgraduate Endnote sessions

N. B. New times added! Please see below.

Do you find referencing tedious and confusing? Learn Endnote! Endnote takes the hassle out of organising and citing your references, and helps you easily make reference lists. It will change your (research writing) life!

This semester, we are holding Endnote sessions for staff and postgraduate students at the Main Library, Mt Albert Campus, and at Waitakere Campus Library.

Times are:
     
      Friday 19th September 10:30am- 12:00pm (Mt Albert)
      Tuesday 7th October 11:00am - 12:30pm (Mt Albert)
      Tuesday 14th October 11:00am - 12:00pm (Waitakere)
     
Bookings are essential, as places are limited.

Book online here: libinfo@unitec.ac.nz

Or, at the front desk in the Main Library.

Accessing ebooks from LibrarySearch

There are problems with accessing some ebooks. However, you still have access to these ebooks by using a different link.

• Search for the ebook you want in LibrarySearch. 
• Select the Details tab and click on the link that is displayed on the right hand side.

  We apologise for this problem. 

"Game of Loans" Chance to Win One of Five $20 Westfield Vouchers

Did you attend one of our "Game of Loan" events in the Hub Mt Albert this week? If you did you could be in for a chance to win one of five $20 gift vouchers up for grabs!

Simply go to the Unitec Library Facebook page and tag yourself in one of the photos in the "Game of Loans" album by Friday 25th July.

The "Game of Loan" events were held to celebrate and promote the Study Toolbox to new and returning Unitec students.

The Study Toolbox is available by following the "Study Toolbox" link under the "Help and how to" header on the Unitec Library homepage or clicking here.

Library Hours during the Mid-Year Break

From June 28th until July 20th Library opening hours will be as follows:

Main Library

Monday - Thursday:   8.00am - 6.00pm

Friday:  8.00am - 5.00pm

Saturday:  9.00am - 4.30pm

Sunday:  Closed

Student Computing Centre (SCC)

Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm

Saturday:  9.00am - 4.00pm

Sunday: Closed

 

Building One Library

Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm

Weekend: Closed

Waitakere Library and Learning Commons (Te Puna Ora)

Monday - Thursday:  8.00am - 8.00pm

Friday:  8.00am - 5.00pm

Weekends: 10.00am - 4.00pm (Te Puna Ora Closed)

 

Northern Campus Library

Monday - Friday:  8.30am - 4.30pm

Weekends: Closed

For all the library opening hours for the year just click here.