Skip to content

4Cast #109: Everything you need to know about July 1st

Posted in 4cast, Bing, OPLIN, and Research databases

This early edition of the OPLIN 4Cast foreshadows the OPLIN website and database changes effective tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM. We think you and your patrons will be pleasantly surprised at how intuitive and how useful the new websites and databases are.

As always, we welcome your feedback.

1. The new place to search databases articles
Before:
The user would go to oplin.org and either type their search term into the OneSearch box, or they would click on the “databases” link down the side and then conduct their search.

Now: Users will be directed to http://ohioweblibrary.org for a new search interface that will bring back not only their search results, but a list of sources and other possible subjects to assist with narrowing the search.

NOTE – A new Ohio Web Library logo should replace any instance of the OPLIN logo on your web pages. The new image, which should be linked to http://ohioweblibrary.org , can be found here:

Low resolution (for on your web page)
http://www.oplin.org/oplin/logos/owl_logo.gif

High resolution for print materials or for enlarging:
http://www.oplin.org/oplin/logos/owl_logo_hires.tif

(Someone had difficulty with that link because of browser settings, so if you need to, you can use this link instead: http://oplin.org/oplin/logos/owl_logo_hires.zip )

Additionally, there is a widget available for use on your web page. Simply paste this code as one line where you want it to appear, and users can conduct searches right there from your web page.

<script language="JavaScript" src="http://oplin.org/common/owl_widget/owl_search.js"></script>

2. Oplin.org is now just for you!
Before:
All information for librarians and the public was mixed together in one web page.

Now: Since the public doesn’t know what an “OPLIN” is, we moved their tools away from oplin.org, to http://ohioweblibrary.org and now the only thing left on www.oplin.org is information you will need about OPLIN products, services and support.

There is a new layout and design and a very handy search box to help you find exactly what you need.


3. More for you at ExploreOhio
Before: Discover Ohio was the source for authoritative Ohio information. Often, though, it was confused with the Ohio Department of Travel and Tourism.

Now: We changed the name and the look, but you will still find all of the same great info! After July 1st at 8:00 AM, check out http://exploreohio.org

4. Statewide Databases are changing.

1.) [NEW PURCHASE] Facts on File Science Online will be http://www.oplin.org/facts

2.) [NEW PURCHASE] Worldbook will be http://www.oplin.org/worldbook

3.) [NEW PURCHASE] Worldbook Kids: http://www.oplin.org/worldbook-kids

4.) [NEW PURCHASE] WorldBook Spanish: http://www.oplin.org/worldbook-spa<

5.) [UPGRADE] Wilson’s Biographies Plus Illustrated is being upgraded to Wilson’s Biography Reference Bank, and the link will stay the same: http://www.oplin.org/bios

6.) [UPGRADE] Learn-A-Test/Learning Express has been enhanced to include computer skills training.
Additional software (available free online) is necessary for this to work. You will be prompted to install it if it’s not already on your machine. If you have any questions during installation, please contact the OPLIN Support Center at 1-888-966-7546 or at support@oplin.org.

Unless you have chosen to subscribe to these next three titles on your own, please remove all links to them from your website.

7.) [UNSUBSCRIBED] Ohio Capitol Connection will no longer be available as a statewide database. OPLIN will be including a search of the ohio.gov domain, however. This should provide basic access to Ohio government documents that are freely available on the Internet.
If you wish to continue access to OCC on your own, contact the vendor:
Rotunda, Inc.
21 W. Broad Street, Suite 1000
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.227.5820 (phone)
614.228.5897 (fax)
info@rotundacollection.com

8.) [UNSUBSCRIBED] Encyclopedia Britannica (which includes Annals of American History, Encyclopedia Universal and World Data Analyst)

9.) [UNSUBSCRIBED] Access Science

Footnotes:

  • Since their use has been very minimal lately, OH! Teach, OH! Kids and OH! Teens no longer exist. Instead, we will recommend links to Internet Public Library.
  • If any of your links to OPLIN have “controller.php” in them, they will not work after June 30th. You can find replacement links here: http://oplin.org/databaselinks
Share