UL Lexicon
- Leslie, Danica R.
This lexicon document will be a centralized, comprehensive list of key organizational terms used in the operation of the University Libraries. The goal of this document is to provide standardization across organizationally used terms to ensure shared understanding and consistent communication. The lexicon will also provide a reference source for easier onboarding of new UL staff members and govern usage in web and other published content across the organization.
Who | This document is owned by the Website Advisory Working Group (WAWG) |
What | The scope document for the lexicon can be found on the intranet |
Where | This document will live in Confluence to allow for easy access and editing |
When | The lexicon will be revisited by WAWG on an annual basis, ahead of the annual website content audit |
How | UL staff members may submit feedback and/or request updates to the lexicon by submitting a request through this form or by contacting a member of WAWG |
Table of Contents:
Term | Internal Definition | Examples/Notes | Style/Use Notes |
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Core Standard Terms | |||
University Libraries | The system of libraries at the University of Oklahoma, including branches and special research collections. | "other libraries" (defined in the Locations section of the lexicon) are not included | The organization will be referred to as OU Libraries, University Libraries, University of Oklahoma Libraries and First reference, you will use the official name, University Libraries. Possessive form of libraries as a singular entity will be libraries' (i.e. libraries' website)—unless referring to a location then you would use plural possessive libraries's (i.e. libraries's Fine Arts Library). |
user | Someone who uses OU Libraries virtually and/or physically. | User is preferred instead of patron, visitor, etc. Users may include students, faculty, staff, researchers, fellows, community members, etc, but user will be our overarching term. | Always lowercase, unless part of a proper noun. |
Misc. Library Terms | |||
archive(s) |
| Context determines definition. The resource type in Discover applies specifically to WHC not BL5 collections | From SRC: Archives capitalization: when used in the official title or name of something, capitalize it: (example: Chinese Literature Translation Archive, or University Archives). Do not capitalize it when referring to archival research sources in general (example: Students can find archives for their research topics at the Western History Collections.) Alternative term, uncapitalized: “archival collections” |
call number | A group of letters and/or numbers that identifies a specific item in the libraries and provides a way for organizing the libraries' holdings. Two major types of call numbers are the Library of Congress call numbers and Dewey Decimal call numbers. |
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citation | A reference to a book, magazine or journal article, or other work containing all the information necessary to identify and locate that work. | Example: A citation to a book includes its author's name, title, publisher and place of publication, and date of publication. |
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collection |
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| Not capitalized unless proper name. |
data management plan (DMP) | A formal document that describes the data you expect to acquire or generate during the course of a research project, how you will manage, describe, analyze, store, share, and preserve your data. The DMP must describe what steps you are taking to make your data secure and compliant with regulations. It details how data will be accessible and documented for sharing and reuse during and after the project is finished. |
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database | A database may refer to a resource used for library research or any collection of information stored in an electronic format that can be searched by a computer. | Academic Search Complete |
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digital scholarship | need from DSI |
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DOI | Digital Object Identifiers- provide a permanent, unique identifier for each scholarly output | https://libraries.ou.edu/impact-challenge-chapter/understand-dois |
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holdings | The materials owned by the libraries. |
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liaison librarian | Subject specialists who develop relationships with university departments to promote OU libraries resources and services to their students, faculty and staff. They provide direct support for teaching, research, outreach, technology, programs, and events. |
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library instruction | Presentations made as part of formal instruction programs and through other planned class presentations, orientation sessions, and tours. Presentations to groups may be for either library instruction, cultural, recreational, or educational. | ARL definition |
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library representative | Designated faculty member from each department who agrees to serve as the contact person for that department. Liaison librarians generally contact the library representative on library matters that need to be communicated to the department. |
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ORCID | Open Researcher and Contributor ID is a non-profit, non-proprietary community-based system that provides a unique digital identifier to distinguish you from every other researcher. This registry of unique identifiers is maintained and allows for a transparent method of linking research activities and outputs to those identifiers. |
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tutorials | A tutorial is any asynchronous instructional material—i.e. video, handout, research guide, a video with an interactive quiz, etc. |
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Website Homepage | |||
My Account | User account that shows the items a user currently has checked out, when they are due back, and any fines they might have on their account, and allows them to renew items. | Requires separate login to Discover or Local Catalog. |
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My Favorites | Libraries.ou.edu website feature that allows users to build a customized list of resources such as databases or research guides. |
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Quick Links | A list of helpful, most-used website links saved on the home page of libraries.ou.edu |
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Locations | |||
branch library | A library that is administratively part of OU Libraries and is physically separate from Bizzell. A branch library has smaller collections focused on specific subjects related to an OU College. | Fine Arts Library WHC will be considered as a Special Research Collection location and not a branch library | Not capitalized |
satellite locations | Administratively a part of OU Libraries, but not physically held in a branch or Special Research Collection. | Price College Digital Library | Not capitalized |
other libraries |
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| Not capitalized |
Library Service Center (LSC) | Library Service Center is the libraries offsite storage center, as well as a workspace and receiving area. It is not a public access location within OU Libraries. |
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Circulation Desk |
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service desk | Staffed locations within a library where users can get assistance from OU Libraries personnel. |
| not capitalized |
decks | The decks are the floors in the oldest part of Bizzell. They do not line up with the floors in the rest of the building, so they have been given the name "decks" to indicate they are not regular floors in Bizzell. The decks house materials with Dewey Decimal call numbers that were purchased before about 1970. |
| Decks as a whole lower case. Specific deck capitalize i.e. Deck 2. |
stacks | Stacks are the main shelving area of a given library or special research collection. In Bizzell, the stacks are located in LL1-4 and the decks | The term “stacks” also appears in the catalog to describe the location of books in the main Western History Collection and History of Science bookshelves. |
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3D Scanning Lab | Provides researchers with equipment, software, and consultation throughout the entire 3D modeling process, from project development through data capture, publication, and archiving. |
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Helmerich Collaborative Learning Center (HCLC) | The Helmerich Collaborative Learning Center is a technology enabled, collaborative space where students can work together in groups. In this space, students can learn to create information, to explore it visually, and to synthesize it in new and different ways. Visit the Bookmark Café to grab a cup of coffee, and talk with a professor, colleague, or with friends. | https://libraries.ou.edu/locations/helmerich-collaborative-learning-center |
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Learning Lab | The Learning Lab is located on Lower Level 1 in Bizzell Memorial Library next to the Helmerich Collaborative Learning Center. In the Learning Lab, OU students have access to collaborative and individual study spaces as well as assistance from other campus services that support student success such as UC Action. |
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Loveridge Computer Lab | The Loveridge Computer Lab is located on the main floor of Bizzell Memorial Library, next to the West entrance and across from the main Circulation Desk. A number of computers are available for OU students, staff, and faculty; additionally, customers not affiliated with OU can request a guest log-in from the computer lab staff. A variety of software is available for all users. Multiple scanners and printers are also available in this lab. |
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Library MakerSpace | The Library MakerSpace is a flexible experimentation and innovation space that provides access to the latest tools used in research, instruction and knowledge creation, including 3D printing tools, custom virtual reality workstations, software and data skill development and microelectronics kits. The Library MakerSpace can be found on the main floor of the Bizzell Memorial Library (Room 126). |
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Research Help Desk | The Research Help Desk is where you can get research assistance from University Libraries' Peer Research Mentors and Graduate Research Assistants. The Research Help Desk is located in Bizzell Memorial Library on the main floor at the Main Circulation Desk. At the Research Help Desk, OU Libraries' student employees will assist you with your research questions, while also helping you become more comfortable and confident navigating the OU Libraries' website and databases. |
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Zarrow Family Faculty & Graduate Student Center | Located on Lower Level 2 of Bizzell Memorial Library, the Zarrow Family Faculty & Graduate Student Center is a space dedicated to supporting the research and teaching needs of OU faculty and graduate students in a central campus location. | https://libraries.ou.edu/locations/zarrow-family-faculty-and-graduate-student-center |
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Boorstin Collection | The Boorstin Collection is used for quiet study and reading books from the collection. |
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Chinese Literature Translation Archive | The OU Libraries Chinese Literature Translation Archive provides students and scholars with a wide range of rare books, reference materials, translation drafts, correspondence, notes, ephemera, and other historical materials that provide context for Western readers to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese literature. | https://libraries.ou.edu/locations/chinese-literature-translation-archive |
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Harry W. Bass Business History Collection | The Harry W. Bass Business History Collection began in 1955 with the purpose of collecting and preserving materials relating to the history of business and industry. The collection contains more than 22,000 books, microforms, videos and journals on a number of topics including the histories of business leaders and firms and the economic, social and political forces that influence the role of business in society. Over 100 linear feet of archives focus on the history of business in the 19th and 20th centuries. | https://libraries.ou.edu/locations/harry-w-bass-business-history-collection |
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History of Science Collections | The History of Science Collections, founded in 1949 with an initial gift from Everette Lee DeGolyer, is a premier research collection. Its holdings include nearly 100,000 print volumes and current publications in the field. The Collections supports multidisciplinary research in every chronological period, geographic region, and subject area of science, technology, and medicine. | https://libraries.ou.edu/locations/history-science-collections |
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John & Mary Nichols Rare Books | The John and Mary Nichols Rare Books and Special Collections are comprised of more than 15,000 rare books and special materials in English, European, and American literatures dating from the 15th century to the present. The university established the collection in 2001 to promote scholarship in the field of English literature and to provide stewardship for the general collection of rare books within the library system. | https://libraries.ou.edu/locations/john-and-mary-nichols-rare-books |
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Western History Collections | The Western History Collections is a special research collection within the University of Oklahoma Libraries system. Its purpose is to enhance the University Libraries general collection on the history of the American West; to support the research and teaching programs of the University of Oklahoma; and to provide opportunities for research through the acquisition, preservation, and access of materials relating to the development of the Trans-Mississippi West and Native American cultures. | https://libraries.ou.edu/locations/western-history-collections |
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William Bennet Bizzell Bible Collection | The Bizzell Bible Collection is primarily comprised of printed Bibles and theological works, from the 15th century through the 20th century. Printed books are supplemented by some manuscript materials, ephemera and similar documents. | https://libraries.ou.edu/locations/william-bennett-bizzell-bible-collection |
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Resources | |||
Digital Collections Repository |
a. are aligned with the collection scope of OU Libraries and its divisions, units, branches, and initiatives or
primary source materials held by OU Libraries, and those items' associated descriptive and rights information (metadata). |
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Discover | A tool where users can search for books, articles, and more. | This is a search of the Central Discovery Index and the Local Catalog. The vendor is ExLibris. |
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local catalog | A search tool that allows users to search for materials owned or subscribed to by OU Libraries, including books, journals, and archival collections. |
| lower case when referring to the local catalog. Capitalized on the main website search box. |
Journal Search | Search by keyword, title, or ISSN for journals, newspapers, magazines, or other periodicals owned (or subscribed to) by OU Libraries. |
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Libraries Site Search | Searches information available on the libraries.ou.edu website. Does not search within the catalog or databases. |
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OU Open Access Journals | Faculty-driven, peer-reviewed open access journals published by OU Libraries in partnership with OU academic units. Journals are published using locally hosted instances of Open Journal Systems (OJS), a collaborative, open source journal management software developed and maintained by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) and used widely by institutions and communities around the globe. |
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Research Guides | Librarian-curated guides to research on specific subjects, topics, or university courses. |
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SHAREOK | SHAREOK is the joint institutional repository for the University of Oklahoma Libraries (OU), Oklahoma State University Libraries (OSU), and the University of Central Oklahoma Max Chambers Library (UCO). It serves as the home for the intellectual output of those institutions, such as: digital theses and dissertations, faculty publications, open access publications, open educational resources, institution-specific content, and much more. |
| Always all caps |
Assignment Calculator | Open-source project devised and developed by Writing Center, Office of Academic Integrity Programs, and OU Libraries. The Assignment Calculator allows students to input the kind of assignment they have and their due date, and it generates a timeline for them with OU Libraries resources, so they complete their assignment on time. |
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Canvas | Canvas is the learning management service used by the University of Oklahoma. University Libraries provides two main resources using Canvas: scans of library materials, and LibGuides, librarian-generated research guides. |
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Lean Library | Lean Library is a browser extension that provides access to OU Libraries online resources when searching on the open web. It also connects you to Interlibrary Loan request forms when full text access is not available. | https://libraries.ou.edu/content/lean-library Consider revising the internal definition to encompass open access resources, which the external definition already does. Based on Cari’s investigation: When Lean Library doesn't find a match in our resources they use their, "...API to look for an Open Access article with the same DOIs/ISSNs from Unpaywall and Core.ac.uk as the next step." |
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PowerNotes | PowerNotes is a browser extension that allows you to annotate and highlight PDFs and webpages that are relevant to your research. |
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website chatbot | Our chatbot, from vendor Ivy.AI; we have a shared cost model with OU IT, Provost Office, and Bursar. It answers basic (directional, contact) questions about the the libraries. It uses AI and Natural Language Processing and is constantly being “trained” to improve its answers. |
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Services & Programs | |||
Consultation | A consultation is an information contact that involves the knowledge, use, recommendations, interpretation, or instruction in the use, or creation of one or more information sources by a member of the library staff. |
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Research Consultations | A consultation appointment with a liaison librarian where the user can get help on their research needs. |
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Presentation Consultations | Presentation Consultations @ the Learning Lab offers personalized instruction to students, faculty, or staff within the OU community, either as individuals, groups, or with entire classes. They can help with everything from “stage fright,” to overall presentation design and organization, and guide presenters from the initial brainstorming phase all the way through to the final delivery. |
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Interlibrary Loan | Interlibrary Loan is a service that provides access to research materials not owned by OU libraries to current OU students, faculty, staff, and Professors Emeritus of the Norman campus. These materials are borrowed from other libraries. Articles are digitally delivered. Loans can be picked up at Bizzell or a branch library, or delivered to your home or office. It is often abbreviated as ILL. | When used as a proper noun, captialize. | |
Research 3D Printing | Research 3D Printing supports campus research through 3D printing consultations and services. Examples of what we can print include rapid prototypes for research and tactile manipulatives for course integrations. |
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Reserves | Reserves contain materials for specific courses that have been submitted by instructors. There are two kinds of Reserves: Physical and Electronic. Physical Reserves are held at the Circulation Desks at Bizzell or branch libraries, and are available for shorter check-out periods, generally either four hours or three days at a time. Electronic Reserves (E-Reserves) are hosted on Canvas and added by the course's owner. OU Libraries personnel are available to scan materials as well as help instructors generate permalinks to materials. |
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Sooner Xpress | Sooner Xpress is a free document delivery service for OU faculty, staff, students, and Professors Emeritus of the Norman and OU-Tulsa campuses. Books from the OU Libraries' collection can be retrieved and held for pick up at Bizzell or delivered to a branch library, your home, or office. Sooner Xpress can also provide digitized copies of journal articles and book chapters that are held in OU's collection. |
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Course Reserves | Library Reserves contain materials for specific courses that have been submitted by course instructors. There are primarily two kinds of Reserves: Physical and Electronic. Physical Reserves are held at the circulation desk of the Bizzell library or branch libraries, and are available for shorter check-out periods, generally either four hours or three days at a time. Electronic Reserves (E-Reserves) are hosted on Canvas and added by the Canvas course's owner. Library personnel are available to scan materials. |
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Textbooks | The Textbooks collection has been purchased primarily for general education courses that have the highest enrollments as well as courses that have comparatively high-cost textbooks. All textbooks and scientific graphing calculators are free for student use and can be checked out for 4 hours at a time. |
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Ask Us |
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Open Educational Resources (OER) | Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or are under copyright that have been released under an open license, that permit no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others. | UNESCO UNEVOC definition |
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Events | Events are workshops, presentations, programming, etc. that are organized and hosted by OU Libraries. |
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Marketing & Communications | |||
News | News is a main navigational page on OU Libraries website. It serves as an access point for the libraries news and events. |
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UL Publications | Materials or reports published for external stakeholders that promote or publicize OU Libraries. |
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Internal Products & Services | |||
Alma | Library Service Platform used to manage patron accounts, circulation, acquisitions, e-resource activations, and catalog records. |
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ArchivesSpace | ArchivesSpace is an open source application for managing archival collections and providing searchable access to archival finding aids and collection metadata on the web. |
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Canvas | Canvas is the official learning management system of OU Norman and Norman programs at OU Tulsa. | UL uses Canvas to host e-reserves + other resources & services | |
CAS | Central Authentication Service. A single sign-on platform in use by the Libraries in support of various web services and tools. The Cloud Infrastructure team is responsible for the administration of the server, application, and creation of new authentication endpoints | Not to be confused with the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS). | Internal term only. Would be referred to as "authentication service" externally. |
Central Discovery Index (CDI) | Vendor-provided index for scholarly and academic resources. It contains over 5 billion records and many different resource types from thousands of publishers, aggregators, and repositories. | CDI and our Local Catalog records are combined to create Discover. |
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Featured Collections | Feature in Discover that gives us a way to highlight curated collections that are important to us, using catalog records and images. |
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Drupal | An open-source content management system that serves as the standard web-platform for the University Libraries. |
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DSpace | DSpace is a web application, allowing researchers and scholars to publish documents and data. While DSpace shares some feature overlap with content management systems and document management systems, the DSpace repository software serves a specific need as a digital archives system, focused on the long-term storage, access and preservation of digital content thus making DSpace the software of choice for academic, non-profit, and commercial organizations building open digital repositories. Our SHAREOK platform is built on DSpace |
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EZproxy | Authentication tool used to facilitate access to resources from off-campus. |
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ILLiad | ILLiad is a libraries resource management software used for Interlibrary Loan & Sooner Xpress services. |
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Islandora | Islandora is an open-source framework that provides the necessary tools to use a Drupal website as a fully-functional Digital Assets Management System. Our new digital collections are built on Islandora |
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Vendor for ourchatbot, Bizzy. |
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LibAnswers | Virtual Reference platform for LibChat, Email ticketing, SMS, & detailed reference stats. UL has 7 Queues within our LibAnswers platform: History of Science Collections Queue with JoAnn Palmeri, Kerry Magruder, and Melissa Rickman as the Queue Admins; Research Help Desk Queue with Magen Bednar and Morgan Kegin as the Queue Admins; Law Library Queue with Robert Linz as the Queue Admin; PR Queue: USE ONLY FOR EVENT REQUEST/SCHEDULING with Lyndsay Hensley as the Queue Admin; Web Services Queue with Kyle Davis and Jayson Marsh as Queue Admin; Western History Collections Queue with Lina Ortega and Jackie Reese as Queue Admins; Zarrow Queue with Morgan Kegin and Amanda Palmer as Queue Admins. |
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LibApps | LibApps is the Springshare platform -- the central hub that connects you to all other applications: LibGuides, LibAnswers, LibCal, LibInsight, LibStaffer, LibWizard, and LibConnect. You do not buy or license LibApps - you get it as a container when you license any individual Springshare tool(s) - LibGuides, LibCal, LibAnswers, etc. |
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LibAuth | LibAuth allows you to securely integrate your institution's authentication system with LibApps. LibAuth is a standard part of Springshare's tools i.e. it's not a separate product you need to purchase -- if you license LibCal, LibAnswers, LibGuides etc. -- you have LibAuth, too! This not only provides library staff with an additional option for logging into LibApps, but it also allows you to require patron authentication in your Springy tools. |
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LibCal | Manage Library Hours, Online Event Signups, Room & Equipment Bookings, Research Consultations, etc. |
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LibGuides | Curate and showcase library resources. Create guides, build websites, A-Z lists, or a staff intranet. Embed library resources anywhere. |
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LibInsight | An affordable tool to gather & analyze all library statistics. SUSHI harvesting, COUNTER statistics, Cross-dataset analytics, custom dashboard builders, etc. |
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LibWizard | Create web forms, conduct surveys & solicit feedback. Build interactive tutorials and test users' research skills with quizzes & assessments modules. |
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Open Journal Systems | A collaborative, open source journal management software developed and maintained by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) and used widely by institutions and communities around the globe. |
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Pantheon | Pantheon is the vendor we use for web hosting |
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Primo | Primo is the name of the platform used to administer Discover and the Local Catalog. |
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Reprints Desk | Reprints Desk is one of the libraries resource management software for our Interlibrary Loan & Sooner Xpress services. |
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Springshare | Springshare is an internet software company focusing on developing engaging web applications for libraries and educational institutions. | Current UL Springshare Platforms: |
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Website Alert | Bright banner above the home page search box that is displayed for building closures, weather notices, and resource outages. These are emergency-only notices. |
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Zasio | Inventory control system used to manage items stored in the LSC. AKA “Jazz Hands” internally. |
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Additional Resources
Name/Link | Description |
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The glossary of terms and abbreviations within the OU general catalog. | |
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