SOLO upgrade: new features

The software that powers SOLO, the Bodleian Libraries’ online catalogue, has now been upgraded.  While SOLO will function the same following the upgrade, the new version of the software brings with it various additional new features, many of which have been requested by readers.

1.    Browse searching
The new browse search allows users to browse records using A-Z lists of authors, titles or subjects.  The browse lists cover the holdings of the majority of libraries within the University, but they do not include the databases indexed in OxLIP+ or research papers and theses indexed in the Oxford Research Archive (ORA). You can browse OxLIP+ or ORA within their own dedicated search interfaces.

2.    Date range search (Advanced search)
This is a new option in the advanced search screen which allows users to limit searches by specifying a publication date range. Results from the search will only include material where the publication date falls between the start and end date set.

3.    Improved export options
The facility to export records to reference managers has been greatly improved in this new version of SOLO.  It is now possible to export directly from individual records without saving to e-shelf and to export to desktop reference management software such as Endnote and RefWorks.

 
4.    Multiple selection/exclusion of facets (Refine your results)
It is now possible to refine your results using more than one option in the facet list on the left-hand side of the page. To do so, click on ‘refine further’. This will also offer the option to exclude facets.

Please note: Readers using the “Libraries” facet are strongly advised to avoid excluding libraries.   This is because if an item is held in a number of libraries and you choose to exclude one of them, you will not see the item at all, even though it is also available in other libraries that you have chosen to include.  For example, if you exclude the Bodleian, you will not see items in other libraries if they are also held in the Bodleian.  To refine your search by library you are advised to use the “include” option but not “exclude”.

We continue to work to develop and improve SOLO, and welcome comments via the feedback link on the SOLO front page. For help and guidance using SOLO, please see the SOLO online guide at http://libguides.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/solo or ask library staff. The Bodleian Libraries Live Help service is also available on the SOLO front page from 9am-5pm on weekdays.

Library closed Monday 26th August

The library will be closed on Monday 26th August for the bank holiday. Enjoy the long weekend!

Free access to Alexander St Press resources throughout August

Alexander Street Press have opened up access to many of their online resources for the whole of August. You can see and access the collections available for American Studies at http://alexanderstreet.com/americangateway. Between them, the collections cover a wide range of subjects and formats, including audio-visual material, letters, diaries, newspapers, magazines, comics and drama.

Many of these collections are on our (extensive) e-resources wishlist. If you have comments or feedback, or would like to suggest that we consider any for purchase, please do email jane.rawson@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

If you are prompted for a username or password when trying to access any of the resources, please email jane.rawson@bodleian.ox.ac.uk to receive it.

WISER: Open Access Oxford - What's happening (14 August, 2pm)

Are you in receipt of a grant from one of the UK Research Councils or involved in supporting researchers in receipt of such grants? If so, you will need to ensure that articles and conference papers arising from the research are made available on an Open Access basis. Need to know more?  Bodleian Libraries will be running a briefing on open access for research publications and Oxford's position on Wednesday 14 August 14.00-15.00. 

We will be covering: 

• What is open access?
• Gold and Green routes to Open Access
• How to find out your funder's requirements and what your publisher will allow
• How to deposit in ORA or claim for APCS
• Where to get more help.

The session will take place at the Radcliffe Science Library (though will be relevant to all disciplines). Please be sure to book your place online at http://courses.it.ox.ac.uk/detail/TZW7 

SOLO unavailable weekend 3rd-4th August

The software underlying SOLO will be upgraded this weekend. SOLO will therefore be unavailable from 8am on Saturday 3rd until 9am on Monday 5th August.

OxLIP+ will be unaffected, so if you wish to access electronic resources or e-journals, please use OxLIP+. If you want to search for books in Oxford libraries, try using Mobile Oxford or COPAC.

Welcome to UNIQ History students; mezzanine reserved all week

This week we are pleased to welcome students on the UNIQ History: Race & Protest summer school. UNIQ Summer Schools are week-long, subject-specific courses designed to encourage talented school students from less privileged backgrounds to apply to university, and the History programme has taken place at the Rothermere American Institute in the past. 

As part of their course, students on the History: Race & Protest summer school will be spending some time each afternoon studying in the VHL, and the mezzanine area will be reserved for them during the afternoons this week.

New VHL website launched

We are delighted to announce the launch of our brand new website! The design of the site has been overhauled in line with other Bodleian Libraries sites, and we took the opportunity to also review and revise the site's content and structure. We hope that the new site will therefore not only look nicer, but will be more friendly to use and provide far more information about the library than the old one did.

We will continue to work on the site now that it has been launched, and welcome feedback, comments and suggestions. If there is information missing that you would like to see on there, or if you think things are in less-than-logical places, please do let us know. As the site design is part of the Bodleian-wide project, we have no control over the look and feel of the site, but we can make changes to content and structure. Please take a look and let us know what you think!