OhioLINK
Encyclopedia
The Ohio Library and Information Network, OhioLINK, is a consortium
of Ohio’s
college
and university
libraries
and the State Library of Ohio
. Serving more than 600,000 student
s, faculty
, and staff at 88 institutions, OhioLINK’s membership includes 16 public universities
, 23 community/technical colleges
, 49 private colleges and the State Library of Ohio. OhioLINK serves faculty, students, staff and other researchers via campus-based electronic library systems, the OhioLINK central site, and Internet resources.
OhioLINK’s goal is to provide easy access to information and rapid delivery of library materials throughout the state. OhioLINK offers six main electronic services: a union
library catalog
, research databases
, a multi-publisher Electronic Journal
Center, a Digital Resource
Commons, a multi-publisher Electronic Book
Center, and an Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Center.
, grew out of a 1987 recommendation by the board’s library committee that "the state of Ohio implement, as expeditiously as possible, a statewide electronic catalog system."
In response to this recommendation, the board established a steering committee representing librarians, faculty, administrators and computer systems managers from campuses throughout Ohio. After meetings, public hearings, and conferences, the committee prepared and distributed a planning paper (November 1988); a Request for Information
(February 1989); and a Request for Proposal
(August 1989) to initiate a statewide electronic system.
In 1990, OhioLINK selected Innovative Interfaces, Inc
to develop the unique software system to create the OhioLINK central catalog and selected Digital Equipment Corporation
for the computer hardware base. OhioLINK licensed four databases from University Microfilms International
, UMI, for citations to millions of business, newspaper and periodical articles and to academic dissertations. These elements formed the foundation of the growing OhioLINK system of services. In 1992, six universities installed OhioLINK systems and began the ongoing process of building the central catalog. In February 1996, OhioLINK began offering services through the World Wide Web.
OhioLINK is part of Ohio’s ongoing tradition in pioneering library automation. The Ohio State University
and others in Ohio began integrating campus library systems at an early date. In the 1960s, state funds supported the development of OCLC
, then called the Ohio College Library Center. OCLC has since grown into an international organization with a database of 30 million entries representing materials held in more than 10,000 libraries.
On February 4, 2009, OhioLINK suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure. This affected all major services for several days with the exception of the catalog and the DRC, which were not affected. The drive failure resulted in data loss on the Electronic Journal Center; a complete reload of the Electronic Journal Center’s content was completed six weeks after the initial crash.
In January 2010, Tom Sanville, Executive Director of OhioLINK since 1992, announced his resignation. In September 2010, the Ohio Board of Regents
announced the Jeffrey G. Trzeciak had been named the consortium’s new director. Trzeciak subsequently chose not to take the position.
These partners are working together to build and provide the Ohio Web Library, a core collection of information resources and library services for all Ohioans.
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
of Ohio’s
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
and university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
libraries
Academic library
An academic library is a library that is attached to academic institutions above the secondary level, serving the teaching and research needs of students and staff...
and the State Library of Ohio
State Library of Ohio
The State Library of Ohio is a state agency that provides services to state government and all types of libraries to ensure that all Ohio residents, rich or poor, rural or urban, receive the best possible library service and are able to engage in lifelong learning which strengthens the economic...
. Serving more than 600,000 student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s, faculty
Faculty (university)
A faculty is a division within a university comprising one subject area, or a number of related subject areas...
, and staff at 88 institutions, OhioLINK’s membership includes 16 public universities
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
, 23 community/technical colleges
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
, 49 private colleges and the State Library of Ohio. OhioLINK serves faculty, students, staff and other researchers via campus-based electronic library systems, the OhioLINK central site, and Internet resources.
OhioLINK’s goal is to provide easy access to information and rapid delivery of library materials throughout the state. OhioLINK offers six main electronic services: a union
Union catalog
A union catalog is a combined library catalog describing the collections of a number of libraries. Union catalogs have been created in a range of media, including book format, microform, cards and more recently, networked electronic databases...
library catalog
Library catalog
A library catalog is a register of all bibliographic items found in a library or group of libraries, such as a network of libraries at several locations...
, research databases
Bibliographic database
A bibliographic database is a database of bibliographic records, an organized digital collection of references to published literature, including journal and newspaper articles, conference proceedings, reports, government and legal publications, patents, books, etc...
, a multi-publisher Electronic Journal
Electronic journal
Electronic journals, also known as ejournals, e-journals, and electronic serials, are scholarly journals or intellectual magazines that can be accessed via electronic transmission. In practice, this means that they are usually published on the Web...
Center, a Digital Resource
Digital media
Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital form. It can refer to the technical aspect of storage and transmission Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital (as opposed to analog) form. It can refer to the technical aspect of...
Commons, a multi-publisher Electronic Book
E-book
An electronic book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital...
Center, and an Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
Center.
History
OhioLINK, a cooperative venture of university libraries and the Ohio Board of RegentsOhio Board of Regents
The Ohio Board of Regents is the coordinating board for higher education in Ohio. The board was created in 1963 by the Ohio General Assembly to: provide higher education policy advice to the Governor of Ohio and the Ohio General Assembly; develop a strategy involving Ohio's public and independent...
, grew out of a 1987 recommendation by the board’s library committee that "the state of Ohio implement, as expeditiously as possible, a statewide electronic catalog system."
In response to this recommendation, the board established a steering committee representing librarians, faculty, administrators and computer systems managers from campuses throughout Ohio. After meetings, public hearings, and conferences, the committee prepared and distributed a planning paper (November 1988); a Request for Information
Request for Information
A request for information is a standard business process whose purpose is to collect written information about the capabilities of various suppliers. Normally it follows a format that can be used for comparative purposes....
(February 1989); and a Request for Proposal
Request for Proposal
A request for proposal is issued at an early stage in a procurement process, where an invitation is presented for suppliers, often through a bidding process, to submit a proposal on a specific commodity or service. The RFP process brings structure to the procurement decision and is meant to...
(August 1989) to initiate a statewide electronic system.
In 1990, OhioLINK selected Innovative Interfaces, Inc
Innovative Interfaces, Inc
Innovative Interfaces, Inc. is a provider of integrated library system software that is used in 2896 libraries as of September 27, 2011.. The company's software is installed in various types of libraries including academic, public, consortia, school, special libraries, medical libraries and law...
to develop the unique software system to create the OhioLINK central catalog and selected Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation was a major American company in the computer industry and a leading vendor of computer systems, software and peripherals from the 1960s to the 1990s...
for the computer hardware base. OhioLINK licensed four databases from University Microfilms International
University Microfilms International
University Microfilms International or UMI, was founded in the 1930s by Eugene Power in Ann Arbor. By June 1938, Power worked in two rented rooms from a downtown Ann Arbor funeral parlor, specializing in microphotography to preserve library collections...
, UMI, for citations to millions of business, newspaper and periodical articles and to academic dissertations. These elements formed the foundation of the growing OhioLINK system of services. In 1992, six universities installed OhioLINK systems and began the ongoing process of building the central catalog. In February 1996, OhioLINK began offering services through the World Wide Web.
OhioLINK is part of Ohio’s ongoing tradition in pioneering library automation. The Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and others in Ohio began integrating campus library systems at an early date. In the 1960s, state funds supported the development of OCLC
OCLC
OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is "a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing information costs"...
, then called the Ohio College Library Center. OCLC has since grown into an international organization with a database of 30 million entries representing materials held in more than 10,000 libraries.
On February 4, 2009, OhioLINK suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure. This affected all major services for several days with the exception of the catalog and the DRC, which were not affected. The drive failure resulted in data loss on the Electronic Journal Center; a complete reload of the Electronic Journal Center’s content was completed six weeks after the initial crash.
In January 2010, Tom Sanville, Executive Director of OhioLINK since 1992, announced his resignation. In September 2010, the Ohio Board of Regents
Ohio Board of Regents
The Ohio Board of Regents is the coordinating board for higher education in Ohio. The board was created in 1963 by the Ohio General Assembly to: provide higher education policy advice to the Governor of Ohio and the Ohio General Assembly; develop a strategy involving Ohio's public and independent...
announced the Jeffrey G. Trzeciak had been named the consortium’s new director. Trzeciak subsequently chose not to take the position.
Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO)
Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO) is a collaborative effort of OhioLINK and the following library organizations:- INFOhioINFOhioINFOhio, the Information Network for Ohio schools, is the state's virtual PreK-12 library that uses the existing school telecommunications infrastructure to address equity issues by providing electronic resources, library automation, and other services to Ohio schools...
(virtual library and information network for all Ohio PreK-12 schools) - Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)The Ohio Public Library Information Network is a compact organization that provides Ohio residents with Internet access to their 251 public libraries. OPLIN also provides Ohioans with free home access to high-quality, subscription research databases.OPLIN's purpose is to ensure that all Ohioans...
- State Library of Ohio
These partners are working together to build and provide the Ohio Web Library, a core collection of information resources and library services for all Ohioans.