OPAL Updates and Tips

OPAL Update November 15, 2019

Notes from Fall COI meetings...

• Item record statuses now reflect the actual item record status in Sierra instead of the previously used "time-to-reshelve" table. “Recently Returned” is active for 24 hours.
• COI Meeting Documents (past and present) have been copied into the OPAL Repository for easier keyword searching. You will still be able to see documents for the current year on the COI page for easier meeting prep. Everything else will be in the Respository folder for the COI. Please contact support if you need the password. 

The pass through in the OPAL catalog to "Search OhioLINK" will default from classic to their Encore version on July 1, 2020.

Applications for Library Leasdership Ohio are about to open up! This is a great opportunity to define and inspire your leadership skills and potential. Applications will be accepted 11/18/19 to 1/17/20. Program information and application link are available at https://libraryleadershipohio.org.

Lexile is used as a tool to measure student growth and provide a way to determine which books might be appropriate for students based on their reading abilities. OPAL Cataloging Standards have been updated to support Lexile searching, with libraries now entering the information as 521 8 ###L Lexile in the MARC record. This is necessary because the field where Lexile information is normally placed in a MARC record ($b of the 521 8) is not searchable. We have updated several hundred records already in the catalog and will continue to run periodic clean-up maintenance.

As a result, you can find more than 1,000 titles by doing a keyword search for “lexile". You can also search for a specific value, e.g. 670L, or get a little closer to a specific value or ranges by using wildcards in your search, e.g., “(11**L OR 12**L) AND lexile”. Let us know if you are finding this change useful.

If you are having trouble checking in John Carroll items that were borrowed before they completely transitioned to the OPAL system, check the item in by adding John Carroll's old site code to the end of the barcode (INN-Reach barcode)
For example: 1118802723766jc2ug

Reminder that Leads (and Directors and members of CIRM, ERIT, DIAD, ICS) now have access to the new OhioLINK Member Portal - use Ostaff credentials: https://memberportal.ohiolink.edu
(If you need help with credentials, there is a password reset on the login page, or contact support@ohiolink.edu.)

OPAL Digital Collection Most Viewed Content This Month

Walsh University Orion Spacecraft Oral History Project Collection