2025 EBSCO User Group

Is your profile pic looking a bit weathered? Drop by room 557 for a complimentary professional headshot (no registration required –:drop in at your convenience during one of the times below): 

• Tuesday, April 29th  
  • 7:00pm – 8:30pm 
• Wednesday, April 30th  
  • 10:15am – 10:30am  
  • 12:20pm – 1:00pm 
  • 5:00pm – 5:45pm 
• Thursday, May 1   
  • 8:15am – 9:00am  
  • 10:15am – 10:30am  
  • 12:00pm—12:30 pm   
  • 5:00pm – 5:30pm 
• Friday, May 2nd  
  • 8:15am – 9:00am  
  • 10:15am – 10:30am  
  • 12:00pm—12:30 pm  

In 2020, the University of Texas System announced the consolidation of UT Tyler with the UT Health Science Center Tyler into a single institution that included the merging of the campus identity system and moving away from a self-hosted EZ Proxy instance. Despite the unified vision to "Rise as One," we maintained two distinct libraries to serve the academic and health campuses of the newly combined UT Tyler. This decision presented challenges in user authentication and access management. In this session, we will discuss how we implemented and continue to manage OpenAthens to address these challenges, ensuring seamless and secure access to library resources to our diverse user populations.

During this session, attendees will learn about responsible AI practices from four perspectives – librarian, researcher, publisher, and platform vendor – and their impact on psychology research and learning. With responsible AI practices informing the entire development process, psychology researchers at all levels can have more confidence in the AI tools they are using, as well as more confidence in the AI they may develop for their own psychological research. This session will focus on psychology research, as a starting point, with the hope other disciplines will join the ride. As technology accelerates from “zero to sixty” in a minute, its responsible creation and use is often left behind in the exhaust. We will attempt to illustrate proactive practices being utilized by various members of the psychology driving pool engaged in the AI road race.

Is your profile pic looking a bit weathered? Drop by room 557 for a complimentary professional headshot (no registration required –:drop in at your convenience during one of the times below): 

• Tuesday, April 29th  
  • 7:00pm – 8:30pm 
• Wednesday, April 30th  
  • 10:15am – 10:30am  
  • 12:20pm – 1:00pm 
  • 5:00pm – 5:45pm 
• Thursday, May 1   
  • 8:15am – 9:00am  
  • 10:15am – 10:30am  
  • 12:00pm—12:30 pm   
  • 5:00pm – 5:30pm 
• Friday, May 2nd  
  • 8:15am – 9:00am  
  • 10:15am – 10:30am  
  • 12:00pm—12:30 pm  

The foundation of e-resource management tools is a quality knowledgebase, and access to electronic content fails when those management tools rest on a poor foundation. Since switching to the EBSCO knowledgebase and HLM tools in 2020, Cornell University Library has regularly expressed concerns to EBSCO about this knowledgebase, our frustrations with it, and the resulting negative impact on our users. In a partnership proposed by EBSCO, Cornell has worked closely with EBSCO over the past year to continue improving the knowledgebase, to ensure better access to all resources. These improvements benefit all users who rely on HLM tools to access their e-resources. In this session, Peter McCracken (CUL e-resources librarian, and – long ago – a co-founder of Serials Solutions) will describe the need for improved work, the work that Cornell and EBSCO have done together, and where Cornell hopes it will lead. This work is necessary if libraries want to successfully connect researchers and readers with electronic content.

In November 2024, New York Public Library (NYPL) successfully implemented EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) as Article Plus for their patrons. This change, along with a single-search box on a newly-launched Online Resources and Databases page, facilitates a transformative experience for NYPL patrons. The implementation of EDS marks a significant milestone by providing patrons with enhanced access to hundreds of online resources and databases.
In this session, NYPL’s Elliot Clement, Research Electronic Resources Coordinator, and Laura Leone, Collections Access and Discovery Project Manager, will share their experiences and insights on the implementation process of EDS. They will discuss the strategic changes made to the NYPL website to integrate EDS, support received from the EBSCO implementation team, and the work it took to create and promote the launch of Article Plus.
Key highlights of the session will include:
• An overview of the implementation process, including details about the redesign of the
previous Articles and Databases user interface.
• The collaborative efforts among NYPL and EBSCO stakeholders to ensure a seamless integration.
• The impact of EDS on improving access to resources and information.
• A live demonstration of the new features and functionalities added to the NYPL website.

This session will guide you through the basics and explore trends in Transformative Agreements (TAs), including how they aim to transition traditional subscription models to open access and their implications for libraries. We will discuss their role in advancing open scholarship, the challenges they pose in terms of budgeting and administration, and how libraries can strategically assess their value. Following this, we’ll introduce the features of our innovative Read and Publish Dashboards. These dashboards integrate serials management with SaaS, providing actionable insights into your library’s data to help you make informed decisions about usage and expenditures. Whether your library is managing multiple Transformative Agreements or is just beginning to explore them, this session will deliver practical tools and insights to optimize your approach and make the most of these evolving models.

This session addresses one of the most common questions we hear: When will Mosaic be ready for my library? It’s a town hall-style forum designed to encourage open dialogue and direct engagement with customers, EBSCO/GOBI staff, and Innovation Partners. Instead of presenting canned information, this session creates an interactive space to answer live questions and discuss Mosaic’s capabilities, readiness, and future.

Session Overview: This session will explore the pivotal role of analytics in driving insights and enhancing the understanding of academic libraries’ contributions to both students and the institution as a whole.

Objectives:

- Identify the Importance of Analytics within Academic Libraries:
Discuss the critical role of analytics in modern academic libraries.
- Showcase Real-World Applications:
Highlight case studies and practical examples, focusing on the work done at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Biola University.Discuss the tools used in these applications.
- Dive into Panorama Analytics:
Present the features, benefits, and practical applications of Panorama Analytics from EBSCO. Preview new dashboards and tools.
- Engage in Interactive Discussion and Q&A session to address specific use cases and challenges faced by attendees.
This session aims to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of how analytics can be leveraged to demonstrate and enhance the value of academic libraries.

At the end of the pandemic, Thompson Rivers University Library discovered that some of the temporary processes we developed during the interim were not just beneficial, but also invaluable. For instance, we found that the EDS system modifications, initially used for touchless delivery, continued to add significant value for holds and after-hours pick-ups. The pandemic encouraged us to concentrate on and evaluate core library functions. Similarly, we used critical evaluation of our processes to inform our migration to Folio.
We will discuss:
How we are simplifying its circulation system by reducing the number of item types, loan rules, and patron types.
Why we will be selective in our use of new patron empowerment features in the EDS.
Why a system migration is an excellent opportunity to streamline library processes and to examine what a library can do.
Why examining fines and loan periods before the migration is essential during the migration. Addressing complex or difficult questions before the upgrade allows you to spend more time training staff and fine-tuning the configuration during the migration.

Overview: This session is focused on sharing the outcomes of the OpenAthens product UX review. This session will provide librarians with detailed insights into the review process, key findings, and the implications for future product development.

Session Highlights:

OpenAthens UX review findings: A comprehensive presentation of the findings from our recent UX review of the OpenAthens system, highlighting areas of success and opportunities for enhancement.

Discussion on next steps: An interactive discussion on the proposed next steps based on the review findings, encouraging feedback and suggestions from librarians.

Potential improvements: Exploration of potential improvements and how they can be implemented to better meet user needs and enhance overall user experience.

Ready to take your collection management to the next level? Join us for a hands-on dive into the new Collection Assessment tool, designed with you—busy library administrators—in mind. Whether you're juggling acquisitions, renewals, or content upgrades, this tool simplifies the complex decisions you face daily.

Imagine effortlessly comparing resource and coverage overlaps, running title-level analyses, and generating detailed reports—all from a user-friendly interface. With the ability to export comprehensive insights and dive into package- and holdings-level statistics, you'll have everything you need to make smarter, data-driven choices for your library's future.

This session is more than a demo—it's your chance to see how this tool can transform the way you manage collections. We will dive into Overlap Analysis export, how to create package-level and holdings-level analysis and much more. Bring your questions, curiosity, and aspirations for a stronger digital library presence. Don't miss out on this opportunity to streamline your workflow and elevate your decision-making!

Join us for an in-depth session on the updated Publication Finder, designed to enhance your search experience within your institution's collection. Publication Finder includes many features requested by you, our customers, which include a new interface, the ability to select from a larger set of subject groupings, the return of A-Z browse, the ability to browse by database and you’re able to pre-filter searches against a sub-set of content. Additionally, we’ll cover the introduction of database search and browse and other recent enhancements.

During this session, we will cover:
• Responsive User Interface: Discover the modern, intuitive design that adapts seamlessly to any device, ensuring a smooth and efficient search experience.
• Advanced Search Options: Learn how to utilize both basic and advanced search functionalities to quickly locate journals, eBooks, magazines, and newspapers.
• Enhanced Browsing Capabilities: Explore the ability to browse by subject, database, or title, and filter searches by book or journal content.
• Integration with EBSCO Discovery Service: See how Publication Finder integrates with other EBSCO tools to provide a cohesive and powerful research experience.

Whether you are a seasoned researcher or new to the platform, this session will equip you with the knowledge and skills to make the most of the new Publication Finder.

After months of planning and training our consortium went live on FOLIO in May of 2024. In this session an Assistant Library Director, Cataloger Librarian, and Acquisitions Librarian will share the decisions and preparations that had to be made before the migration, new workflows that were created, and all the “little things” we weren’t expecting to navigate but made it through. Focus will be on preparation of the catalog data, training, folio apps: inventory, users, permissions, lists, finance, orders, receiving, and settings. Most of all we will share why even through the chaos we are happy with where we are now.

Is your profile pic looking a bit weathered? Drop by room 557 for a complimentary professional headshot (no registration required: drop in at your convenience during one of the times below): 

• Tuesday, April 29th  
  • 7:00pm – 8:30pm 
• Wednesday, April 30th  
  • 10:15am – 10:30am  
  • 12:20pm – 1:00pm 
  • 5:00pm – 5:45pm 
• Thursday, May 1   
  • 8:15am – 9:00am  
  • 10:15am – 10:30am  
  • 12:00pm—12:30 pm   
  • 5:00pm – 5:30pm 
• Friday, May 2nd  
  • 8:15am – 9:00am  
  • 10:15am – 10:30am  
  • 12:00pm—12:30 pm