To ensure students can access library resources from off-campus using a single username and password, Sheffield Hallam uses a server which adds some additional information into our resource URLs.
The University moved to a new server (hallam.idm.oclc.org) last November from an old server (lcproxy.shu.ac.uk).
All the links on the Library Gateway have been updated to go via the new server and the Library Learning and Teaching team are working with academics to update library resource links in 18/19 and 19/20 Blackboard modules sites.
However any library resource links that have been bookmarked, added to Blackboard organisation and older module sites, or embedded into blog posts will start to fail from the beginning of July, with a “This site can’t be reached” message.
How recognise the problem
The old links that need replacing look like the examples below:
- http://lcproxy.shu.ac.uk/login?url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9781416061137
- http://www.emeraldinsight.com.lcproxy.shu.ac.uk/doi/abs/10.1108/13620439910295745
- https://search-proquest-com.lcproxy.shu.ac.uk/docview/1695036666?accountid=13827
URLs that are correct should look like:
- https://hallam.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9781416061137
- http://www.emeraldinsight.com.hallam.idm.oclc.org/doi/abs/10.1108/13620439910295745
- https://search-proquest-com.hallam.idm.oclc.org/docview/1695036666?accountid=13827
You can manually edit old links to look like:
- https://hallam.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9781416061137
- https://hallam.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/13620439910295745
- https://hallam.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1695036666?accountid=13827
Alternatively it may be easier to go back to the Library Gateway and find the link to the resource again.
If a student raises an issue about access to a resource please direct them to the Library Gateway where all links should be correct.
If the link is embedded into an 18/19 or 19/20 Blackboard module site or SHU blog, please update them where you can or raise a support case for it to be updated by the Library Learning and Teaching team. You will need to update all other links (such as those in Blackboard organisation and older module sites) yourself following the guidance above.