OhioLINK
EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
OhioLINK announced December 2012 that its Discovery Layer Task Force selected EBSCO as the
service provider for OhioLINK’s Discovery Layer project, ITN #600412
(http://www.ohiolink.edu/about/pr/pr20121214.pdf). OhioLINK is working with EBSCO
Publishing to launch not more than fifteen (15) EDS sites each quarter.
Following is a growing list containing frequently asked questions about this project. New questions
will be added at the bottom of this document and stored on the Ostaff page at
https://www.ohiolink.edu/ostaff/eds/.
1. How can my library prepare for its EDS implementation?
See https://www.ohiolink.edu/ostaff/OhioLINK_EDS_prep_checklist.pdf for details. In this EDS
preparation checklist, you will find: documentation about training; linking from your catalog;
preparing your catalog; training materials; and library branding.
2. Is EDS an annual subscription based on the calendar year?
Yes, annual subscriptions run on the calendar year. If you need billing prior to implementation,
please contact Julie Blake (Julie@ohiolink.edu). After implementation, OhioLINK will bill the annual
fee. Annual fees are not prorated. Your annual subscription fee remains unchanged until December
31, 2018.
3. Our library isn’t participating in EDS. Will we still get the link resolver, Link Source & A–Z?
Yes, EBSCO has agreed to install A-Z and Link Source for all OhioLINK institutions, regardless of
participation in EDS.
4. When will our library get Link Source and A – Z implemented at our library?
A firm date has yet to be determined. More information will be available by the end of January 2013.
To help plan please see http://support.ebscohost.com/knowledge_base/detail.php?id=6000 (Note
the "atoz_upload_template.xlsz" located at the bottom of this page.)
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OhioLINK EDS FAQ
5. What databases can we search through EDS?
All current subscriptions for EBSCO databases will be available through EDS.
6. What other OhioLINK resources will be available through EDS?
In addition to providing a central instance of the OhioLINK central catalog for each participating
library, EDS will also include the Electronic Journal Center (EJC), the Electronic Theses and
Dissertation Center (ETD), the Electronic Book Center (EBC), the OhioLINK Music Center, the Digital
Resource Commons (DRC), and the Electronic Finding Aid Repository (EAD).
7. What other (new) EBSCO databases can we search through EDS?
EBSCO will provide, at no additional charge, the following 27 additional databases for each
OhioLINK institution participating in EDS:
Applied Science & Technology with Full Text (H.W. Wilson)
Art & Architecture Complete
Associates Programs Source
Biological & Agricultural Index Plus (H.W. Wilson)
Business Abstracts with Full Text (H.W. Wilson)
Caribbean Search
Central & Eastern European Academic Source
Energy & Power Source
Entrepreneurial Studies Source
Essay & General Literature Index (H.W. Wilson)
Food Science Source
Human Resources Abstracts
Humanities with Full Text (H.W. Wilson)
Humanities Abstracts (H.W. Wilson)
International Security & Counter-Terrorism Reference Center
Jewish Studies Source
Middle Eastern & Central Asian Studies
National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts
Peace Research Abstracts
Play Index, (H.W. Wilson)
Political Science Complete
Public Affairs Index
Race Relations Abstracts
Risk Management Reference Center
Shock & Vibration Digest
Short Story Index (H.W. Wilson)
Vocational Studies Premier
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Last updated Jan 3, 2013
OhioLINK EDS FAQ
8. What EBSCOhost Integrated Search (EHIS) connectors are available through EDS?
EBSCO will provide, free of charge, two (2) EHIS connectors per participating site, as long as EBSCO
has already built a particular connector for EHIS. Additional EHIS connectors cost $200 per
connector per site per year, as long as EBSCO has already built a particular connector for EHIS. The
top 20 EHIS connectors now used with EDS are:
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MathSciNet
ebrary
Elsevier Compendex
PQ Dissertations and Theses A&I
PQ Dissertations and Theses Full text
Proquest Newsstand
Proquest Historical Newspaper New York Times
Proquest Historical Newspaper Wall Street Journal
Proquest ABI/Inform Global
Proquest ABI/Inform Complete
Films on Demand
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Gale Academic One File
CIAO
Ovid Journals
Factiva
Lexis Nexis Academic (Licensed for EDS, but awaiting data from publisher)
OCLC WorldCat (customer can implement WorldCat in EDS Detail Record)
Oxford Reference (currently waiting for a new connector)
MD Consult
9. What’s the main difference between a federated search and a discovery layer?
Discovery layers search library catalogues, databases, institutional repositories and other
collections. Federated search tools search library catalogues and databases.
A major difference between them is that discovery layers index and search, while federated search
tools search on the fly. This contributes to discovery layers’ higher speed during searches, but also
to the higher level of maintenance they require. (Source: http://www.eln.bc.ca/view.php?id=1973)
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