How should ebooks be discovered in the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub?
When working with the Hub it is always necessary to consider two aspects - discovery and linking. Discovery is achieved through the inclusion of databases and linking by either using the HLM (Holdings Link Manager) or via links incorporated in the discovery records.
Integrated LMS as the preferred method
The preferred method of surfacing books (print and e) in the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub is through LMS integration. This route to discovery gives you control to ensure all your ebooks are included. Provided you maintain and update your holdings you will have appropriate records. Records from integrated LMS show strongly in the Hub. You LMS ebook records will include the relevant link and hence you can control the linking experience.
All of the regional LMS have been integrated (SWIMS, NE, NoW, YorCat, HeLM, LHL, ELMS, KSS) along with a small number of stand alone LMS. It is possible for people to integrate standalone LMS with EBSCO offering this as a charged service with an ongoing maintenance fee.
During 2023/24 an enhanced user experience for linking is being implemented in the Koha LMS linked Hub instances. This involves moving the URI to the item level which creates a clear connection between the Library and their ebook holdings. This item level link is then used to provide a visible link in the Hub Search results which makes it easy for library users to identify. Where there are regional ebook collections this can be managed by the regional LMS administrator to ensure consistent practice and updating.
Discovery without an integrated LMS
If you do not have an integrated LMS it is still possible to make ebooks discoverable but it can be trickier to get the right combination of discovery and access.
In order to make nationally procured e-book collections discoverable NHSE has worked with EBSCO to create searchable catalogues of the following collections:
- OUP (Handbooks, Specialist Handbooks, Textbooks and Emergencies in for all eligible users). (OxMed eBooks (HEE/NHS) in HLM)
- Kortext (NHSE-procured collections including Equality & Diversity and Sustainability collections) (links included in the records)
- Wiley (Royal Marsden Manual and Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines) (Wiley Online Library Online Books in HLM for Prescribing guidelines and a packages called Publishers site for RMM)
These are already selected in your Hub instance where appropriate. There are FAQs with details of the default databases for discovery and default HLM packages for linking.
If you do not have an LMS integration then you need to consider how to discover and link any other locally purchased ebooks.
EBSCO ebooks are well integrated and purchases of these will see appropriate records added automatically via the database "eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) (nlebk)" and HLM package (EBSCO eBooks).
For other sources the picture is more mixed and you may find it is not possible to locate all of your ebooks in discovery / HLM. You should consider the ability to discover ebooks ahead of purchase.
Some publishers have their own specific databases for discovery (including Springer, ClinicalKey Flex and others) you need to ensure you are selecting the appropriate one for your purchase. Discovery databases are all or nothing so the one you pick matters. There are also some very large generic ebook discovery databases available for selection in the Hub - VLeBooks (edsvle) (linked to the supplier Browns) and eBook Index (edsebk). Adding these generic ebook discovery database can result in a large numbers of unwanted records appearing in your searches. In all cases you need to select both the discovery database and the corresponding records in HLM for links. In most cases this involves selecting either the relevant package if there is a matching one or individual titles within a package.
If you are unsure then contact the Service Desk for support and speak to your supplier.
Is it worth adding HLM title records even if you use LMS for ebook discovery?
In 2024 ThirdIron rolled out ebook linking via LibKey Nomad for ebooks in HLM. Provided you have access to the ebooks there is no harm in adding links via HLM to make them visible via LibKey Nomad. At present LibKey Nomad cannot use the LMS records from our systems to do this.