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How to Update Links to Library Resources

Check and update links to library resources after our system change, June 2025

Update Links to Library Resources

Many links to library resources are changing as the library migrates to a new system in June 2025. These changes will occur throughout the summer fall semesters and will affect many links to library resources in your Canvas courses, course materials, webpages, LibGuides, and anywhere else you may have saved resource links. Everyone will need to check and update the links in their courses and other materials.

Since this is a time of transition, some links will work now and break later. Luckily, you can complete most checks and updates upfront, starting on June 25th.

Timeline:

  • 6/18/25: Alma is Live. Link resolver is updated, affecting a wide variety of resources. This will mainly affect links within databases, and it will start routing users to Primo instead of Search@XU.
  • 8/5/25: Search@XU updates to the new EBSCO UI. Affects many Search@XU permalinks.
  • 8/31/25: Support for Search@XU ends. All Search@XU links will stop working.
  • 9/30/25: Support for Sierra ends. All XPLORE links will stop working.

A variety of other updates in Alma will continue throughout the year that may affect resource access. 

What to Update

Which links do I need to check and update?

Update all links to Search@XU and XPLORE. The URLs for these resources typically look like: 

  • https://xavier.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
  • https://xplore.xavier.edu/

Or, check the top left-hand corner of the webpage for the labels Search@XU or XPLORE. **Note that if you use Zotero or a similar service, you may receive a pop-up banner that covers the words "Search@XU", so you'll need to close the banner.**

A screenshot of the words Search@XU sin the top-left corner of Search@XU webpages    

In theory, direct links that you've saved to databases, journals, etc. shouldn't be affected. Please test a handful to check, and update as needed. 

Note: We will retain service to all of our EBSCO databases, so these links should not be affected. ONLY Search@XU links are affected.

What to Do If a Link Isn't Working

A patron said a link isn't working. What do I do?

1. Test the link (if reasonable) to make sure this isn't connection error or user error. It could be a normal access issue, not system update issue!

  • Check that you/the user is connected to campus wifi (if on campus) or has logged in to the login prompt (if off-campus/on data). 
  • Check that you/the user is using Xavier's link to the resource, not a public link.
  • Note that if the link is for Search@XU or XPLORE, it will need to change by 8/5 or 9/30, even if it is working properly now. 

2. Search for the resource in Primo. Test the resource link in Primo.

  • If the link works: Great, you're all set! Share the link with the patron.
    • We do not yet know if it is best practice to share the Primo link or the direct link to the resource. Do whatever you think is best for this patron and this resource.
  • If the link doesn't work: There's a bigger issue here. Place a ticket listing what you've tested, what you found, the resource title & other identifying information, the patron's name/contact information, and whether the resource is for a current class.

3. What if the patron doesn't know what resource the link is for?

  • Examine the link to see if it gives you any clues. For example:
    • https://xavier.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&bquery=Dancing+without+music%3a+deafness+in+America&type=0&searchMode=Standard&site=eds-live&scope=site : This is a link for a resource called Dancing without music : deafness in America. The link is to Search@XU. Search for this title in Primo.
  • If they don't have more information about the resource and the link doesn't have clues, there's not much we can do, unfortunately. Feel free to place a ticket, but we probably can't do anything about this.