The New OCLS Homepage
You are viewing an update of the Off Campus Library Services (OCLS) home page that has been in place for over a decade. Many courses direct students and faculty to start at the home page to discover articles, books, tutorials and videos. For this reason, the links to major category headings such as "Key Links" or "Article Databases" remain the same. However, many less important links have been moved to new pages, both to aid usability and to provide more space for new content.
Some of this new content includes:
- APA and Research Advice
- Quick Search Box
- Recent Questions (With a Librarian's Answer)
- Verse for the Day
Please offer your thoughts about the new OCLS home page, and suggestions for new content that will better meet your research needs. If you want to compare the new site with the old, you can still use the old home page.
APA Advice
APA papers submitted for grading should have everything double spaced. Many examples of APA references are shown in single spacing to conserve paper, but the references submitted to your instructor should be double spaced. Also, documents published in APA style are converted to single spacing when the editing process is complete.
Useful Widgets
EBSCO offers a useful search box, but this version is limited to Indiana Wesleyan Education Centers where network (IP) authentication occurs automatically.
EBSCO Search
OCLS Embedded Librarians
If you are in GEN111, PSY155, ENG140, or ENG141, then you probably have a librarian embedded in your course. The OCLS discussion forum shall either appear under "Course Home" or in the "Course Forum" sub-menu.
Normal Hours of Telephone Service
- Monday 8 - 8
- Tuesday 8 - 8
- Wednesday 8 - 8
- Thursday 8 - 8
- Friday 9 - 5
- Saturday 9:30 - 1
- Sunday Closed
- Closed all University Holidays
Framed Documents
Static Document
Frame displays a single document on the server. Hundreds of pages on the site could display the same item, and updating the one document would update the linked frames.
Daily Document
Thirty-one files are created, named 1.html to 31.html. javascript determines the day of the month, and posts document for the day.
Random Comment
Documents are named o.html-59.html, one for each second in a minute. Javascript retrieves the time in seconds, and displays the matching document. A page refresh should display a new comment.
This Responsive Layout
Why a Responsive Layout
Responsive layouts shift as the viewing area becomes wider. For example, the main navigation menu of such a site will display vertically on a phone, but horizontally on a device with a larger viewing screen. Only one version of a responsive web page needs to be constructed to meet the limitations of multiple devices. However, support personal helping patrons navigate need to ask patrons what device they are using, as the same menu can be horizontal or vertical, and the same text can be displayed in one or two columns.
OCLS Contact Information
The page header provides contact information at a glance. The information of most utility to phone users appears on the extreme left ( telephone number and email ) and options more likely to be used by tablet and laptop users progressively appear as the page widens.
Masthead for Orientation
Below the contact information is the page masthead. The large black text tells the user where they are on the site. On all pages the red text "Off Campus Library Services could be a consistent link to the home page (as shown here). Avoiding links in the masthead may make the links above and below more reliable for touchscreen users. The text of the masthead is condensed into acronyms as the width of the display falls below 1024 pixels. At the extreme right of the masthead and navigation bar is an image associated with the page. This image reduces from 120 pixels square to 40 pixels square as the page width falls below 1024 pixels.
Navigation
The maroon navigation bar offers the standard links mentioned in curricula that navigates the OCLS site. Drop-down menues avoided to avoid problems for the disabled: dropdowns could be added if required. When the page width drops below 641 pixels, the menu switches to a vertical orientation. When the page width falls between 640 and 481 pixels, notes are provided explaining each menu option. When page width falls below 481 pixels only the menu options appear.
Content Areas for Mobile & Desktop
Below the navigation bar is the "article" area. The top of this area is displayed as either one or two columns, depending on the width of the display window. The top article content is always displayed, and thus this is the perfect place for content required by all users. I envision this area having many links to resources, including links to news announcements or widgets.
Bottom article content is fixed in triple columns which only appears when the the display width exceeds 1024pixels. This triple column area is intended for desktop users. Suitable content in this area might include Office/computer troubleshooting tutorials, news or images about OCLS personnel, recently posed questions, videos, scripture integration, etc.
Footer with Logo & Mission
The footer contains the logo and the mailing address. If screen width exceeds 1024 pixels, the mission statement, and a link to the introductory video appears. Alternately, the footer area could be enlarged for desktop users so that a site map is displayed.
Recent Questions
I need my 'Library Access Number'
For years OCLS has been providing 14-digit library access numbers as the means for students to access library articles and books. Course materials written over the years reflects this, and often encourages students to obtain their 14-digit library access number.
With the advent of Learning Studio students may now use either their MYIWU credentials [ firstname.lastname and your password ] or the [lastname and 14-digit library access number] to verify their student status. The MYIWU login is offered first, and users must scroll down to use the old method of authentication.
When the computer systems are running smoothly, then either method works well. Therefore, using the fourteen digit library access number is no longer required for access to articles and books unless the backup system is required.
Again, some older courses have not been updated, and still encourage students to obtain a library access number by phoning OCLS at 800-21-1848, or by using the request form found under "Key Links" on the OCLS menu. You may certainly use these contact methods to request your library access number or to report problems with the log-on process; however, you probably can use your MYIWU login to obtain the materials required by your course.
I need the Visual Bible DVD mailed to my home
The Visual Bible retelling of the Book of Acts is now available as a YouTube Video, saving students the delay of waiting for a DVD to be mailed.