Frequently Asked Questions
indyreads™ is a local eContent management platform which can host ePUB, PDF, MP3 & MP4 files, apply DRM and circulate digital titles to NSW public library registered card holders.
The indyreads™ platform is the culmination of a successful pilot project which explored how public libraries could best deliver local digital content to their communities. The indyreads platform will provide the technical infrastructure and legal framework to allow public libraries to operate as aggregators of locally important content, helping to assist libraries to build digital collections which reflect the diversity and vibrancy of their local communities.
Digitised books, manuscripts, ephemera, oral histories, music and video content from the participating public libraries local studies collections can also be uploaded onto the platform to enhance community access to important cultural resources.
indyreads™ will contain an opening collection of statewide licensed eBook titles sourced from Australian independent publishers, a selection of titles in languages other than English as well as international content including reference, modern literary, classic fiction and non-fiction titles. The aim is to continually develop and grow the statewide collection.
All NSW public libraries will receive a copy of the NSW Public Library Agreement for the Purchasing of Electronic Content to facilitate the direct acquisition of content from community authors, historians and local publishers.
To check your site’s ADSL availability, click on the link (Telstra ADSL qualifier) then enter your details to see if you have access to ADSL: http://register.bigpond.com/check-availability.do TIP: It’s always a good idea to enter in a fax number instead of a telephone number as it tends to improve the accuracy of the Telstra qualifier
An indyreads™ agreement and a request for SIP2 server details was forwarded to all NSW public library managers in December 2018. Once NSW.net receives a signed copy of the agreement and SIP2 server details the indyreads™ platform will be configured for access by the library's registered card members.
To obtain a copy of the agreement please contact NSW.net.
The indyreads™ platform is available to NSW public libraries at no cost. This provides NSW public library registered card members with access to the statewide licensed consortia collection. Public libraries can also upload digitised local studies content (manuscripts, oral histories and transcripts, eBooks and ephemera) at no cost. Community licensed digitised content (eBooks) can also be uploaded free of charge.
The indyreads™ platform contains an opt-in Odilo Marketplace from which libraries can select content exclusively for use by their members (this is called a segmented collection). Any content purchased by a library from the Odilo Marketplace would be debited to the service along with the associated DRM fees. There is no requirement for a library to purchase any content from the Odilo Marketplace. To find out further information about the Odilo Marketplace please contact NSW.net.
State Library purchased eResources are for individual use by registered members of the State Library. Once registered, members can access the SLNSW eResources remotely anywhere using their membership card number.
State Library eResources cannot be used by public library staff for business purposes.
After a public library signs and returns the indyreads™ agreement along with the SIP2 server details for their library management system, patron authentication for their members will be configured. The library will receive the indyreads™ URL, logo and platform description which is to be placed on the appropriate section of the library website.
The library member has three options to search and download indyreads™ titles. They can go directly to the indyreads™ browser portal, https://indyreads.odilo.us/ or access the indyreads™ catalogue via the Android or IOS APPS.
Please refer to the Odilo support material http://www.odilosupport.us/getting-started.htmlLibrary imports the indyreads™ MARC records into their catalogue
Library patrons can also access titles via the library catalogue, whereby they will be redirected to the indyreads portal to borrow a desired title. In order to do so, the library must import the indyreads™ MARC records into their catalogue.
No, a person who has joined a library via an online membership form and has not had their address verified is not permitted to access the indyreads™ platform™.
To obtain usage statistics for the EBSCO state-wide licensed databases please refer to the technical support section http://www.nswnet.net/content/accessing-usage-statistics
Yes, there will be a dedicated indyreads™ APP for Android and IOS devices available in the Apple Marketplace and Google PLAY stores. Please refer to training material.
NSW.net will provide user guides, manuals and webinar training to public library staff throughout the statewide rollout. Training sessions will also be hosted at the State Library and onsite training will be available upon request. Details will be forwarded via the Library Managers LISTSERV.
Yes, indyreads™ can be deeply integrated into the Aurora AIT and SIRSI Dynix library management system via RESTful API. Once configured this allows a library patron to search, discover and download indyreads™ titles from within the library online catalogue.
If you use Aurora AIT or SIRSI Dynix and would like to configure deep integration with indyreads™ please contact NSW.net.
Libero aims to have deep Web Services RESTFul API integration with indyreads completed by the second half of 2020.
CIVICA/Spydus will only commence work on deep Web Services RESTFul API integration with indyreads upon receiving individual requests from their NSW public library clients.
SOLUS aims to integrate indyreads into their library App by the last quarter of 2020
Remote access to the State Library’s eResources has been available for all NSW residents for many years. The current process requires NSW residents to register with the State Library and receive a State Library membership card.
The new access solution enables NSW residents who are members of their local library to use their public library membership to apply for State Library membership if:
• The local library opts in and provides its barcode range to the State Library
• The card holder registers with the State Library
Once registered as members of the State Library, clients can use their local library card for immediate 24/7 access to their local library’s and the State Library’s eResources and without having to be issued with a State Library membership card.
State Library eResources are complementary to those licensed by public library services and are provided under licence conditions to registered members of the State Library.
Use must be for private research and study purposes only. Use is to be by the registered individual only – access is not transferable to other parties.
If new membership number sequences need to be added and/or deleted, the public library needs to complete the online Public Library Barcode Change Request form located on the NSW.net website www.nswnet.net/feedback/public-library-barcode-change-request Please note: you need to be signed into your NSWnet account in order to access the form. If you work in a NSW public library you can create an account by referring to the top right-hand corner of the website.
At least one pull-up banner has been sent to each participating library service to display in your library to promote this initiative. The banners can be rotated between the main and branch libraries until November 2015, after which time they may be disposed. Participating public libraries have also received a number of promotional jpeg images and accompanying text which can be uploaded onto your Council/Library website.
Public Libraries should continue to market their existing eResources as per their normal practice.
Please note that specific State Library of NSW eResource titles should not be listed, nor promoted, on a council/library website unless the library has their own subscription to the title.
Eresources available through the State Library of NSW can be accessed in the library or remotely by anyone who is a registered SLNSW member.
Public libraries can link to the landing page for the eresources site on the SLNSW website: http://www2.sl.nsw.gov.au/
Indefinitely, as long as public library clients maintain a current active membership with their local public library
The indyreads™ platform will contain an opening collection of approximately 9000 statewide licensed eBook and eAudio titles sourced from Australian independent publishers, a selection of titles in languages other than English as well as international content including, small press and indie genre fiction, reference, modern literary, classic fiction and non-fiction titles. A curated collection of the best examples of domestic and international self-published content will also be available.
The aim of the statewide collection is to provide a broad range of titles beyond the bestsellers which typically form the core of public library digital collections. Content from Australian publishers which are not readily available through traditional library distribution channels will also be prioritised.
The Library Council of NSW has endorsed Internet Policy Guidelines for NSW public libraries. The Guidelines are available on the State Library of New South Wales website.
A suggestion for purchase for an individual title or a collection of works from a publisher can be made via the patron account, 'suggestion for purchase' section or by contacting NSW.net directly (contact us form).
The key requirements are that the work(s) is by an Australian author or Australian publisher. The emphasis is on titles published by independent Australian publishers. Please forward the suggestion to NSW.net via the contact us form.
In phase two of the indyreads™ rollout scheduled for mid-2019 interested NSW public libraries will be permitted to upload digitised or digital local studies content onto the indyreads™ platform. The types of material which will be permissible include manuscripts, ephemera, oral histories and transcripts and history books.
The platform is not designed to host images and as such no image collections are to be uploaded.
Libraries interested in keeping up with NSW.net eResource developments are advised to subscribe to the NSW Public Library Database Contacts LISTSERV.
We also recommend that you subscribe to the NSW.net Twitter feed and Blog.
The State Library of NSW has created a bespoke agreement to facilitate the licensing of content by NSW public libraries from local authors, historians and publishers. Phase 3 of the indyreads™ rollout scheduled for the second half of 2019 will provide the NSW public library network with the necessary resources and training to license and upload community content.
The indyreads™ platform has an opt-in Odilo Marketplace which contains over one million titles. Public libraries can select content exclusively for use by their members from the Marketplace (segmented collection). Any content purchased by a library from the Marketplace would be debited to the service along with the associated DRM fees. If you are interested in having a marketplace account set up for your service please contact NSW.net.
Yes you can opt-in to participate in this initiative at any time, however, the State Library needs an agreement signed by your Council’s General Manager before we can activate your access. Please contact NSW.net for a copy of the letter/agreement and return signed agreements to NSW.net.
A promotional pull-up banner and jpeg image with accompanying text which can be uploaded onto your Council/Library website will be sent to your Library Manager.
The following formats can be hosted on indyreads™: EPUB, PDF, MP3 & MP4.
Yes, a registered library card holder can reserve a title which is out on loan. To do so a client must be logged into the indyreads™ platform. There are no limits on the number of reservations a user can place. Please refer to the user guides.
The item loan period is 21 days. Items can be renewed if there are no reservations. Items can also be returned early via the App. The maximum number of items per borrower card is 20.
Yes, once a title has five holds a new copy will be purchased.
Yes, please refer to technical support.
Basic statistics (loan, download, borrower and title) can be obtained by the designated administrator at each library. Instructions will be available in the indyreads™ technical support section of the NSW.net website.
The State Library of NSW will provide staff training on the indyreads™ platform and APPS as well as a collection of user guides and technical manuals. The State Library will also provide ‘Secondary Support’ to NSW public libraries in the circumstance whereby the library cannot resolve an issue using the supplied user guides and technical manuals.
Primary Support is provided by the public library service to library patrons to assist with questions relating to the use of the indyreads™ platform and Android and IOS indyreads™ APP. This includes questions relating to; search, discovery, loans, return and general APP navigation.
Secondary Support is provided by the State Library of NSW to public libraries to assist in the resolution of user questions which are not covered in the support material and technical issues with the indyreads™ platform and Android and IOS APPS.
Contact the NSW.net staff via the Contact Us Form, selecting indyreads™ as the topic.
Yes. NSW.net can provide you with pricing for a wide range of subsidised Internet services through our partner ISP’s (AAPT and Optus). As all site requirements are unique, prices are on application so please contact NSW.net for an obligation free quote.
For the initial set-up NSW.net will work with a handful of libraries which use a cross section of library management systems. If you are interested in participating in the first batch of libraries to be set-up for indyreads™ please contact NSW.net. The library service must agree to allocate sufficient staff resources for the set-up, testing and rollout of the platform within an agreed timeframe.
The aim is to have all NSW public libraries set-up to utilise the indyreads™ platform by March 2019.
If the client isn’t a member of their local library and therefore does not have a membership card/number, they will be prompted to contact their local library.
If the client is a registered member of their local public library and their membership number won’t let them register with the State Library or access the eResources, they will be prompted to contact their local library. Public library staff can then contact the NSW.net team to discuss and resolve any issues.
The NSW.net State-wide licensed databases can be utilised by NSW public library staff for reference service purposes and by their respective library members within the library or from home. These resources are for individual use and are not to be used as an institutional resource by third parties.
The licence agreement for the State Library of New South Wales eResources enables remote access by registered users of the State Library of New South Wales, 24/7, at their usual computers in their homes, public libraries etc. The resources have not been licensed for use by NSW public library staff in providing services to their clients. To do so would be a breach of the terms and conditions of the license agreements. Please refer to the State Library of NSW Access Conditions for eResources for further information.
The current suite of NSW.net statewide licensed databases are supplied by EBSCO. Due to the complex nature of content licensing the total number of titles will fluctuate as new titles are added and old titles are deleted &/or journal title subscriptions cease. As such it is difficult to provide a definitive annual list of titles by format.
If you are interested in knowing the current number of titles across each format for a particular statewide licensed database we suggest that you refer to the latest content list spreadsheets available on the product home pages listed below. The content lists are typically available in an Excel spreadsheet and the data can be filtered by format, subject and date.
Australian New Zealand Points of View Reference Center
Australian New Zealand Reference Center
Literary Reference Centre Plus
Novelist Plus (this resource primarily contains HTML text)
Science Reference Center https://www.ebscohost.com/public/science-reference-center
To find an up to date list of State Library subscriptions:
1. Go to the eResources web page on the State Library website (URL)
2. Select the browse database option and then click on browse
3. Filter by access type (In the Library or anywhere with a Library card) and subject (select the ALL box)
From year to year the list of eResource titles may vary in accordance to the State Library of NSW collection development policies and funding considerations.
No. The State Library is investigating the provision of public library member registration statistics and will advise public libraries when/if this will be available. Statistics on use of SLNSW eResources by members cannot be separated on a client basis.
The Council agrees to:
- Provide the SLNSW with the SIP2 server intake parameters as specified in the form forwarded to library managers and provide a patron account for testing purposes.
- Cooperate with the SLNSW and the technology vendor Odilo to configure authentication between the LMS and Odilo TK platform.
- Designate an appropriate staff member as the main point of contact for the indyreads™ project to assist with set-up and ongoing project related communication pertaining to marketing, training and technical support.
- Promote and publicise the indyreads™ eBook collection to library clients using marketing materials developed by the SLNSW.
- Create appropriate catalogue records for local studies digitised content and community acquired titles licensed by the library and imported onto the indyreads™ platform
- To import catalogue records for the statewide consortia collection from the indyreads™ administration portal into your LMS catalogue.
- To perform primary support for authorized readers (card holders) using the indyreads platform. The SLNSW and Odilo will provide secondary support by e-mail, chat, video conferencing and phone, including documentation and training.
- Comply with the terms and conditions for the acquisition and use of digital content as outlined in the NSW Public Library Agreement for the Purchasing of Electronic Content and associated guidelines to be forwarded to the NSW public library network.
- Ensure that any content uploaded onto the platform adheres to the libraries collection development policy and agree to remove content if directed by the SLNSW.
- Adhere to the guidelines provided by the SLNSW for the selection and importing of digitised local studies content onto the indyreads™ platform.
- Assure that access to digital rights managed content is restricted registered readers (card holders) of the library as authenticated by the library’s automated management system.
- Respond appropriately to any misuse by a reader (card holder) your service’s public library clients.