[Koha] Restricting access to files attached to bibliographic records

[Myka Kennedy Stephens]

I think I have answered my own question -- or at least have found a
workable solution.

I created an analytic (child) record on the periodical item in question for
the article the professor wants to use in the course. To this record, I
attached the scan file (PDF) and verified that it works. I then used 942$n
to suppress the record in the OPAC. I verified that the PDF link still
works in a private browsing window, even though the record is suppressed in
the OPAC. I then shared the URL of the PDF file (stored in Koha) with the
professor to link in the course management system.

Unfortunately, I cannot link the record to course reserves. Course reserves
uses barcode and this adds the host item (the print periodical) to reserve
instead of the child record. I used a 590 local note to explain why the
record exists.

It isn't a perfect solution, but it at least allows us to maintain a
preservation copy and make it available for course reserve in a way that is
respectful of copyright and fair use.

I'm still curious to hear if anyone else has a solution or suggestion for
this type of scenario.

Thanks,
Myka

On Tue, Oct 22, 2019 at 10:00 AM Myka Kennedy Stephens <
mkstephens at lancasterseminary.edu> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Is it possible to restrict access to files attached to bibliographic
> records based on patron category?
>
> We have a professor who wants to put a print journal on course reserve. It
> is a loose issue that is coming unbound, and I'm not comfortable in
> allowing it to circulate as a course reserve. It is covered under copyright
> and we do not have access to it through one of our full-text databases.
>
> One option is to simply scan the article the professor wants to use and
> make it available to students within the course management system. However,
> I was thinking that it would be helpful for the library to keep the scan in
> its collection for long-term preservation purposes. I was looking at a way
> to do this within Koha using an analytic (child) record and attaching the
> scan file to that record. Since it is under copyright, however, I would
> need to restrict access to the file to only faculty and students who are
> logged in to Koha.
>
> A compromise might be to restrict access to the file in Koha to only
> library staff (i.e., viewable in staff client only, if that's possible).
> Then the file could be shared with students through the course management
> system.
>
> Is it possible to use the upload files plugin in this way? How are other
> libraries managing preservation copies of texts that are protected by
> copyright? Any suggestions or other ideas are appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Myka
>
> --
> Deaconess Myka Kennedy Stephens, MDiv, MSLIS
> Seminary Librarian and Assistant Professor of Theological Bibliography
> Lancaster Theological Seminary
> 555 West James Street
> Lancaster, PA 17603
> 717-290-8704
> mkstephens at lancasterseminary.edu
> https://library.lancasterseminary.edu
>
>

-- 
Deaconess Myka Kennedy Stephens, MDiv, MSLIS
Seminary Librarian and Assistant Professor of Theological Bibliography
Lancaster Theological Seminary
555 West James Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
717-290-8704
mkstephens at lancasterseminary.edu
https://library.lancasterseminary.edu