[Koha] Restricting access to files attached to bibliographic records

[Eric Phetteplace]

Hi Myka,

We do something similar using the Restricted Page in Koha; since it's only
visible when you're signed in, we have links to URLs we don't want to share
listed in it and then reference the page itself in the records for the
attached resources. This is similar to what you've done except your
students are authenticating via the LMS and not Koha. It's worth noting
that the access limitation is still kind of illusory; users can share the
URL and there is no guarantee people from outside your institution won't
access it. We put sensitive things in our Google Drive where we can set it
to "only CCA can view" but there is no native way to accomplish this in
Koha that I know of.

Best,

ERIC PHETTEPLACE Systems Librarian (he/him)

ephetteplace at cca.edu | o 510.594.3660

5212 Broadway | Oakland, CA | 94618

:(){ :|: & };:


On Wed, Oct 23, 2019 at 11:43 AM Myka Kennedy Stephens <
mkstephens at lancasterseminary.edu> wrote:

> 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
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