Note:
OCRA has been phased out as the library’s course reserves system. The Brown University Library has migrated to a new course reserves platform that integrates directly with Canvas and the Library’s BruKnow catalog. This document is for the purpose of historical information. The library’s new course reserves system can be found here.
OCRA is a platform for faculty to request digital course reserves in all formats. Students access digital course reserves via Canvas or at the standalone OCRA site. Students access physical reserves in library buildings via Josiah.
The following is the archive of ORCA development information.
Over the summer and early fall, a number of new enhancements were added to the University Library’s Online Course Reserves Application (OCRA).
Improved Book and Movie Requesting
Last year, we improved the book request form by adding an automatic search for ebooks in the Library’s collections, and making it possible to add ebooks to a course OCRA page with one click. This feature was added to assist in implementing a new library policy limiting the number of physical reserves allowed at the Rockefeller circulation desk.
Over the summer, this new feature was expanded to support movie requests and to include physical book requests. Entering a title on either the movie or book request page will automatically trigger a search for materials in Josiah (the library’s main catalog) and generate a list of available materials. Clicking the request button for an ebook will instantly add a link to the course’s OCRA page; movie requests require a short form before being sent to video staff for digitization. Requesting a physical book this way will add a request and inform the Library’s circulation staff.
New Audio Request System
The library has switched to a new streaming audio/video solution called Panopto. As part of this shift, we’ve retired EARS, OCRA’s former Electronic Audio Reserve System in favor of a new, simplified audio request form that incorporates the same Josiah search functionality as the book and movie request pages.
Quick Requesting
You can type almost anything into the new box at the top of the faculty class view to try to add a request to your course instantly.
Above, we’re inserting an article by its citation; the new “Ocrifier” system can also handle ISBNs, DOIs, PubMed IDs, OCLC numbers, URLs, or Josiah IDs.