Use these links to jump to different sections on this page.
Documentation originally created in 2021-2022 by the Electronic Resources Unit at the University of Florida. Adapted in 2023 for FLVC.
Search for the collection in the IZ using the Electronic Collection search. Confirm that your institution does not already have this database or a version of this database activated.
If you think the database may be a part of a statewide subscription, search for it in the NZ using the Electronic Collection search. Confirm that FLVC does not already have this database or a version of this database activated for your institution.
If the collection is not in your institution's IZ or activated for your institution in the NZ, search for it in the CZ using the Electronic Collection search.
From this list, choose the most appropriate collection. If you’re not sure which one to choose, consider the following:
Select Activate.
On the next screen, you'll have several customization options. Here are a few to consider:
You may also see CDI options if the database has CDI records. Most databases in Alma rely on the CDI for more granular discovery because they do not contain portfolios. For more information about CDI activation options, see FLVC's CDI LibGuide.
Select Next, then Activate.
Search All Titles in the IZ to test if the database-level record is displaying in Primo and has a working level URL. Select Display in Discovery.
Documentation originally created in 2021-2022 by the Electronic Resources Unit at the University of Florida. Adapted in 2023 for FLVC.
Search for the collection in the IZ using the Electronic Collection search. Confirm that your institution does not already have this collection or a version of this collection activated.
If you think the collection may be a part of a statewide subscription, search for the collection in the NZ using the Electronic Collection search. Confirm that FLVC does not already have this collection or a version of this collection activated for your institution.
In the below example, we can see that FSU already has access to Gale in Context: Biography via the Network Zone, because they are listed in the "Available For" section.
If the collection is not in your IZ, search for it in the CZ using the Electronic Collection search.
From this list, choose the most appropriate collection. If you’re not sure which one to choose, consider the following:
Once you’ve chosen the best collection, click Activate.
On the next screen, you'll have several customization options. Here are a few to consider:
Under Full Text Options, check "Activate this electronic collection service" and "Make service available."
If you have access to the full collection and will be activating all of the portfolios, check "Automatically activate new portfolios." If not, leave that box unchecked.
On the next screen, for full-text service:
If your institution uses OpenAthens, choose Yes or No depending on the type of collection. Some collections will work with the OpenAthens proxy while others use the OpenAthens redirector. If you're not sure, try turning it on and testing a few records in Primo.
If your institution uses EZProxy, choose Yes and select "Default."
For some collections (EBSCO, ProQuest, and Gale are some examples) under full-text service, you will see an option for linking parameters. Here, you should enter your customer ID, location ID, or other ID depending on the vendor. If you're not sure what information you need to put in, please reach out to the Help Desk at help@flvc.org. Check out this spreadsheet for the most common vendor configurations. This spreadsheet will also specify whether or not you should use the OpenAthens proxy.
On the last screen, choose "Activate All" to activate the entire collection. If you would like to activate specific portfolios, choose either "Activate electronic collection and selected portfolios via Excel file upload" or "Manual activation - activate electronic collection and manually select portfolios."
Search for this collection in your Institution Zone by using an Electronic Collections search to confirm it has been activated. Then, go to the Portfolio List, select a portfolio, and click the three dots in the upper right corner to click "Display in Discovery." Test a few portfolios and ensure they are linking correctly. If not, try making changes to the proxy settings (by turning the proxy off).
From the collection search page, click “Edit Collection” if you need to add proxy information or a level URL or make other collection-level changes.
When activating a new resource, it can be confusing to figure out what linking parameters to enter. FLVC maintains spreadsheets of this data for each institution in the state. You can consult the Link Resolver Masterlist (linked below) for more information about linking parameters for different vendors. If you have questions about your institutional code or can't figure out why the linking isn't working for a collection, please reach out to FLVC at help@flvc.org.
In general, if you are activating a collection and it asks you to enter additional parameters, such as a LOC_ID, that means you probably need to add it.
In general, if you have entered an institutional ID somewhere in the linking parameters, you likely won't also need to turn on EZProxy: OpenAthens.
In general, if you aren't sure what to select, try turning on EZProxy: OpenAthens and see if it works.