"Invoice Number" Column in Statements Renamed "VST Reference Number"
For Pub Comp Statements, the first column (previously labeled “Invoice_Number”) has now been renamed “VST Reference Number.” This change provides consistency across VST financial statements.
Details:
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Publishers
Statement of Account Report
Effective November 10, you will begin receiving a full "Statement of Account" report each month for all outstanding invoices. This will provide the full balance owed.
Details:
- Previously, this report was sent upon request. Now, the report will be sent automatically each month. This will provide consistent updates on a customer’s financial account with VitalSource.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- All Users
Continuous Scroll Navigation for EPUBs: iOS and Android
For users who like to scroll through the book as they read, we have added continuous scroll navigation to EPUB and PDF books.
- To turn continuous scroll on, tap Aa on the top navigation bar and toggle the Continuous Scroll option to the on position. As you read, you will be able to scroll vertically through the book. At the end of each page, the next page will automatically load.
- Continuous scroll will remain on for a particular book until you open the Aa button and toggle Continuous Scroll off.
Details:
- If you scroll quickly through the pages in a book, a “Jump to Next” or “Jump to Previous” button will display. Tapping this button will allow you to skip to the next or previous chapter, depending on the direction in which you are scrolling.
- Continuous scroll will be available on Bookshelf version 9.3 running iOS version 12+ or Android 5+ operating systems.
- For more information, please review this brief guide.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Learners
PDF Page Navigation: iOS and Android
To make it easier to turn pages in a book that has a fixed page layout (such as PDFs) we have added new page navigation gestures. In addition to swiping left or right, you can now turn the page by tapping the right or left side of the device screen.
Details:
- We have disabled the page swipe gesture when a user is zoomed into a fixed layout/PDF book. This avoids users accidentally turning the page when panning around the text. To turn the page when zoomed, tap the arrows along the scrubber bar or pan to the edge of the book page and tap the right or left side of the device screen.
- PDF navigation improvements will be available on Bookshelf version 9.3 running iOS version 12+ or Android 5+ operating systems.
- For more information, please review this brief guide.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- All Users
Continuous Scroll for PDF: eBooks
For users who like to scroll through the book as they read, we have added continuous scroll navigation to PDF books.
- To turn continuous scroll on, click the Aa icon on the bottom navigation bar and check the Continuous Scroll option. As you read, you will be able to scroll vertically through the book. At the end of each page, the next page will automatically load.
- Continuous scroll will remain on for a particular book until you open the Aa button and toggle Continuous Scroll off.
Details:
- For more information, please review these brief guides: iOS and Android or Mac and Windows
- PDF continuous scroll improvements will be available on Bookshelf version 9.3 running MacOS version 10.12+, Windows 10.16299+, iOS version 12+, or Android 5+ operating systems.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- All Users
Library Search Improvements: Windows/Mac
We have improved the library search results to make it easier for users to search and find the content they’re looking for.
Details:
- For more information, please review this brief guide.
- The search improvements are available on Bookshelf version 9.2 running Windows 10.16299+ operating system and MacOS version 10.12+.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- All Users
Auto Pagination
Bookshelf will now provide an improved experience for books that do not provide page numbers to fulfill VitalSource’s commitment to enhancing the learning experience in our applications.
- Ingestion will now analyze and add generic page numbers and breaks to any EPUB title that doesn't have them, enabling the proper functioning of Bookshelf features like go-to-page navigation, page scrubber, and printing, as well as facilitating more accurate % Read usage analytics.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Publishers/Providers
- Instructors
ePub Check
After its June release, we adopted EPUBCheck 4.2.4 to ensure that all EPUB titles served through Bookshelf have been vetted by the latest version of the industry-standard software.
- This is part of our continued partnership with W3C and our ongoing commitment to the EPUB3 standard.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Publishers/Providers
New Explore Admin Portal
The do-it-yourself Explore admin tool is a game-changer that empowers publishers to easily create, distribute, and implement collections, in a matter of minutes. Build branded collections from content in Bookshelf, and create free trials or paid subscriptions for institutions and libraries. Institutions simply accept the collection, and choose their preferred integration.
Details:
- Create and test new delivery models while reducing administrative work.
- Select the price, duration, licensing limits, and auto-renew options for each collection or offer.
- Deliver branded, customized collections by changing the header image and banner text.
- Connect with existing partners, or create new business relationships by sharing and evolving collections.
- Learn more at: http://get.vitalsource.com/explore
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Publishers
- Institutional Admins
Collection Previews
Users of the self-service admin platform in Explore can now instantly preview a collection, before committing to finalizing or purchasing.
Details:
- Institutional admins can preview a collection before purchasing and no longer need to use manual codes.
- Publishers and providers can use the collection “preview” feature to demo Explore easily, without creating additional demo accounts in Manage.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Publishers
- Institutional Admins
Generating MARC Records for Adopted Content
Explore now provides institutional admins with the ability to generate MARC records for adopted content. This will remove the requirement of reaching out to VitalSource Customer Success to generate MARC records going forward.
- Admins can download MARC records directly from their browser. Requests containing over 2,000 items will be delivered via email to the requestor.
Details:
- MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging) is a data format by which computers exchange, use, and interpret bibliographic information. It makes up the foundation of most libraries’ online public access catalogs used today.
- If an eBook doesn't have a MARC record with a specific set of required information, it's not able to be cataloged by the library or discovered in the library.
- To learn more about MARC records, please visit here.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Institutions
- LMS Admins
- IT
- Technical Librarians
Create EZProxy Integrations
Institutional admins can now create EZProxy integrations through Explore. This no longer requires that a Launch tenant be manually created by an Integration Manager.
Details:
- Every resource that your users access remotely using EZproxy must be configured in the config.txt file. This file contains a listing of the databases that you subscribe to with instructions for EZproxy about what resources within those databases users are allowed to access. The instructions are the directives, and when combined, these directives form database stanzas. When your users attempt to access a database, after they have been authenticated, EZproxy reads your institution’s list of resources and directives in the config.txt file and determines whether or not the resource the user is trying to access is available to your users, and either grants access (by rewriting the URL into a proxied URL) or denies access.
- Explore will provide the required stanza for self-service setup.
- Continued self-service integration will allow users to get up and running in a matter of hours.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Institutions
- LMS Admins
- IT
- Technical Librarians
LTI Advantage
VitalSource now supports LTI 1.3 specification; LTI 1.3 supports:
-
- Names and roles service; LTI rostering
- Deeplink service
- Assignments and grade services
- IMS Global has released a new spec for version 1.3, the next generation of LTI. The specification calls for a new security model and data transfer model. As a contributing member of IMS Global and a leader in the industry, VitalSource is committed to supporting this new standard.
Details:
- Find links to set up instructions for Blackboard, Canvas, D2L Brightspace, and Moodle on the VitalSource Success Portal.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- LMS Admins
Automated Link Placement for D2L
Users can automatically push LTI links to content back into D2L courses.
Details:
- For more information about the automated link placement for D2L platform integration, visit this page.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- LMS Admins
Norton and APA - Courseware Integration
VitalSource’s LTI allows users to deliver seamless access to publisher courseware platforms. We are pleased to announce that the APA (American Psychological Association) and WW Norton are two new publisher courseware providers now participating in VitalSource courseware integration.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Campus Stores
- LMS Admins
User Search: Call for Beta Testers
Manage’s user search is one of our most popular pages. We’re working on a series of updates to make it faster, easier, and more powerful.
- We’re looking for volunteer testers who frequently use our existing user search to test the new version and provide feedback, before we launch changes to all users.
Details:
- Please volunteer by contacting your CSM, if you have time to test a new feature and complete feedback.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Resellers
- Distributors
- Publishers
Code Detail Report Viewable by Redistributors
Redistributors can now view code activity related to redistributions. This permission was previously only available to distributors and content owners.
- This change will allow publishers to see all relevant code activity no matter how rights have been conferred.
Details:
- Contact your CSM with questions.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Publishers
- International Users
More Efficient Reporting
We’re now running periodic jobs more efficiently to reduce delayed delivery of reports. Say goodbye to “where’s my report” Monday’s.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- All users
Smart Pricing
VitalSource’s Smart Pricing rule engine just got a lot smarter. Now, Smart Price rules can be created that will not override a manually set price.
- For example: If you have “generic” Smart Price rules to automatically create Inclusive Access prices for your content and you manually override a generated price, you won’t need to worry about Smart Pricing changing the price back.
- This can also be used in conjunction with currency conversion. Publishers can manually set currency-specific prices for some content, and use Smart Pricing currency conversion to handle everything else.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Publishers
Bartleby Study Offer Now Available
An exclusive Bartleby study bundle offer is now available: Students get 4 months of 24/7 homework and writing help, plus access to a suite of study tools, for $19.99.
- When users have a subtotal of $20 or more, the offer will appear on the Cart page. This is available for customers shopping the US and CA VitalSource stores.
Details:
- For more details about this offer, please visit: https://www.vitalsource.com/bartleby
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Learners
International: Purchases for Displaced Students
Users with an international billing address can now purchase from US and CA stores, if they are attending a US/CA institution. This change was made to address the needs of users displaced by COVID-19.
- Users are presented with an institution picker when they select a billing country other than US or CA.
Details:
- Tax is collected based on the country and state/province of the institution selected.
- For more information, visit: International Purchases for Displaced Students
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Learners
- Publishers
Dynamic Testimonials and Reviews
The VitalSource store now features customer reviews drawn from Reseller Ratings.
- Users can navigate from this new page to Reseller Ratings to view all reviews and write their own.
Details:
- For more information about Reseller Ratings, visit this page.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Learners
- Instructors
- Resellers
Updates to "Search Not Found" Page
We have redesigned and updated the “Search Not Found” page, so users can find the search results they need, easily.
Details:
- “Search Not Found” is more user-friendly and easier to navigate.
- A regional flag reminds users which version of the store they’re shopping in.
- “Search Tips” offers helpful best practices when searching for content on the site.
- “Popular Subjects” provides a link to the most popular subjects, or offers users the option to “See All Subjects.”
- “Request a Book” lets users send VitalSource a request for specific titles.
- “Featured Titles” are displayed (desktop only).
- There is now an option to Contact Support (phone number, email address, and a link to the Help Center).
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Learners
- Instructors
Instructor Experience Improvements in Verba Collect
The “Yes, I need to add materials” and “No, I do not need to add materials” button in the instructor interface has been updated to be more explicit as to what type of materials can be added to an adoption. We have also split adding supplies and OER materials into their own step, to improve the user experience.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Instructors
New Admin and Approver Features
A new Low/No Cost feature is now available to allow Collect admin/approvers to mark sections with “low” or “no” cost. This designation will surface on the filtered export. This feature will help institutions operating under new guidelines for reporting on low-cost/ no-cost courses.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Campus Stores
iClicker Now Available
Users can now add iClicker adoptions to an IA program with national IA pricing. This is an opportunity to save students money and streamline iClicker distribution across your campus.
Who Does This Change Affect?
- Campus Stores