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    Summon: HathiTrust Coverage

    • Product: Summon

    Which HathiTrust database is right for our library's Summon service?

    Update March 2020: We have been working closely with HathiTrust to do a full refresh of the metadata to improve the client experience. Going forward, content and rights information will be updated more frequently, and 'limited view items' (copyrighted items) will no longer be indexed. We have also renamed our databases to be more clear about which one(s) you should subscribe to.

    This document provides basic information about HathiTrust Databases. Use the following links to move your topic of interest.


    Choosing a HathiTrust Database

    The Summon service provides access to three HathiTrust databases: HathiTrust Digital Library Full View Worldwide, HathiTrust Digital Library Full View Outside the U.S., and HathiTrust Digital Library Full View U.S. Only. Use the following information to help you decide which HathiTrust database is right for your library and add it to your Client Center profile. These databases are available to your library at no additional charge:

    • HathiTrust Digital Library Full View U.S. Only database (code J3O) includes almost 2.3 million scanned works and is growing. These works are fully viewable (full-text), and no authentication is necessary. Choose this database if you want your patrons' searches to return only full-text results from HathiTrust and your library is in the U.S. Note: Even if you choose this database, a patron can always select "Add results beyond your library's collection" and they will see results from the Full View Outside the U.S.

    • HathiTrust Digital Library Full View Worldwide database (code 1HA) is the database for items viewable by all users worldwide. It contains over 4.5 million scanned works and is growing. It contains fully viewable public domain/Open Access/Creative Commons content, and no authentication is required.

    • HathiTrust Digital Library Full View Outside the U.S. database (code M74) is available to global, non-U.S. clients and contains almost 22,000 scanned works. This content consists of fully viewable works published outside of the U.S. before 1869. Choose this database if you want your patrons' searches to return full-text results from the HathiTrust database, and your library is outside of the U.S. Visit HathiTrust for more information about copyright restrictions and availability. Note: Even if you choose this database, a patron can always select "Add results beyond your library's collection" and they will see results from the Full View U.S. only database.

    To add the HathiTrust database to your library's profile, log in to the Client Center and then follow the instructions to add a database to your library's profile.

    • When you use the e-Catalog to search for the HathiTrust database, you will see a fourth database, HathiTrust Digital Library. This database is only for use by clients subscribing to our federated-search solution, 360 Search, and should not be chosen for use in your Summon service.

    • When you add HathiTrust resources to your Client Center profile, be sure to place a checkmark in the Display in Summon check box on the Database Details page for each resource that you add.


    HathiTrust & Copyright Restrictions

    The Summon service provides access to HathiTrust content where permitted by law or by the rights holder. 

    Global users are able to access:
    • Open-access or Creative Commons licensed works in HathiTrust; and

    • All international works published prior to 1880; and

    • Some U.S. works published prior to 1925.

    U.S. users are able to access:
    • Open-access or Creative Commons licensed works in HathiTrust; and

    • All works determined to be public domain in the U.S.

    For more information on copyright and access levels in HathiTrust please see https://www.hathitrust.org/copyright


    Additional useful information:


    • Date Created: 9-Feb-2014

    • Last Edited Date: 8-Mar-2020

    • Old Article Number: 8768

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