LINKcat News

NEW INFORMATION: Platform upgrade rescheduled for 7/27/2021.

As you know, LibLime had to abort the platform upgrade this week.  The date has been changed to the night of Tuesday, July 27.  

 

In the morning of Wednesday, July 28,  check your email and the SCLS status wiki to confirm the platform move was completed before accessing Bibliovation and before self-check/sorter libraries make the changes as previously instructed.

 

Best case scenario:

 

The move will begin at 9 pm CDT and complete by 7 am on Wednesday, July 28. Indexing will start. Libraries will have access to the system and may begin regular functions. Libraries can adjust their self-check and sorter settings and the other IP setting work will be completed by SCLS and the database vendors. Searching may be unreliable for much of the day until the re-indexing is complete.

 

Worst case scenario:

 

The move will begin at 9 pm CDT and allowed to continue until completed.  Libraries will not have access to the system and may not begin regular functions until we notify you. If the move is not complete by the time libraries start to open, they will need to use Offline Circulation or an alternative method to check out materials until the move is complete.  

• If your library uses Offline Circulation, confirm that each of your staff Check Out stations has the Firefox extension installed before 7/27.  The step-by-step instructions for installation and use of Offline Circulation is in the Circulation Manual, Section XV Offline Circulation.

Once the move is complete, Indexing will start. Libraries can adjust their self-check settings and other IP setting work will be completed by SCLS and the database vendors. Libraries will be able to access patron records, check out item to patrons and check in materials but searching may be unreliable for much of the day until the re-indexing is complete.

 

SCLS staff will provide ongoing communication via the SCLS status wiki and emails.

 

Thank you for your attention.

New date for Bibliovation server move

LibLime has rescheduled the Bibliovation server move. The move will now occur after 9 pm on Tuesday, July 27 and it will be “live” on the morning of Wednesday, July 28. The following services will be affected by this change: self-checks, sorters and security gate software, MyPC, e-Commerce, Talkingtech (Harriet), iBoss (internet filtering), SIP authenticated databases (OverDrive, Hoopla, etc.), SIP authenticated services (Capira), SCLS authentication script (other databases) and some reports. SCLS will work to make sure that services transition as smoothly as possible. There will be no change in functionality as a result of this transition.

On the morning of July 28, libraries using self-checks and sorters will need to make some setting changes in order for them to work on the new platform. Before making any changes, check the Status Wiki http://sclsstatus.pbworks.com/

Instructions on how to make these changes are available on the LINKcat ILS Support page for Selfchecks and RFID at https://www.scls.info/ils/circulation/Self%20check%20and%20RFID. Libraries should make sure that there is someone on staff who is able to make changes to self checks and sorters on the morning of July 28. All LINK libraries should be aware that this is a major change and may want to have staff on hand to handle any unexpected problems. The SCLS Help Desk Team will be fully staffed and ready to assist.

Special note about GetIt Acquisitions: GetIt will be unavailable all day on Wednesday, July 28.

The Bibliovation server move will take place overnight on July 27, but the GetIt databases will not be moved until overnight on July 28. Therefore, while Bibliovation itself will be available on July 28, GetIt will not be available on July 28.

Library staff should be able to use GetIt as usual on Thursday, July 29. However, please check the SCLS Status Wiki on July 29 before resuming normal GetIt work. If there are any problems with GetIt after the move, they will be posted on the Status Wiki.

 

LibLime has rescheduled the Bibliovation server move. The move will now occur after 9 pm on Tuesday, July 27 and it will be “live” on the morning of Wednesday, July 28. The following services will be affected by this change: self-checks, sorters and security gate software, MyPC, e-Commerce, Talkingtech (Harriet), iBoss (internet filtering), SIP authenticated databases (OverDrive, Hoopla, etc.), SIP authenticated services (Capira), SCLS authentication script (other databases) and some reports. SCLS will work to make sure that services transition as smoothly as possible. There will be no change in functionality as a result of this transition.

On the morning of July 28, libraries using self-checks and sorters will need to make some setting changes in order for them to work on the new platform. Before making any changes, check the Status Wiki http://sclsstatus.pbworks.com/

Instructions on how to make these changes are available on the LINKcat ILS Support page for Selfchecks and RFID at https://www.scls.info/ils/circulation/Self%20check%20and%20RFID. Libraries should make sure that there is someone on staff who is able to make changes to self checks and sorters on the morning of July 28. All LINK libraries should be aware that this is a major change and may want to have staff on hand to handle any unexpected problems. The SCLS Help Desk Team will be fully staffed and ready to assist.

Special note about GetIt Acquisitions: GetIt will be unavailable all day on Wednesday, July 28.

The Bibliovation server move will take place overnight on July 27, but the GetIt databases will not be moved until overnight on July 28. Therefore, while Bibliovation itself will be available on July 28, GetIt will not be available on July 28.

Library staff should be able to use GetIt as usual on Thursday, July 29. However, please check the SCLS Status Wiki on July 29 before resuming normal GetIt work. If there are any problems with GetIt after the move, they will be posted on the Status Wiki.

 

Directions for updating selfchecks and sorters--Rescheduled to July 28th

The server move was reschduled and the libraries will need to do the selfcheck and sorter updates on the morning of July 28th.

In case you missed it, we announced there was a major change coming for Bibliovation on July 21st 28th.  LibLime will be moving a number of our services to a new hardware platform. This does mean that on the morning of July 21st 28th, libraries using selfchecks and sorters will have to make changes to the setup so that their equipment connects to the new URLs.

The directions for updating the server information for selfchecks and sorters are now posted on the LINKcat ILS Support page for Selfchecks and RFID at https://www.scls.info/ils/circulation/Self%20check%20and%20RFID

Library staff will need to follow these directions to update the SIP server URL on their selfchecks and sorters on July 21st 28th. SCLS staff will be available to help if there are problems but our staff can only remote into one selfcheck at a time so we are not able to do everyone’s update for them in a reasonable time frame. Libraries need to have a staff member available to do the update that morning.

We will be posting any updates on the move to the SCLS Status Wiki on July 21st 28th. http://sclsstatus.pbworks.com/ Please check the wiki before proceeding.

News Summary (6/1/2021-6/30/2021)

News (in case you missed it!)

• 6/29/2021 Registration is open for the Acquisitions II: Ordering, Invoicing, Receiving, Credit Memos Webinar on August 10, 2021, from 1-3 pm.  Register online.
• 6/17/2021 Rio Community Library goes LIVE in LINKcat on Monday, 6/21/2021.
• 6/16/2021 3,304 bibliographic records were newly cataloged and/or updated in the database between 5/27/2021 and 6/15/2021.
• 6/16/2021 11,004 items and 1,213 bibliographic records (with only withdrawn items attached) were deleted in the monthly batch deletion of withdrawn items.
• 6/15/2021 ​The minutes from the June 2, 2021, IC Meeting and June ILS Report are available online.
• 6/15/2021 The Circulation Overview Webinar was recorded during a live session on 5/17/2021.  The webinar has been edited and is posted on the ILS Support / Training / Training listed by Module /Circulation Training and Certification webpage.
• 6/2/2021 The monthly Bibliovation reports for May 2021 can be found online
• 6/2/2021 The following codes were deleted from Bibliovation: Collection Code: PBJNFBI (PICTURE BOOKS JU NFIC BILINGUAL) and Locations: AV1F (AUDIOVISUAL, 1ST FLOOR), GR2F (GREEN READS COLLECTION, 2ND FLOOR). See the minutes from the June ILS Committee meeting.
• 6/1/2021 The monthly LINKcat.info and LINKcat Mobile reports for May are posted.
• 6/1/2021 The new LINKcat Mobile app is now available for both staff and patrons. For more details, see the LINKcat Mobile FAQ for staff. For questions about how to use the app, see LINKcat Help.
• 6/1/2021 Optical scanner required to read digital patron barcodes.  See the LINKcat News blog post for information.

Save the date!--major change to LibLime platform

LibLime will be moving some Bibliovation services to a new platform. This will occur after 9 pm on Tuesday, July 27 and it will be “live” on the morning of Wednesday, July 28. The following services will be affected by this change: self-checks, sorters and security gate software, MyPC, e-Commerce, Talkingtech (Harriet), iBoss (internet filtering), SIP authenticated databases (OverDrive, Hoopla, etc.), SIP authenticated services (Capira), SCLS authentication script (other databases) and some reports. SCLS will work to make sure that services transition as smoothly as possible. There will be no change in functionality as a result of this transition.

On the morning of July 21, libraries using self-checks and sorters will need to make some setting changes in order for them to work on the new platform. Instructions on how to make these changes will be sent out prior to the update. Libraries should make sure that there is someone on staff who is able to make changes to self checks and sorters on the morning of July 21. All LINK libraries should be aware that this is a major change and may want to have staff on hand to handle any unexpected problems. The SCLS Help Desk Team will be fully staffed and ready to assist. 

Rio Community Library goes LIVE in LINKcat on 6/21/2021

Rio Community Library will officially join the LINKcat libraries on Monday, June 21, 2021. They have been working hard to get ready while getting ready for and starting their Summer Library programming and also coordinating the Summer Lunch Program at the library.  

Optical scanner required to read digital patron barcodes

With the advent of the new LINKcat Mobile App, patrons are able to store their library cardnumber (patron barcode) in their app.  However, the laser barcode readers, Metrologic and Honeywell, will not read these digital barcodes.

If you are accepting digital library cards at your library, you may wish to purchase an Optical Barcode scanner to read these barcodes at your Check Out station(s).  Bibliotheca and Envisionware Self check units have optical scanners, though one Bibliotheca library reported that their older model Bibliotheca unit had a laser scanner for patron barcodes.

Craig investigated optical scanners a few years back and his purchase recommendation is located on the Peripherals Order Form.

New LINKcat Mobile App available now

The new LINKcat Mobile App is now available for both staff and patrons as of June 1, 2021. For more details on how to access the app, check the LINKcat Mobile FAQ for staff page. For questions about using the app, see LINKcat Help.

News Summary (5/1/2021-5/31/2021)

News (in case you missed it!)

• 5/28/2021 The minutes from the May DIS Meeting are available online.
• 5/26/2021 The minutes from the May CSS Meeting are available online.
• 5/26/2021 11,684 bibliographic records were newly cataloged and/or updated in the database between 2/25/2021 and 5/25/2021.
• 5/26/2021 19,409 items and 1,746 bibliographic records (with only withdrawn items attached) were deleted in the monthly batch deletion of withdrawn items.
• 5/24/2021 The new LINKcat Mobile App is available for library staff to preview prior to the patron rollout on June 1. Please see the LINKcat Mobile FAQ for staff for more details. 
• 5/24/2021 The Patron Record and Registration webinar was recorded during a live session on 5/5/2021.  The webinar has been edited and is posted on the ILS Support / Training / Training listed by Module / Circulation Training and Certification web page.
• 5/20/2021 The minutes from the May CMS Meeting are available online.
• 5/4/2021 The monthly Bibliovation reports for April 2021 can be found online.
• 5/3/2021 The monthly LINKcat.info and LINKcat Mobile reports for April are posted.

New reports and change to some On Demand reports

Two new reports have been added and one change was made to some of the existing On Demand reports.

• Selfcheck Usage is a new monthly report showing the total selfcheck transactions per library. The report has been run and posted for all of 2021.  Unfortunately we are unable to get the transactions per individual selfcheck so libraries will still need to run the reports on their individual selfchecks if they want the transactions by selfcheck. https://www.scls.info/selfcheck-usage
• The On Demand Billing Notices report gives a list of billing notices created during a date range you enter. https://www.scls.info/billing-notices-bibliovation-reports
• All On Demand reports that had been showing the patron's borrower number have been updated to show the patron barcode instead.