LINKcat News

Talpa search available for LINKcat

Talpa is an experimental, AI-powered, "plain language" search that allows you to search LINKcat in ways that are different from traditional searching. We have access to Talpa through our enhanced content provider, Syndetics Unbound (enhanced content includes cover art, series information, reviews, about the author, etc.). Here are some examples of Talpa searches:

• astronaut stranded on mars
• time travel novel with blue cover

We are able to try out Talpa for one year but we don't know what will happen after the year is done. During this time, the vendor will be gathering information about how well Talpa is working, and may or may not continue the service.

The Talpa search link is available on the LINKcat Help page. From here, either patrons or staff can use Talpa. For more information on how the Talpa search works, go to https://www.talpa.ai/.

Non-fiction multi-part TV series, mini-series, documentaries can circulate together as a set

Effective immediately, you can now circulate non-fiction multi-part DVD TV series, mini-series, and documentaries together as a set, in the same way that we have been circulating fiction multi-part DVD sets. This change to the Videorecordings Searching and Matching Policy was approved at the April 5 ILS Committee meeting. 

 

Please note that instructional and travel sets would still circulate separately if each part can stand alone. Travel sets can be large, and cover different states or countries on separate discs, so that is why travel sets would continue to be split. For instructional sets, there are some sets that are circulated together, such as the Great Courses, because they come with a booklet that is used with all discs and these would continue to circulate together. However, if each part of an instructional set can stand alone, then it would be circulated separately.

 

Moving forward, you can treat non-fiction multi-part TV series, mini-series, and documentaries in the same way that you have been treating fiction sets. Any new non-fiction sets can be added to Bibliovation as a full set. The Linking Manual and Linking Training materials have been updated. These are all linked from the Cataloging page (under the Multi-part DVDs Project header): https://www.scls.info/ils/cataloging. The FAQ for Multi-Part DVD Packaging has also been updated.

Reporting Bibliovation Response Time Problems

SCLS staff are working with LibLime to determine areas of Bibliovation where intermittent and short-term slowdowns are a problem and we are looking for your help. If you experience response time problems with Bibliovation, please open a ticket using the SCLS Help Desk Portal or send an email to [email protected].

In order to provide the most specific information possible to LibLime about response time, please report any problems at the time that they occur, and with as many details as possible. For example, if there is a problem when checking out to a patron, please provide the patron’s barcode number, as well as information about whether the patron has a large number of items already checked out or is checking out a large number of items. If there is a problem when viewing a bibliographic and/or item record, please provide the bibliographic number and/or item barcode number and the specifics of the problem. It’s also important to provide the date and approximate time when the problem occurred.

If Bibliovation is unusable or seems to be having major problems, please contact the Help Desk immediately (use the After Hours Support Number during evenings and weekends).

Bibliovation Staff URL Change May 31, 2022

The Bibliovation staff URL will be changing from scls.kohalibrary.com to scls.bibliovation.com during the day on May 31, 2022. LibLime will be doing a redirect from the old URL to the new URL until September 1, 2022. Because of the redirect, the change will happen behind the scenes and should not impact existing URLs right away. However, any links to the “old” URL will need to be updated to the “new” URL sometime between June 1, 2022 and September 1, 2022. Unfortunately, this is not something that can be done automatically by SCLS staff. No URL updates should be done prior to June 1, 2022.

Where are the staff URLs saved?
Please take some time between now and June 1 to think about where your library may have saved URLs to Bibliovation. Some places where URLs might be stored are:

• Bookmarks in browsers on staff computers
• Shortcuts on staff computers
• Internal library websites that are only used by library staff
• Documentation and instructions that your library created for staff
• Receipt printer shortcuts on staff PCs
• Spine label shortcuts on staff PCs

How do I update the URLs?
For browser bookmarks and shortcuts, you can edit the existing bookmark/shortcut and replace the old URL with the new URL. You can also delete the existing bookmark/shortcut and create a new bookmark/shortcut with the new URL. For internal documentation or websites, you can do a find and replace to update the URLs.

How do I update the URL in the receipt and/or spine label printer Firefox profile shortcuts?
There are special procedures for updating the receipt and spine label printer shortcuts. Instructions are posted on the ILS Support Manuals page.

Can I use my library's unique Bibliovation URL?
Yes! In Bibliovation, each library can use a unique URL for staff as well as for patrons. Your library's unique URL is <agency code>.scls.bibliovation.com. (For example, the URL for SCA will be sca.scls.bibliovation.com.) If you use your library's unique URL, then your library's items will display first on the "Detail" screen of the bib record, the "Edit items" screen of the bib record, and on the "Item status" screen of the bib record.

What about the LINKcat URL?
The generic URL for LINKcat is www.linkcat.info. The www.linkcat.info URL is not changing. Each library also has a unique LINKcat URL, which can be used for patrons. Your library's unique LINKcat URL is <agency code>.linkcat.info. (For example, the unique URL for SCLS is sca.linkcat.info.) Always use <agency code>.linkcat.info for any patron-facing information. Please do not use the scls.bibliovation.com URL for any patron materials or websites. If you are copying and pasting URLs into websites or other patron materials, be sure that you are using <agency code>.linkcat.info instead of scls.bibliovation.com.

What does this mean for patrons?
Patrons should not notice a change. Patrons will still be able to use www.linkcat.info to access LINKcat. Patron PCs in the library will continue to take patrons into the library's custom-branded LINKcat instance.

I need more help with this
If you need help with updating bookmarks, shortcuts, or anything else, you can contact the Help Desk. See the Get Help page for information on contacting the Help Desk.

Special note about GetIt Acquisitions
Libraries who are using GetIt Acquisitions must continue to use their library's unique URL in order to use GetIt. The library's unique URL is <agency code>.scls.bibliovation.com.

Bibliovation 7.00.15 Upgrade: Monday, January 10, 2022 after 9pm

Bibliovation Upgrade

We are pleased to announce that there will be an update to Bibliovation starting at 9pm on Monday, January 10, 2022. The upgrade will require system downtime from approximately 9pm to midnight. This release (7.00.15) includes fixes to most modules of Bibliovation; however, most of the fixes are in Circulation. See the Release Notes for a full list of issues addressed in this upgrade. Some, but not all, of the fixes, changes, and new features are listed below.

This upgrade includes fixes that have been tested by SCLS staff and at some libraries. To the best of everyone’s assessment, the fixes are working well and any bugs identified during testing have been fixed. However, as we learned with past upgrades and patches, we may experience unexpected results following the upgrade. We may also discover new problems. We will use the Known Problems page to document any post upgrade problems. After the upgrade, please clear your browser cache before using Bibliovation.

High Priority Fixes

This release includes fixes for the following high-priority problems (these problems are also listed in the Release Notes):

• Reduced Transportation Holds not working
• Advanced search option "Only items currently available for loan or reference" includes items not available for loan
• In transit holds not counted as "active" holds on Patron Dashboard page
• Hold requests on Holds Queue report blocking walk-in check out on self check unit
• Patron data in left sidebar not cleared when using Clear screen button

Changes and New Features

This release also includes the following changes and new features (these changes are also listed in the Release Notes):

• Patron Group: (This feature will not be enabled until after the upgrade.) A new feature allows staff to link family members together. One patron record is designated as the Leader of the Group, and other family members are linked to it. (Please note that this does NOT work in conjunction with the linked accounts functionality in the Solus Mobile App.)
• Delete Patron functionality moved: Delete Patron functionality used to be located in the “More” button located on many of the Patron record screens. In Bibliovation this functionality was moved to the left screen menu list and an internal permission was added to designate which staff had the ability to delete patron records.
• Sort options now customizable: We now have the ability to customize the sort options that are displayed on the search results page.

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 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.

Bibliovation Upgrade April 22, 2021 (release 6.02.12)

We are pleased to announce that there will be an update to Bibliovation starting at 9pm on Thursday, April 22. The upgrade does not require system downtime. This release (6.02.12) includes fixes to Circulation, Cataloging, and the Discovery Layer. See the Release Notes for a full list of issues addressed in this upgrade. 

This upgrade includes fixes that have been tested by SCLS staff. To the best of everyone’s assessment, the fixes are working well and any bugs identified during testing have been fixed. However, as we learned with past upgrades and patches, we may experience unexpected results following the upgrade. We may also discover new problems. We will use the Known Problems page to document any post upgrade problems. After the upgrade, please clear your browser cache before using Bibliovation on Friday morning (April 23).

Reporting intermittent response time problems and short-term slowdowns in Bibliovation

To address ongoing reports of intermittent response time problems in Bibliovation, we have created a form so that libraries can log the problems they experience on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

In order to provide the most specific information possible to LibLime about these response time problems, we need libraries to report them when they occur, and with as many details as possible. We are asking libraries to fill out this form to record dates, times, modules, etc. that are experiencing intermittent response time problems and short-term slowdowns.

Please do not use this form to report urgent problems with Bibliovation. If Bibliovation is unusable or seems to be having major problems, please contact the Help Desk immediately (use the After Hours Support Number during evenings and weekends). 

You can find a link to both the Response time form and information about contacting the Help Desk on the ILS Support home page. 

Check LINKcat URLs on websites before Jan 15

Please check the LINKcat URLs on your websites before January 15. Soon after that, old URLs will lead users to a "page not found" error message.

Do this by hovering over the link. The information should appear in the lower portion of your browser. Or, copy and paste the link in a new tab, but don't hit Enter.

If they look like this...

http://launcher.linkcat.info/go.cgi... or
https://launcher.linkcat.info/go.cgi...

Replace them with a link that looks like this:

https://www.linkcat.info/ or
https://www.linkcat.info/app/work/1366215 or
https://www.linkcat.info/app/me/dashboard or
https://www.linkcat.info/app/search

If you prefer to send patrons to a branded version of the catalog, replace the "www" in the links above with your library's 3-letter delivery code.

Example:
Change https://launcher.linkcat.info/go.cgi?biblionumber=1366215
to https://www.linkcat.info/app/work/1366215 (general LINKcat)
or https://ore.linkcat.info/app/work/1366215 (ORE branded)

Old URLs would have been used in links created before December 2019. They were often used for book club or recommended book lists and guides to accessing LINKcat, for example, so those are prime places to look. Don't forget about links you may have stashed elsewhere, like on newsletters or social media.