LINKcat News

Introducing new Don't Miss Lists for Adult, Children, and Teen Video Games

Starting in July 2019, three new Don't Miss Lists are available:

• Video Games - Adult
• Video Games - Children
• Video Games - Teen

These new lists will be included in the regular monthly update (first business day of the month). Find these lists (and others!) on the LINKcat Don't Miss Lists web page: https://lists.linkcat.info/. 

Older Don't Miss Lists to be removed annually

At its March meeting, the PAC Subcommittee made some changes regarding how long older Don't Miss Lists are kept. Going forward, monthly Don't Miss Lists will be kept for two years, plus the current year. This means that currently we have monthly archives of the Don't Miss Lists from 2016-present. Also, the following out-of-date and little-used lists have been removed: Fiction Best Sellers (2009-1881), Oprah's Book Club (2003-2011), Oprah's Book Club, Through April 2002, and AFI's 100 Years 100 Movies 10 top 10 (from 2008). The PAC Subcommittee will continue to review statistics and make adjustments to the Don't Miss Lists as necessary.

LINKcat online payment downtime scheduled

The LINKcat online payment option will be unavailable Monday, September 12, 2016 between 7:30am - 9:30am for maintenance.

LINKcat and HTTPS

On Wednesday, June 3, LINKcat will be converted to HTTPS. The change will be done by 9 am. This will not affect LINKcat connectivity. Patrons and staff can continue to use LINKcat as normal during this time.

Why are we doing this?

LINKcat is converting to HTTPS to increase Internet security. HTTPS is a secure version of the same protocol that is used for communication between the browser on your computer and the web server of the website that you are visiting. When you use a banking or online shopping website, you do not want the information that you type into the browser (such as your username/password and credit card info) to be intercepted when you type it into the browser and send it to the web server. In the same way, we want to lower the possibility that information could be intercepted when people are using LINKcat. NOTE: The LINKcat e-commerce feature has been HTTPS-compliant since its inception.

How will this affect LINKcat use and access?

The majority of people will not notice any changes. Some people may notice that the browser bar now has a lock. In some browsers, the HTTPS-compliance will be more apparent than others, so if you don't see a lock, it is probably because your browser does not make it obvious. People who are using very old browsers may have problems using LINKcat. Any users who report problems with accessing and using LINKcat should upgrade their browser and/or try using another browser. See the Accessing LINKcat help page for more information. If you encounter problems with using LINKcat after the HTTPS conversion that are not solved by upgrading the browser and/or using a different browser, please report the problems to SCLS. 

LINKcat fines page to display current charges only

On Monday, Nov. 3, the patron's fines page in LINKcat will be changed so that only unresolved charges are displayed. (The fines page is only available to the patron when the patron has unresolved charges. It is linked from the Fines tab of the patron's My summary page.) See the screenshot below for an example.

Currently, if the patron clicks on the linked dollar amount (67.86 in the above example), the patron will see a page containing the patron's full account history, which includes both resolved and unresolved charges. After the change on Nov. 3, the patron will only see unresolved charges, so the patron can more easily determine why he/she owes money. A screenshot of the new fines display is below.

Staff will still have access to the patron's full account history through the staff client. The only thing that is changing is the patron display in LINKcat.

ERJFI and ERJNF changed to "Early Reader"

The descriptions for two collection codes, ERJFI and ERJNF, were changed from Easy Reader to Early Reader. The description changed in both the staff client and LINKcat displays. This was approved by the ILS Committee at its August 6 meeting. The change was made to provide a more positive library experience for children who may be stuggling with reading, because the term "easy reader" might be discouraging for children when reading is not "easy" for them.

SCLS Technology Day--April 29 at Madison Public Library Central

SCLS to hold a Technology Day, April 29 9:15 to 3:45

Come and check out the new Madison Public Library Central branch and hear Head Bubblerian, Trent Miller, talk about the new and innovative programming happening at the library. Then take your choice of table talks and find out more about LINKcat/Koha, OverDrive (including some new devices), Square for payments, LibraryBox, Awesome Box and 3D printing, or brainstorm with your colleagues about new technologies and how you can utilize them in the library. Stay for the afternoon and get a sneak peek at Office 365 and a tour of the Library.

Registration

Registration is open and available here:

http://host.evanced.info/scls/evanced/eventsignup.asp?ID=1969

 

Full Agenda

 

9 - 9:15 Registration & Refreshments (Chocolaterian)

 

9:15 - 10:30 Bubbler & Hackerspace Programming with Trent Miller, Head Bubblerian, Madison Public Library

 

Hackerspace, makerspace, community workshop. Call it what you will but they are popping up all around the nation, including several in Wisconsin. Jesse Vieau and Trent Miller from Madison Public Library will share their experiences in creating the Bubbler, a community maker program that is featured in Madison's newly remodeled downtown library.

 

10:45 - 11:15; 11:15 - 11:45; 11:45 - 12:15 Table Talks

 

Koha/LINKcat Mobile Technologies Table (ILS Staff)

 

ILS staff will talk about ways that libraries are using Koha for mobile checkout, and mobile uses for reports. This will also be an opportunity for library staff to share what they have been doing.

 

Gadget/OverDrive Table with Jean Anderson

 

Jean will have a couple of new gadgets to share with you. In addition, we’ll talk about OverDrive Support and how your library can provide the best patron support possible.

 

Square for Payments with Sue Ann Kucher

 

Online credit card payment will be available for LINKcat users in late spring, 2014.  However, this service will be limited to fines and fees in Koha.  Hear how the Reedsburg Public Library uses Square as their cash register. In addition to fines and fees, they use Square to collect payments for Friends merchandise, donations, and Local History materials.

 

LibraryBox, Awesome Box, and 3D Printing with Ben Miller

 

Ben will talk about boxes in the library - the LibraryBox, Awesome Box, and 3 D printers (which are kind of box shaped) - and how Sauk City is using all three of these in the everyday life of the library. Bring your questions or examples and join the discussion.

 

Library Technology Innovations (Vicki Teal Lovely and Technology Staff)

 

This will be an open-ended brainstorming session to discuss miscellaneous technology needs.  Those present will set the topics.  For example, we could have an impromptu discussion about maker spaces.  Or, perhaps you want to try providing tablets for your libraries and you are wondering how others are accomplishing this. You can bring questions and/or your ideas to share.

12:15 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch (on your own)

1:30 - 2:30 p.m Office 365 Sneak Peek (repeated at 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.)

You’ve heard about Office 365, now it’s time to experience it!  Join us for a demo that will include an awesome overview, a chance to ask all of your great questions, and an opportunity to learn about what’s coming next! We’ll even have a few computers set up so you can try it out!

 

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Tour of Madison Public Library (repeated at 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.)

Ideas for LINKcat slideshow slides

We are always looking for new slideshow ideas for the LINKcat slideshow. The slides change monthly and include information about new features, databases, Don't Miss Lists, search tips, planned downtime, and other useful LINKcat information. We've created a Google document where you can share your ideas for useful LINKcat tips to be included in the slideshow. Please keep in mind that the tips have to be communicated in a short sentence and should include a visual representation. Complex ideas could be broken down into separate parts so each part could be communicated on a separate slide.

Changing default LINKcat search to Library Catalog

On October 1, the default search on the main page of the LINKcat PAC will change from Title to Library Catalog.

Library Catalog is an all-keyword search, so you can search the title, author, subject, etc. or a combination. You can still choose a specific index from the drop-down (Title, Author, etc.) if you wish to do so. (This selection is retained after the search is performed.) The ILS PAC Subcommittee approved this change at its September meeting. The change will be announced to patrons via a LINKcat slide.

Cover art in LINKcat

LINKcat's cover art is a popular feature. It makes the catalog more attractive and helps users figure out when they are looking at the correct (or incorrect) record. Here are answers to some questions about cover art and LINKcat.

Where does the cover art in LINKcat come from?

The cover art, along with Tables of Contents, Excerpts, Publisher's Weekly Reviews, and Author Notes, is provided through a subscription to Syndetic Solutions. LINKcat pulls the cover art image from the Syndetic servers when a LINKcat web page is opened. If no cover art is available, then a generic image displays. 

LINKcat is displaying the wrong cover art. How can we fix this?

Occasionally, you or a patron may notice that the wrong cover art image is displayed in LINKcat. When this happens, please report the problem to SCLS staff using the Koha problems and questions form. Include the problem title and bib number. SCLS staff will verify that the correct ISBN and/or UPC numbers are in the bib record and, if necessary, report the cover art problem to Syndetics. Syndetics staff will then replace the incorrect image. The problem is usually fixed within a week.

One of my library's patrons published a book. Can we add the book's cover art to LINKcat?

SCLS staff cannot add cover art to LINKcat, but we can ask Syndetics to add the cover art to its database. After Syndetics adds the cover art, the new image will display in LINKcat. If you have a cover art image from a local author, filmmaker, etc., that you wish to add to LINKcat, please contact SCLS staff using the Koha problems and questions form. The item must have either an ISBN or UPC number. Mary Davidson from ORE recently contacted Syndetics about adding cover art for the film of a local filmmaker. Syndetics added the cover art within four days and it now displays in LINKcat. Thanks to Mary for her work and for her suggestion that this topic be included in a blog post.