LINKcat News

REMINDER: Update Bibliovation URLs by September 1, 2022

This is a reminder that all links to the Bibliovation staff URL must be changed to scls.bibliovation.com by September 1, 2022. After September 1, the old URL of scls.kohalibrary.com will not work. This change only affects staff. It does not affect patrons using www.linkcat.info. See below for more details on updating URLs. 

Where are the staff URLs saved?
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.

New Collection Code, Shelving Location, and Item Type limits available in Advanced Search for staff only

New limits for Collection Codes, Shelving Locations, and Item Types are now available in the Bibliovation Advanced Search for staff only. These limits are not available to patrons. To see the new limits, log into Bibliovation using a staff login, and click Search in the top toolbar to access Advanced Search. If you don't see the new limits, please clear your browser cache and verify that you are logged into Bibliovation using a staff login.

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.

Printing Spine Labels in Chrome

The new version of Firefox affects the way spine labels are printed from within Bibliovation. The text may not wrap on longer spine labels, such as serials ones and non-serials ones that are longer with multiple lines of text. Ones printed with the "Dewey Split" layout do not seem to be affected. Because of this, you may need to transition to printing spine labels from Chrome instead of using the Firefox Labels shortcut. Here are instructions for printing from Chrome. These instructions are also available in Section XIII of the Linking Manual.

1. Have a spine label to print from the Quick Spine Creator.
2. Click Print This Label.
3. The print popup should popup. Set up the settings as follows:
   
   1. Destination: the spine label printer’s name.
      1. If it does not show up in the drop-down, click see more and find it in the list of more printers that show up.
   2. Pages: All
   3. Copies: 1
   4. Layout: Portrait
   5. More Settings: Click this to see more settings that need to be adjusted.
      1. Paper Size: 30333 1/2 in x 1 in (2 up)
      2. Pages per sheet: 1
      3. Margins: Minimum
      4. Quality: 300 dpi
      5. Scale: Default
      6. Options: leave Headers and footers and Background graphics unchecked.
4. Click Print.

If you have any problems, contact the Help Desk for assistance.

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. 

Bibliovation upgrade December 7, 9 pm

Bibliovation Upgrade

We are pleased to announce that there will be an update to Bibliovation starting at 9 pm on Monday, December 7. The upgrade does not require system downtime. This release (6.02.04) includes fixes to all modules of Bibliovation. 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):

• Add Author field to the Title column in the Holds Queue report
• Add Copy number to the Holds Queue report
• Fast BIB Add default library
• Patrons with large volume of transactions have slow response times: Please note that our testing in the sandbox showed an increase in the response time speed. However, we will not close this ticket with LibLime until this fix is implemented and tested in the Bibliovation production database.

Changes and New Features

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

• Normal tab now called Detail tab: The “Normal” tab on a bibliographic record is now labeled as “Detail.” The change will be reflected in manuals and training materials.
• Page navigation (pager) added to resolve response time problems for bibs with many items: In order to address response time problems on bibliographic records with many items, "pagers" of 20 items have been added in multiple places if a bib record has more than 30 items attached. This means that after the first 20 items on the record, the user will have to page through to the next set of 20 items. You can still search for individual items by item barcode and you can sort the entire list of items by clicking on the column headers. The pagers have been added in the following places:
  • If an individual library has more than 30 items on a bib record, then there is a pager on the Details and Edit Items pages. This would most likely occur only on the library's GENERIC records.
  • If there are more than 30 items on the entire bib record, then there is a pager on the Item Statuses page.
  • If there are more than 30 items on the entire bib record, then a pager appears on the title's details page in the LINKcat Discovery Layer. 
  • Please note that you can see your library's items first by using your library's custom Bibliovation URL. To use your library's custom URL, enter your agency code at the beginning of the URL. For example, a staff URL would be sca.scls.kohalibrary.com and a patron URL would be sca.linkcat.info.
• Page navigation (pager) added to resolve response time problems for bibs with many holds: In order to address response time problems on bibliographic records with many holds, "pagers" of 10 holds have been added to the list of holds on the bib record. To search the entire list of Holds, click the “Show All” button and enter your search parameter in the "Existing holds" Search field, or sort by the column headers. 
• Page navigation (pager) added to resolve response time problems for patrons with large volume of transactions: If a patron has more than 30 items checked out, then the patron record displays only the 30 most recent checkouts by default. There is a "View all" link that will display the full list of checkouts. This does not affect the checkouts display in the LINKcat patron dashboard. It only affects the staff display.
• Advanced Patron Search page: LibLime has added an additional “Search Patrons” button at the top of field list in the Advanced Patron Search page.
• OPAC/Staff notes in subscriptions now visible outside of Serials module in staff client: OPAC and Staff notes can now be seen while viewing a bibliographic record associated with a serials record in the staff view only.
• Renewals for serials subscriptions: There is now a section in the Serials module called Renewals. It will show subscriptions at a library that are close to their expiration date and gives options to extend and change the dates.

End of the year Serials Reminders

Serials Clones

• The Serials Clones 2018 memo is available online.  Please make sure you complete the set-up of your new subscriptions on these records before you begin receiving 2018 issues. 
• There is a Serials Clones Webinar that goes through the memo and the process, which is also available online.  (The password to view this webinar is kohatraining).  Please note this was recorded a year ago, but the only thing that has changed is the list of titles that we are cloning.  If you are the person at your library becoming certified in Serials and have not yet watched this video, please watch it and complete the quiz to receive credit toward certification.  

 

Withdrawing old issues to make room for new ones

• Not sure where you're going to put 2018 issues of magazines?  The end of the year is a great time to weed through your magazines and withdraw old issues to make room on the shelves for new ones!  We will have two more batch deletions before next year (near the end of November and December).  Please submit the Serials Support Form if you mark all your issues for one bibliographic record as Withdrawn, so SCLS can delete the subscription in Periodicals after the monthly batch deletion of items.

 

Requesting Serials Use Reports

• Is your library unsure which subscriptions to renew for 2018?  Now is a great time to request a Serials Use Report to help you decide!  Please fill out the Serials Information Report Request and indicate that you want a Serials Use Report in the Additional information field.
  

 

Do you ask yourself "Am I certifiable?"

And we would answer yes, we enjoy helping staff to become certified.  During 2016, staff at over 20 LINKcat libraries attended in-person workshops and/or User Group meetings, watched webinars and took quizzes or did exercises.

Swag bags were sent out in July 2016 to libraries with staff that had attended an in-person session (training or User Group) during the first half of 2016. 

On Friday, January 27, 2017 we sent out certificates to those staff who completed or maintained their Certification for 2016 as well as another round of swag bags. 

Library staff that have achieved certification only need to attend one User Group (in-person) session for their module and one Update webinar (if held) to maintain their certification in subsequent years.

For more information on who should become the certified trainer at your library and how to do so check out the Certification webpage on the ILS Support website. 

 

NEW - Mid-year Serials Clones records!

To mitigate some marked response time issues with certain popular weekly magazine titles, we have added mid-year clone records for the following:

• Entertainment weekly
• People
• Sports illustrated
• Time

We have set all of these to start with the July 2014 issues. We are currently adding your libraries' subscription records where appropriate, so do not be surprised by the title links with "0" listed under the subscription value.

When all of the subscription records are added for these titles, we will let you know so that you may go into your records and update them as appropriate. We are using very generic collection code, shelving location, and ITYPE values to expedite our processing, so you will need to change those default values if they are not the following:

• Collection code: MAGAZINES AD
• Shelving location: ADULT
• ITYPE: Magazine, adult

I sincerely hope that this helps with response time on these enormous records.