Welcome to my long overdue update on the software situation in the library. Since our library system (UHLS) moved to a new library management software at the end of March, the system’s techies have been working hard to get the kinks out of the new system. Believe it or not, there are still several modules and functions that are still being configured. The purpose of this post is to let you know which issues are still outstanding and where to get help if you need it.
1. Notifications
Some people are still experiencing minor issues receiving their notifications. Most commonly, emails are not received. Make sure to check your spam folder. Even if you have already “rescued” a library email from your spam folder and marked the sender safe, emails can come from different library email addresses. You may need to add several addresses to your email whitelist before the emails will stop going to junk mail. If you are not receiving notifications and you have already checked your spam folder, please contact the library and let us know.
Some patrons have pointed out that phone notifications do not mention the library where their items are being held. This can be an issue for power users who pick up items at multiple locations. At this time, there is no fix for this issue. We suggest that patrons who are unsure where their items are being held login to the online catalog and click their name in the upper right corner of the screen. On the left menu of the next screen, select “holds.” Any items showing “ready for pickup” under status will also list a pickup location.
2. Prompts to request specific items
In some cases, when requesting an item, a patron is prompted to request a specific copy of an item, even though all of the copies are the same. This is a cataloging issue that all of the libraries are working to fix. Reports of this issue are few and far between, but it still happens.
3. Blocked from placing a hold
On our previous system, patrons with outstanding charges on their library cards could place holds on items and would be prompted to pay down their fees when checking out an item. The new system no longer allows holds for any card not in good standing. Unfortunately, we cannot control this. If you are blocked from placing a hold, call the Reference Desk (477-7476, option 4) and we can override this restriction and place the hold for you.
4. Checking out an OverDrive item through the library catalog
Previously, we had two separate catalogs for our physical items (books, CDs, DVDs, etc.) and digital items (OverDrive). While the two separate catalogs still exist, our new library catalog contains our digital items as well as physical. You can even check out and download most digital titles without leaving the catalog! To test this, search the catalog for a title. In the left menu, look under “format.” If the item is available as a downloadable audiobook or e-book, there will be options for “downloadable e-book” or “downloadable audiobook.” You may need to click “more” to see all available formats.
If you are looking for a magazine or streaming video, the format categories are less helpful. Downloadable magazines show up as “downloadable e-books” and streaming videos show up as “DVDs.” Check the individual record for more clarification:
If you click on “Check out with OverDrive”, you will be prompted to sign in if you haven’t already. Then a window will pop up confirming checkout:
After you select “check out”, you can immediately download the title by selecting “Get eBook” if you are using the device you would like to read/watch on.
Otherwise, you can download it later by logging into your account in the OverDrive catalog. Occasionally, an error message will display, and you will need to go to the OverDrive catalog and sign in to download, anyway. We’re working on that, too.
5. New item notification
We had more direct control over our last system, which allowed UHLS to create add-ons that would use the power of our library catalog to provide extra features for patrons. One of these add-ons was the ability to subscribe to a “New Items” feed. This feed would notify subscribers when a new item was added to the catalog. The popularity of this feature was made clear to us by patrons who were very frustrated when it disappeared. UHLS knows how much patrons want this feature, and they are working to bring it back. Because there are still some higher priority bugs to work out with the everyday functioning of the catalog, this feature may need to be on the back burner for a while. However, it is definitely on the to-do list.
6. Getting help
We have created several types of training resources to help you navigate our new catalog. Our Online Catalog Help page includes short videos and text instructions for common tasks, as well as a print-friendly (PDF) guide to using your library account online. Of course, if you’d rather get assistance from a live person, our reference librarians are always happy to help. Give us a call (518-477-7476, option 4) or stop by at your convenience.
Again, we’d like to thank all of our patrons for their patience and understanding during this time of transition. What are your thoughts on the new catalog? Have you discovered a bug not discussed here? Let us know in the comments.