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Documentation

Browse documentation for library staff, by topic or platform.

All topics

Topics

  • Accounts & Logins

    How to log in to SWAN supported platforms.

  • Acquisitions

    SWAN supports two Acquisitions products: BLUEcloud Acquisitions and Symphony Acquisitions.

  • Billing

    Learn about SWAN centralized billing for Reciprocal Borrowing material losses and how your bills are structured. On a quarterly basis, SWAN processes paid Collection Fees and material replacement costs for Reciprocal Borrower and Inter-Library Loan losses.

  • Cataloging

    Create pre-cats, find local cataloging practices and policies, and learn about the scripts and processes running on our shared catalog.

  • Circulation

    Learn about daily circulation duties and functions, including patron management, checkin and checkout functions, holds, mobile and offline circulation, and the Outreach module.

  • Discovery & User Experience

    Learn about using and customizing the SWAN online catalog, Aspen Discovery, and our mobile app, Aspen LiDA/SWAN Libraries +. 

  • E-Resources

    Find information about databases, authentication, and electronic resource integration in the catalog, including eBook and streaming platforms.

  • ILS Configuration

    SWAN uses SirsiDynix' Symphony Integrated Library System (ILS). Learn about configuration settings, how they impact your library and support your circulation policies, and configuration files to help identify your library's settings.

  • Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

    Over 99% of SWAN libraries' loan requests are handled between SWAN libraries. The other, less than 1%, can be processed through several methods, including OCLC WorldShare ILL.

  • Reports & Statistics

    Download monthly statistics and learn about BLUEcloud Analytics and on-demand reports in Symphony WorkFlows.

  • Serials

    Review SWAN practices for managing serials and learn how to use the Serials module.

  • Technology & IT

    Download software, find recommended hardware, and determine supported third-party vendor integrations.

Platforms

Platforms

  • Aspen

    Aspen Discovery is our online public access catalog (OPAC) and discovery platform. Aspen integrates e-resources and digital archives, and it provides several tools to highlight your collections and recommend titles to patrons.

  • Aspen LiDA

    Aspen LiDA is the companion app platform to Aspen Discovery. SWAN has a branded instance of LiDA, the SWAN Libraries + app. 

  • BLUEcloud Acquisitions

    Tools for acquisitions management within the SirsiDynix BLUEcloud staff suite.

  • BLUEcloud Analytics (BCA)

    BLUEcloud Analytics presents statistical data to users, harvested from the Symphony ILS. It is SWAN's primary statistical reporting tool. 

  • BLUEcloud Cataloging

    Tools for cataloging functions within the BLUEcloud staff suite. This service is currently in a pilot phase.

  • BLUEcloud Central

    BLUEcloud Central provides web-based access to library staff functions. Note that BLUEcloud Mobile and BLUEcloud Analytics are managed through a separate interface.

  • BLUEcloud Circulation

    BLUEcloud Circulation is a web-based tool that covers very basic circulation tasks.

  • BLUEcloud Commerce

    An intermediary service that allows patron payments to be processed via ProPay.

  • EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS)

    EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) is a single search discovery tool in the SWAN online catalog that connects patrons to subscription research databases, including those provided through the Illinois State Library.

  • Forums

    The SWAN Community Forums provides a space to network with your SWAN colleagues and continue conversations from user group meetings online.

  • HaloITSM

    Library staff members can use the SWAN ticketing portal to submit, view, and manage tickets and service requests.

  • MessageBee

    The MessageBee platform handles patron notices and notifications via email, SMS text messaging, and phone.

  • MobileStaff

    A mobile circulation tool that acts as a limited ILS client, allowing users to complete a range of simplified tasks including checkout, patron lookup, hold placement, and patron registration. Previously called MobileCirc. 

  • Notice Dialer

    The SWAN Notice Dialer is SWAN’s automated voice notification system that alerts patrons to available holds and overdue items via phone. Patrons using this system have a PHONE notice preference in WorkFlows.

  • OpenAthens

    OpenAthens is a patron authentication tool used primarily for Article Search/EDS. OpenAthens connects to the SWAN ILS using Web Services.

  • Syndetics Unbound

    Syndetics Unbound integrates into the catalog to provide recommendations, similar authors, series information, and additional content enhancements to promote libraries' collections.

  • VPN

    Secure network connections from each SWAN library to the servers that contain the ILS. VPN connections are required for SWAN ILS connectivity.

  • Web Services

    A proprietary SirsiDynix API. It allows for secured API-based integrations with the Symphony ILS for the purpose of patron authentication and database lookup. Many SWAN 3rd party vendor services communicate with the ILS through Web Services.

  • WorkFlows

    Symphony WorkFlows is the SWAN ILS, which contains the patron and item databases as well as system configurations for each library.