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Online Patron Registration

SWAN provides online patron registration to all public member libraries through the Patron Point platform. This platform uses a service called Verify to ensure that the patron lives in a SWAN library service area and is who they claim to be. Online patron registration using Patron Point issues full access cards.

Patron Point Verify goes live on Tuesday, August 26th.

Process for patrons

Registration

Patrons can fill out the online registration form on this site. Your library may also choose to embed the form on your own website. If you share the link to the online registration form, please use this link:

https://swanlibraries.net/get-a-card

The online registration process will verify that the patron:

  • Does not have a duplicate card already in the system, based on name and birth date
  • Lives at the address they have entered
  • Lives within the SWAN member service area

Patrons will be automatically registered at the correct home library within SWAN, provided they reside within a SWAN library service area. 

Registration for minors

Patron Point cannot verify the identity of patrons under the age of 18. Instead, parents or guardians can register minors. The parent or guardian's information will be used to verify the registration.

When filling out the form, the name, address, and e-mail must all be the parent or guardian's. The only information to submit for the minor is the name and birthdate. The guardian's name will appear in the "CARE/OF" field of the patron record.

Age gating

We can block patrons who do not meet a certain age threshold on a per-library basis. If you prefer that patrons under a certain age not be able to register for a card through the minor registration form, let us know, and we can work with Patron Point support to put a block in place.

Patron email confirmation

Patrons will receive one of three email confirmations:

  • Online registration was successful, with barcode and PIN reset information
  • The patron already has a card in the system, with a link to retrieve their lost card number or reset their PIN
  • Online registration was unsuccessful, with a link to help and instructions to contact the library

Online registration may be unsuccessful for a variety of reasons, which could include:

  • The patron does not live within a SWAN library service area, or they live in an unincorporated area.
  • The patron has recently moved, and it is not yet possible to verify their new address.
  • The patron has recently turned 18, and the identity verification tool does not have enough information to verify with confidence.

Note that library staff with an existing staff card with a SWAN library will not be able to register online for a patron card.

Patron records

Default user categories and profiles

Patron Point creates records with customizable default data for each library, depending on whether the patron is 18 years of age or older. Any further customization, such as applying User Categories for teen or senior patrons cannot be accommodated by the Patron Point tool.

Instead, SWAN has written a script that will update patron profiles or user categories based on the patron's age. This takes place every evening and applies only to patron records created via Patron Point that same day.

How to identify records

Patron records created via Online Patron Registration are initially identifiable by two markers:

  • User Category 6: ONLINEREG
  • A barcode constructed with a "7" following the prefix, e.g. 211407.

Both of these markers may be overridden. User Category 6 may be replaced with a National Change of Address processing tag when that process takes place, and the barcode may be replaced with a standard barcode for any number of reasons.

Monitoring online registration

Libraries will receive a daily report listing patrons who have signed up using the tool on the previous calendar day. If a library is missing from the report, no users were registered on the previous day. A weekly report is also available upon request.

Reports are delivered to the library’s generic SWAN alias (AAA@notices.swanlibraries.net)

Reporting issues

If you experience issues with online patron registration or would like to inquire about why a patron did or did not receive a card, please submit a ticket to help@swanlibraries.net or utilize the "Report an Issue" option on our ticketing portal.

Please do not send patron information via e-mail or in a ticket. Instead, describe in general what you would like to investigate, and SWAN staff will reach out. Card applications are logged by date and time within the Patron Point tool, so that is a great way to point us in the right direction.

Promoting online patron registration

If you would like to promote online patron registration, SWAN has provided web graphics for you to use and manipulate. 

You can also embed the form on your website or direct patrons to the SWAN website.

Adult and child/minor registration is performed through separate forms. The same will be true for Spanish and Polish translations once those become available. You may use the following JavaScript and iframe code snippets to embed these forms into your site and design buttons, tabs, or decision trees to navigate patrons to the correct form.

Important: Please note that the forms may not function as expected until we go live on August 26th. While you may use the code snippets to begin development, do not publicize the registration process until we go live.

Embed with JavaScript

Adult registration

<script type="text/javascript" src="//slsil.patronpoint.com/form/generate.js?id=1"></script>

Children/Minor registration

<script type="text/javascript" src="//slsil.patronpoint.com/form/generate.js?id=2"></script>

Embed with iframe

Note: Adjust the width and height attribute so the form fits in.

Adult registration

<iframe src="//slsil.patronpoint.com/form/1" width="300" height="300"><p>Your browser does not support iframes.</p></iframe>

Children/Minor registration

<iframe src="//slsil.patronpoint.com/form/2" width="300" height="300"><p>Your browser does not support iframes.</p></iframe>

The following documentation applies to SWAN's legacy Online Patron Registration tool, which we will sunset with the launch of the Patron Point alternative. The following refers to that tool and is valid through Monday, August 25th.

What can patrons access?

  • Patrons will have full access to your library’s digital resources including e-books and databases.

Sign up

  • To participate send in a help ticket to help@swanlibraries.net
  • Add the link in a prominent location on your library’s website
  • SWAN includes the link on your catalog profile, along with a “Sign Up” button next to the login button

Process for patrons

Patrons will fill out a registration form as detailed in our documentation.

  • In compliance with COPPA, patrons are required to certify that they are 13 years of age or older.
  • If a patron is a duplicate based on several submission criteria, they may receive an error to indicate that they already exist in our system.
  • Registrations are restricted to addresses within your library's service area zip codes.
    • zip codes outside of the chosen library's service area will not be permitted and will be directed to contact the library for further information.
  • Patrons will receive an immediate confirmation.
    • Patrons will receive their temporary barcode and instructions on how to reset their PIN.
    • Patrons will receive an email containing their barcode and reiterating what they can do with the card.

Digital card limits:

  • Newly registered cards are valid for 90-days (requiring library verification for further extension).
  • Newly registered cards cannot place holds on physical materials or checkout physical materials without being upgraded to a full access card by library staff.

Process for library staff

Participating libraries will receive a daily report listing patrons that have signed up using the tool in the previous 24-hour period. If a library is missing from the report, no users were registered the previous day. A weekly report is also available upon request.

  • Reports are delivered to the library’s generic SWAN alias (AAA@notices.swanlibraries.net)
  • Libraries are responsible for verifying registration information by contacting the patron for proof of residence in accordance with local policy

Online Use Only Card:

  • Do not update the barcode or create a new record
  • Update privilege expiration date in the existing record to match normal library policy, (ex. 3 years, NEVER)
  • Do not issue a physical card

Full Access Library Card:

  • Modify existing record- duplicate accounts are not permitted unless they are a child with dual residency or a student with an academic card
  • Update privilege expiration date in the existing record to match normal library policy, (ex. 3 years, NEVER)
  • Fill in all fields required by local library practice
  • Create a physical card- Do NOT mail card prior to contacting the patron 

Monitoring online registration:

  • SWAN is monitoring signups for fraudulent registrations.
  • Cards are created with an “ONLINE” user profile.
  • After the verification process, the library can upgrade/issue a full-access card with an associated profile and extended expiration date.
  • Based on Illinois State Library legal allowing "a flexible interpretation of the nonresident rules" during COVID-19 closures and restrictions:
    • Additional specific zip codes can be requested for inclusion in library authorized zip codes, submit a help ticket with this information.
    • Libraries are responsible for reviewing their vendor agreements in terms of legal access to content/resources for non-residents.
    • These additional zip codes must be removed when libraries return to regular service.
  • Records are removed 90 days after expiration date.

Reporting issues

Report any issues to help@swanlibraries.net

  • Relay/describe the issue as thoroughly as you’re able.
  • If there is a digital resource that the patron is unable to access, please provide the full URL/access information for the resource, as well as how they attempted to access (e.g. from library’s website, your catalog).

Promoting online patron registration

If you would like to promote online patron registration, SWAN has provided web graphics for you to use and manipulate.