News

The Aspen 22.09 release is now live. This release includes the following: Indexing speed improvements for Overdrive Indexes for Overdrive are significantly faster, which means you will see updates to Overdrive content and availability more immediately. Bug fix for spotlights Previously, the "View More" link in tabbed spotlights linked to the list or search used in the first tab only. Now, it will...

The Weeklies 2023 list has been posted to the support site. The serial controls can be transferred to the new records once 2022 issues are no longer expected, or new controls can be created in the 2023 records. See Transferring a Control Record. Quick reminders: Do not attach the Consumer Reports Buying Guide to the Consumer Reports serial record. The Buying Guide gets a new monographic record...

The BLUEcloud Central 22.05.00 release is now live. This release included an update for BLUEcloud Circulation as well as a shortcut to easily search for a page by name. MobileStaff is also considered part of the BLUEcloud staff suite. Mark Claimed Returned Circulation staff can now use the mark and item Claimed Returned for a patron in BLUEcloud Circulation. Withing the patron checkouts the 3...

Want to discover innovative ways to put your ILS to work? Interested in collaborating with fellow librarians in the region? Join SirsiDynix at SLUI (SirsiDynix Library Users of Illinois) on September 29, 2022, for the annual user group meeting. This free, online meeting is a fantastic way to collaborate with fellow librarians, discuss topics specific to the interest of the user group and stay up...

The Aspen 22.08 release is now live. This release includes: Layout changes to editions information in search results My Account menu changes "New" flag for titles added in the past week Performance improvements to handle indexing from bots Layout changes to editions information in search results The information found under "Show Editions" in search results now features a compact, mobile-friendly...

The July 2022 (April-June) Quarterly Billing is complete, and the invoices and checks will be mailed shortly. Documentation is available to help guide member library staff through the Billing Summary sheet as well as the detail statement reports folder accessible in BlueCloud Analytics Shared Reports. Library Directors have been provided with BCA login credentials. If you are a Director and do not...

SirsiDynix will decommission our Enterprise server on Monday, July 25th. Any links to swanlibs.ent.sirsi.net will no longer redirect to Aspen. Libraries updated these links with their Aspen go live, so you should not need to take any action at this time. You may get questions from patrons if they saved the old Enterprise links as bookmarks. If so, they just need to update their bookmarks.

The Aspen 22.07 release is now live. This release includes: New closed caption icon for video formats Xbox Series X format Additional MARC fields in indexing Additional layout options for browse categories Closed captions icon Movie records will now display a closed caption icon for records that include the subject heading "Video recordings for the hearing impaired". The icon will appear at the...

Starting with the July 2022 Monthly Patron Record Removal reports, patrons with a last activity date greater than 9 years ago will be eligible for consideration. This is part of the automation procedures put in place last year to provide monthly review and removal. Libraries receive their reports on the 2nd of the month and have until the 15th of the next month to review the reports. If a patron...

The BLUEcloud Central 22.04.00 release is now live. This release included some updates for BLUEcloud Circulation. Style update for two patron alert modals Two alert modals in BLUEcloud Circulation have been updated to match the BLUEcloud style. The updated modals are the patron alert modal that displays when you first navigate to a patron and the checkout alert modal that displays when you begin...

We have received early access to the new URLs for year 3 of the SWAN EBSCO group subscription. If you made changes to your subscriptions, update the URLs on your website by July 1st. All libraries can view your current EBSCO links on the SWAN patron site, or you can download the EBSCO links spreadsheet (XLSX) and select the tab for your library. The following libraries updated subscriptions this...

The Village of Oak Brook has issued a statement that its computer network was taken offline after being a target of a cybersecurity attack. The Village as a precaution has disabled the library's network and computers. SWAN is assisting the library with an offer to utilize some equipment at our headquarters to be used by Oak Brook Public Library employees at our offices for the purposes of checking...

SirsiDynix has a planned maintenance for BLUEcloud Central products on June 16, 2002 from approximately 9 a.m. until Noon. The following services will be disrupted during this time: BLUEcloud Acquisitions BLUEcloud Cataloging BLUEcloud Circulation BLUEcloud Mobile App (following feature impacted) Fine payments through the mobile app Electronic resources accessed through the mobile app BLUEcloud...

The Aspen 22.06 release is now live and indexing is complete. This release focused on major changes to record grouping that pave the way for better personalization options around language. In addition, it resolved some bugs around facet counts when selecting combinations for the Format Category, Format, and Availability facets. We recommend that you check any staff lists based on language...

Update June 9th: Indexes are complete. Update June 8th 8:30 a.m.: Some records are displaying "The library does not own any copies of this title" and there are no format or holds options. This is an unexpected result of grouped work changes, and we are working with the Aspen developers to resolve this as quickly as possible. However, you may see this issue throughout the day today. The Aspen 22.06...

Niche Academy is used by 21 of our SWAN libraries, providing both patron and staff training. This webinar presented by the folks at Niche Academy will provide an opportunity to see the platform and give SWAN libraries a chance to share their experience with Niche Academy. from Niche Academy: There are currently over 1,400 organizations using Niche Academy. Work is ongoing on additional course...

The election concluded May 29th with the following election Results: 3-year term 2022-2025 Jesse Blazek, Palos Heights Public Library Colleen Waltman, Homewood Public Library Anna Wassenaar, Blue Island Public Library Special thanks to Dorothy Koll, Acorn Public Library District & Lisa Knasiak, Chicago Heights Public Library. Next board meeting: June 17th 9:30am at Bloomingdale Public Library

We have received a request from SWAN member library staff to help facilitate a shared passport/connection program in September. The purpose would be to highlight the resource sharing of our SWAN consortium, encourage visiting local libraries, promote library card sign-up month, and feature your library’s connection to community. The theme for National Library Week 2022 (April) was "Connect with...

The 2022 Public Web Browser license key is now available on the RAILS site (L2 login required). This new license key may be applied immediately, and is valid until June 6, 2023. Public Web Browser is provided free of charge by RAILS. For more information, visit the RAILS Deals & Discounts page.

Dear Libraries, Spring = cleanup up, so this year we decided to tackle the local records. They proliferate in the system, and I want to emphasize that some standards are required for these records. Library of Things records It is a requirement for the 245 title tag to begin with your library’s 3-letter code if the record will not be shared with other libraries. 245 00 WCD paper punch craft kit...