Index
- New features make LINKcat more powerful library tool
- Annual Report Webinar scheduled Jan. 10
- Member/Staff News
- New titles added to SCLS Professional Collection
- OverDrive announces new Hold Redelivery feature
- Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference scheduled Jan. 22-23
- Free PLA Webinar: #eBooksForAll Campaign Update
- Free national webinars in December
- Continuing Education Calendar
Software update to enhance user convenience
New features make LINKcat more powerful library tool
Striking a balance between user familiarity and access to more powerful tools is always a challenge when dealing with software upgrades, and a new version of the software that drives LINKcat accomplishes both.
Regular users of the new LINKcat software, which will roll out on Tuesday, Dec. 10, will find comfort in how similar it is to the current version. At the same time, a host of new features will give library users more power when navigating search results and managing their personal accounts.
LINKcat (www.linkcat.info) is the shared catalog for a consortium of public libraries that work together and with the South Central Library System to create a network of shared computer systems and services. Because LINKcat combines the library collections of all LINKcat libraries, the system gives library users access to nearly 3 million items representing more than 800,000 different titles!
The software that drives LINKcat has been under active development for more than a year and it will be rolled out between Friday, Dec. 6, at 9 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 10. LINKcat will be unavailable during that time but library customers can still check out items in person at most public libraries (check individual library hours). During this offline period, due dates on library items will be extended to ensure minimal impact for library customers. Additionally, overdue fines will not be incurred during this four day period.
“The new software is provided by the vendor SCLS currently uses -- LibLime,” said SCLS Director Martha Van Pelt. “This new version will position SCLS to more efficiently add new features to the software used by library staff and to the patron interface (LINKcat). The functionality of the patron interface is similar to the current version, but there are new features that we think patrons will appreciate.”
Stylistically, the display is sleeker and more modern. The larger font size and increased white-space will make the new interface more usable, particularly on small screens such as smartphones and tablets.
There will also be more flexibility for patrons to manage their checked out items and holds and it will be easier to navigate between titles.
More information about using new features is available in printed materials available at libraries and online at https://help.linkcat.info.
Annual Report Webinar scheduled Jan. 10
Mark your calendar now for the Annual Report Webinar, which will be held on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, at 10 a.m. This webinar is perfect for new directors, or anyone who wants information about what's new or just a refresher about the timeline and process for the report.
You can register now through the SCLS Calendar.
The December issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Your comments are welcome! Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler. In this issue: New in HeinOnline: State Constitutions Illustrated -- HeinOnline's new collection is a tremendous resource for state constitutional law and political history researchers. State Constitutions Illustrated contains current and historic constitutions of the 50 states of the United States along with an extensive collection of documents and primary sources from before statehood (read more); December Open House -- Schedule a breather in your busy schedule for our open house on Wednesday, Dec. 18. From 3 to 4:30 in the David T. Prosser Jr. Library, enjoy refreshments in our beautiful reading room (read more); New Books -- This month's featured titles are The Foreclosure Survival Guide: Keep Your House or Walk Away with Money in Your Pocket and Student Loan Law. Our full new book list is also available to peruse (read more); Tech Tip -- Google makes quick work of finding current and historical stock prices. With just a few keystrokes you can access a wealth of securities data as part of Google Finance (read more); After Hours Signup -- Wisconsin-licensed attorneys, you can become an After Hours subscriber and enjoy a full year of library access at times convenient for you (read more); Library News -- Read our 2018 annual report, get updates on the first of our 2020 CLE classes, and add our holiday closures to your calendar (read more); December Snapshot -- Four of our library staff had the opportunity to tour the newly finished State Archive Preservation Facility as part of a state agency librarian meeting (read more).
New titles added to SCLS Professional Collection
The following titles have been added to the SCLS Professional Collection, which is available to staff at member libraries. Because of this weekend’s LINKcat migration, there are no direct links to the new titles.
- New Top Technologies Every Librarian Needs to Know edited by Kenneth J. Varnum
- Libraries and Gardens: Growing Together by Carrie Scott Banks and Cindy Mediavilla
- Conducting the Reference Interview, 3rd edition, by Catherine Sheldrick Ross, Kirsti Nilsen, and Marie L. Radford
- Create, Innovate, and Serve: a Radial Approach to Children’s and Youth Programming edited by Kathleen Campana and J. Elizabeth Mills
- Escape Rooms and Other Immersive Experiences in the Library by Ellyssa Kroski
- Before the Ballot: Building Political Support for Library Funding by John Chrastka and Patrick “PC” Sweeney
- Mother Goose on the Loose, Updated! By Betsy Diamant-Cohen
- 25 Projects for Global Explorers by Christine M. Kirker
- Dynamic Discipline by Catherine Hakala-Ausperk
- Future-Proof Your Team by Catherine Hakala-Ausperk
- Win ’em Over by Catherine Hakala-Ausperk
- The Public Library Director’s Toolkit by Kate Hall and Kathy Parker
- Finding the Answers to Legal Questions, 2nd edition, by Virginia M. Tucker and Marc Lampson
- Beyond Reality: Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality in the Library edited by Kenneth J. Varnum
- Get Your Community Moving: Physical Literacy Programs for All Ages by Jenn Carson
- The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction, 3rd edition, by Neal Wyatt and Joyce G. Saricks
- Librarians as Online Course Designers and Instructors, edited by Lucy Santos Green
- Digital Media and Library Instruction edited by Heather Moorefield-Lang
- Planning and Implementing a Sustainable Digital Preservation Program by Erin Baucom
- Your Technology Outreach Adventure: Tools for Human-Centered Problem Solving by Erin Berman
- Graphic Design: a Practical Guide for Librarians by Valerie Colston
- Fiction Core Collection, 19th edition
- Library Leadership Your Way by Jason Martin
- Mother Goose on the Loose: Here, There, and Everywhere by Betsy Diamant-Cohen
- Incubating Creativity at Your Library: a Sourcebook for Connecting with Communities by Erinn Batykefer and Laura Damon-Moore
- Move, Play Learn: Interactive Storytimes with Music, Movement, and More by Alyssa Jewel
- Seamless Youth Services for Every Age and Stage by Karis Loop
- Making Sense of Business Reference: a Guide for Librarians and Research Professionals, 2nd edition, by Celia Ross
- Building Digital Libraries, 2nd edition, by Kyle Banerjee and Terry Reese Jr.
- Protecting Privacy on Library Websites: Critical Technologies and Implementation Trends by Marshall Breeding
OverDrive announces new Hold Redelivery feature
OverDrive recently announced its new Hold Redelivery feature that will replace auto-checkout. Please review the information below information for important details about this change.
What Is Hold Redelivery?
Hold redelivery will allow users to suspend a hold even after it’s made available to them, while maintaining their place on the wait list. By enabling users to pass books they don’t have time to read on to the next person in line, hold redelivery will help your library connect more readers to the right book, at the right time.
When Will It Go Live?
Hold redelivery will go live in early 2020 and will be applied to all new and existing holds. OverDrive will follow up in the new year with confirmation of timing.
How Will It Work?
Libby notifications (coming soon) will alert users when their holds become available. OverDrive will also add a “Notifications” section to the website and the OverDrive app. After receiving notification that a hold is available, users can:
- Borrow the title within three days. If your library has a different hold pick-up setting, OverDrive will automatically update it to three days.
- Suspend the hold and pass the book to the next person in line. After the suspension period (set by the user), the hold will be redelivered when the next copy is available.
- Cancel the hold.
If the user takes no action, their hold will automatically be suspended one time for seven days. If no action is taken a second time, the hold will be cancelled automatically.
With the removal of auto-checkout, libraries may see a slight decrease in circulations, but the expectation is that this will level off over time as users adjust to the new functionality.
Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference scheduled Jan. 22-23
Registration is now open for the 8th Annual Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference, a state-wide web conference developed by the Nicolet Federated Library System and supported by 15 other library systems in Wisconsin since 2013.
The conference will take place on Jan. 22-23, 2020. Fourteen sessions will be available in four different tracks, including Library Management (new), Adult Services (new), Small and Mighty, and Tech Trends. You can register for as many sessions as you'd like.
Presentations are geared to have 45-50 minutes of material, and then time for Q & A by the audience. All sessions are in Central Time (CT), and will be recorded and captioned in case there are some that you miss.
Planning has been underway since April to give you and your staff an excellent conference experience. All 16 public library systems in Wisconsin, along with the Department of Public Instruction, are providing support for this conference.
Free PLA Webinar: #eBooksForAll Campaign Update
More than 200,000 people have raised their voices to oppose Macmillan Publishers’ embargo on new eBook titles to public libraries, and the American Library Association (ALA) has filed its first report with Congress about restrictive licensing and unfair pricing for digital content. Now what?
Join the ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Office and the Public Library Association (PLA) on Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. Central Time for a free webinar to update you on the #eBooksForAll campaign, planned next steps with Congress and data gathering to build the library case, and specific actions you can take to advance these efforts. Bring your questions and your front-line experience to inform national planning and communications. Register now.
Note: ALA and PLA may not discuss nor provide a forum for discussing a boycott or similar activity based on their tax status.
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand the current state of #eBooksForAll policy advocacy with Congress;
- Engage the public and key library stakeholders to oppose embargoes or other unfair digital content licensing terms; and
- Contribute to ALA/PLA’s collection of data and stories related to the value of public library promotion of reading, authors and titles, as well as the impact of restrictive digital content licensing terms on libraries and our patrons.
Speakers
- Wanda Brown, ALA President
- Ramiro Salazar, PLA President
- Larra Clark, Deputy Director, PLA and ALA Public Policy & Advocacy
- Sari Feldman, ALA Senior Policy Fellow
- Alan Inouye, Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations, ALA Public Policy & Advocacy
- Hallie Rich, Director of Communications and External Relations, Cuyahoga County Public Library (OH)
- Lisa Rosenblum, Director, King County Public Library (WA)
Free national webinars in December
- December 16: “Library Programs and Partnerships in the 2020 Census”
- PLA and OCLC are hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 17, around public libraries response to the opioid crisis. This webinar will highlight approaches, resources, and programs that can help reduce stigma and fear surrounding the opioid crisis, and promote healthier communities. Learn more and register.
- New course on health insurance enrollment added to DigitalLearn website -- In early November, in coordination with Affordable Care Act (ACA) Open Enrollment for 2020, PLA released a new online tutorial to help consumers sign up for health insurance. The course, Using Healthcare.gov to Enroll in Health Insurance, covers the basics of securing coverage through HealthCare.gov, the health insurance exchange website operated by the U.S. federal government. This 18-minute online tutorial explores the processes of determining eligibility, preparing to enroll, creating an account, and finding local help to successfully enroll in an ACA health insurance plan. The course can be accessed via DigitalLearn.org, PLA's free online digital literacy training curriculum designed to help people increase their digital skills. Read the full announcement.
- Watch recording of family engagement program -- PLA recently collaborated with the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) to present the session “How Programs Can Recruit & Engage Culturally Diverse Families” at NCFL's Annual Conference in Louisville. During the session, education and library experts who work to engage diverse community groups spoke about how those programs can inform the work of public libraries. Presenters included Allison Barney, youth services manager at Denver (Colo.) Public Library; Amber Creger, Youth Department director at Schaumburg Township (Ill.) District Library; Zeljana Javorek, ESL program manager at Catholic Charities of Louisville (Ky.); Sophie Maier, immigrant services librarian at Louisville (Ky.) Free Public Library; Homa Naficy, executive director of The American Place at Hartford (Conn.) Public Library; and PLA Deputy Director Scott Allen. Click here to access a recording of the session or here to view the presentation slides.