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Take a look at what's happening in our latest SHARE Member Notes!
Did you know that ByWater Solutions provides the best resources for their Aspen Discovery users?
In early December, our first cohort will start training via live web sessions (that will also be recorded for those who can’t make it).
Dec. 5 Meeting Dec. 13 Meeting
Need marketing materials for Aspen? Find them below!
In the meantime, tons of helpful information is available via the links below. Feel free to share these resources with your front-line staff to build excitement and prepare for patron use!
Are you ready to get the Aspen Discovery implementation process rolling?
SHARE staff and ByWater Solutions have worked together to create a plan of action, outlined below.
Cohort Model
Due to the large number of libraries that have chosen to add Aspen Discovery, we’ll use a ‘cohort model’ for the implementation. Each cohort will consist of 20 – 30 libraries. Our first cohort will begin training in November 2023 with a tentative ‘Go Live’ date of December 18. This cohort will be involved in product testing and reporting issues. We anticipate that every library will be through the implementation process by late Spring 2024. Wondering which cohort your library is in? You can view the list here: Aspen Cohort List
If your library is listed as a first cohort member, you should have already received a welcome email from Lesley Zavediuk.
The SHARE Finance and Policy Committee hosted three town hall meetings to discuss proposed SHARE member fee scale increases. A recording of the Sept. 12, 2023, meeting is now available.
The committee has been discussing this issue for many months now, and two proposals have been selected as the best options for member review and comment. Current projections from the IHLS Finance department indicate that SHARE will be running on a deficit this fiscal year, which will deplete our cash reserves in the next few years if we do not make this change. Membership fees must be increased to continue providing service and support to members.
SHARE has a new help desk system! You can access our help desk from the SHARE website under the Support menu, by bookmarking the URL https://help.illinoisheartland.org/, or by emailing us at help@illinoisheartland.org.
The Polaris 7.3 upgrade added several new features for libraries. Here is a video discussing all the new enhancements.
SHARE would like to welcome the inaugural members to the Common Loan Period Group:
Central Citizens’ Library District, Marrowbone Public Library District, Mississippi Valley Library District, O’Fallon Public Library, Paris Carnegie Library, Rend Lake College, Smithton Public Library, Tolono Public Library, Wayne City Kissner Public Library, and Williamsville Public Library.
Many times, library patrons borrow items from multiple libraries, and this can result in many different loan periods. With shared loan and renewal periods we hope to simplify things for the patrons and for the frontline staff as well. After much discussion the Group suggested the following:
- Books, Kits, Periodicals, and Audiobooks—3-week loan period, with 2 renewals
- DVDs, Music CDs, and Video Games—2-week loan period, with 2 renewals
Libraries have the option to participate fully, or a la carte. If your library would just like to have your books and audiobooks with the common loans, that is fine. You can find all the details at Common Loan Periods under the Circulation tab on the SHARE website.
If your library is interested in joining the Common Loan Period Group, please contact Dena Porter.
SHARE has a new text alert service in the event of a Polaris outage. Text POLARIS to 84483 to receive alerts from SHARE. You will only receive an alert in the event of a system outage.
You will also receive email from SHARE's Official Business mailing list. You can sign up for all emails and newsletters from IHLS and SHARE here.