Polaris passwords must now be updated annually. If you have not updated your Polaris password within the last year, please visit the password reset page now. The password reset link can also be found in the upper right corner of the SHARE website in the System Status box.You will need to input your username, current password, and the new password you will be using.

Great news! Aspen is now accepting credit card payments that will start in Aspen and post back to the patron account in Polaris. The vendors now accepted include NCR, which is the state’s ePay vendor, as well as other vendors like PayPal, PayPal Payflow, Stripe, and Square, among others. If you do not already have your Aspen catalog set up, but would like a credit card payment service included, please submit a help desk ticket with details of the service you use, as well as the necessary credentials.

In some cases, a patron might need a book a bit longer for a book club, homebound support services, or curriculum support. Did you know that we have a list of Libraries That Allow Longer Loan Periods?

Great news! The proposed recommendations passed with a total of 169 member libraries participating in this year’s vote.

SHARE needs members to vote to update our SHARE policies and procedures, to better serve our members and/or follow guidelines set by organizations such as the Illinois State Library, American Library Association, or the Library of Congress. 

We’re thrilled to announce a major improvement that will save you time and simplify reporting!

Starting now, Delivery Closure Dates and SHARE Member Closure Dates can both be reported on a
single form. This update means less hassle and more efficiency when managing closures across the
board.

In fiscal year 2024, SHARE worked hard to ensure every member library received the maximum benefit from their membership. This was accomplished by saving members the cost of expensive software subscriptions, increasing item circulation, and providing first-class support and training.

The SHARE Aspen catalog now has an EBSCO databases page with geolocating links and descriptions of all the databases provided by the Illinois State Library. This page was created using the Web Resources feature of the Aspen Web Builder.

System Messages are a helpful tool for all Aspen library admin accounts! Visit the Aspen Discovery Help Center → Customize → System Messages to learn how to create system messages and watch a video tutorial with more in-depth information.

System Messages allow you to create messages that communicate information to library patrons such as closings, internet outages, system updates, policy changes, job opportunities, and more on the Aspen catalog. These can be displayed at the top of the screen and applied to the entire catalog or to specific account pages when patrons are logged in.

Did you know that ByWater Solutions provides the best resources for their Aspen Discovery users?

In early December of 2023, our first cohort started training on Aspen. Recordings of those sessions are available for all to view.

                                                                                           Recording of Dec. 5 Meeting       Recording of 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!