News from October, 2009

The Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) will offer a series of grant workshops with statewide locations.  If you plan to apply for a Minnesota History Legacy Grantyou are encouraged to attend and receive an update on the grant program details and progress, as well as bring ideas and questions to share with colleagues. More information, including dates, locations times and registration information is available on the SELCO Librarian .

The Council of Regional Public Library System Administrators (CRPLSA) is presenting a statewide workshop called Library Legacy Programs and Arts Partnerships that focuses on how to create and maintain successful partnerships and programs using Legacy funds.  Leah Hughes, Children and Youth Program Director for the Minnetonka Center for the Arts , will cover how library programming focusing on the major arts areas affects the learning process and provides positive Legacy outcomes.  The workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 12 in the Avila Room at SELCO.  This workshop should be a high priority for anyone planning on using Legacy funding for programs and partnerships with that Arts community.  To view the workshop brochure, please click here .  To register for the session, please send your name, library, email address, and any special accommodations you may need to Mollie Pherson at mpherson@selco.info.  Hope to see you there!

The Fall 2009 Cooperative PC Purchase order form has been released.  For this purchase we have moved the order form online for your convenience.  No more faxing in your orders at the last minute, or wondering where you put the email with the order form in it.  Now you can just fill it out online at the website below and we will get your Cooperative PC Purchase order.

http://www.selco.info/display/ols/Fall 2009 Cooperative PC Purchase

Order forms are due back to SELCO by end of day on Friday, October 30th.  We will confirm with you after we have received the orders to verify that the orders are correct.  Also you will need to login to the website with your SELCO logon in order to submit the order form.  This way only valid SELCO users can process the order form.  If you have any questions or concerns with this, please contact us at the SELCO Help Desk and we will be happy to assist you.

The software that runs the MnLINK Gateway will be undergoing an upgrade starting at 5:00 PM this evening, Tuesday, October 6, 2009.  Patrons will not be able to access the MnLINK Gateway to place requests or search the catalogs during the upgrade.  It is anticipated that the MnLINK Gateway will be back up and fully functioning sometime during the afternoon of Wednesday, October 7, 2009.  We will pass along more information as we receive it and apologize in advance for any inconvenience.

Just a reminder!  Orders for Hot Reads for Cold Nights products must be in by Monday, October 12!  We have lowered prices and added items perfect for the winter season!  Take a look and reward your patrons (or staff) with a mug, sweatshirt, tote, or mittens, to name a few!  Click here and place your order today!

H1N1 Flu Resources

There is a section of the page specifically for library staff and includes tips from SELCO and library staff from around the region as well as a growing list of member library sites' that contain H1N1 information.  If your library or school has information posted on their website and haven't been included on the list, please send information to Michael Scott, Assistant Director at mscott@selco.info .

Access the page via the link above or look for H1N1 Flu Resources link under the QUICK LINKS section located in the navigation column on the left side of the screen.

The Minnesota Writers Hall of Fame is a new joint venture sponsored by the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota Book Awards , as managed by The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library .   The first 10 inductees represent a wide spectrum of literary arts and each made significant contributions to Minnesota's cultural heritage.   The new Minnesota Writers Hall of Fame seeks nominations and will honor additional writers annually.

If you missed the Solve That Problem! workshop last week, check out the blog posts on the SELCO Librarian featuring some of the suggestions from speakers Michon D. Rogers and Rochester Public Library Director Audrey Betcher.  To view the two blog posts, please click here and here .  To view Audrey’s PowerPoint presentation featuring the RPL’s three continuous improvement projects, please click here .

Sunday 10/11 at 2:30 PM

We had to restart the Pharos system at SELCO today. Online Libraries using Pharos will need to restart its Signup server. Thanks.

Effective Monday, November 02, 2009, patrons of all SELCO Online Libraries will have the option of paying Horizon fines and fees online with any major credit card.  This service, which was introduced in May 2009 as part of the Chatfield Brass Band Music Lending Library (CBBMLL) LSTA project, will be made available to all Online Libraries.  Those who closely follow the SELCO Users Group may recall that this was planned as an optional Value-Added Service.  The logistical complications of allowing some libraries to use E-Commerce while others do not proved enough of a challenge that the Value-Added Service concept was scrapped.  Instead, E-Commerce will be part of the Basic Service package with no additional Automation Fee.  A few details:

Who will be able to use this service:  All patrons in the Horzon Integrated Library System (ILS) who have a major credit card and access to an internet-connected PC.

What fines and fees can be paid:  Any fine or fee created in Horizon can be paid online.

Where do patrons go to pay fines and fees:  The "My Account" tab in the iPac web-based catalog will feature a link entitled "Pay Fees and Fines" on the tab bar, along with links to view Requests, Checkouts, etc.  You can see this feature now by choosing Chatfield Brass Band Music Lending Library in the dropdown menu on the SELCO Catalog page of this website.  Clicking the "Pay Fees and Fines" link will take the patron to a payment page, where he/she will be required to log in with a library card number and PIN.  After logging in, the patron's fines and fees will be listed along with the fields for the Credit Card, Credit Card number, and Credit Card expiration date.

When can patrons pay fines and fees online:  24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Why might patrons be interested in paying online:  Online payment is convienient and fast.  Patrons can access the E-Commerce page from anywhere they have internet access.

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

Q.  What credit cards can be used to pay fines and fees?

A.  Visa, MasterCard, and Discover

Q.  When a patron pays their fines and fees, where does the money go?

A.  It depends on the Fee Type.  For payments related to lost, damaged, or overdue items, the funds go to the Online Library that owns the item.  For payments related to fees, such as lost card or photocopy fees, the funds go to the Online Library that created the fee in Horizon.

Q.  What do the Online Libraries have to do to get their funds?

A.  We will need each Online Library to inform SELCO whether they wish to receive funds by check or have funds held on account at SELCO.  That's it--all other work associated with disbursing funds to the Online Libraries will be carried out by SELCO staff.  Funds will be disbursed quarterly.

Q.  Are there really no fees associated with this service?

A.  SELCO is making E-Commerce part of its Basic Service package so there are no additional Automation Fees.  Credit Card companies charge a transaction fee which will be taken from the payments before the funds get to SELCO for disbursement.  SELCO has no control over these fees, which seem to average between 5% and 10% of the revenues.

Q.  Is this safe?

A.  The EnvisionWare E-Commerce software uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption for the connection between the patron's web browser and the payment server.  This is the same security used for online banking and online merchants such as Amazon.com.

Q.  Will the Online Libraries be trained to use E-Commerce?

A.  An ILS Bulletin, complete with screen shots will be sent out about 2 weeks before the service goes live with complete details on how patrons use the software to make payments.  An orientation video is in development and will be released at about the same time.  Promotional materials to help Online Libraries publicize the new service are also in development.  Samples will be made available at the October 13, 2009 SELCO Advisory Committee meeting.

The annual conference of the Minnesota Library Association opens today in St. Cloud and offers a full selection of programs October 14-16.  Included among the presenters are SELCO staff members:  Ann Hutton, Executive Director, Donovan Lambright, Automation Librarian, Mollie Pherson, Regional Librarian, Jonya Pacey, Help Desk Manager, and Rachel Gray, Information Services Librarian.  Michael Scott, Assistant Director and Candidate for the MLA Board of Directors as Member-at-Large for Legislative Affairs, and the SELCO/SELS Board President, Don Regelman are also attending.

Michael Scott, Assistant Director, was elected by the membership of the Minnesota Library Association as Legislative Chair. This will be a three year professional commitment beginning January 2010. In his first term as Vice-Chair, Michael will be responsible for organizing the Legislative Forum co-sponsored by MLA and MEMO. This annual event inaugurates planning activities for the next year's legislative session. Then, based on input from the membership, the Vice-Chair is responsible for crafting the legislative platform with the assistance of the Legislative Committee. In the second year of the term, the Legislative Chair works closely with the MLA/MEMO lobbyist advocating for the the library association platform. And, in 2012, Michael will handle Federal legislative issues and organize the Minnesota contingent traveling to Washington, D.C. for National Library Legislative Day sponsored by the American Library Association. Congratulations, Michael!

As reported previously , SELCO is preparing to start offering E-Commerce services to Online Libraries on Monday, 11-02-2009.  Patrons with a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and Discover) will be able to pay fees and fines online via any internet-connected PC.  The original post included a number of frequently asked questions but the smart folks out in the region have come up with more.  So here's Round Two:

Q.  Is there a minimum payment?

A.  No.  Any fine or fee, no matter how small can be paid through the E-Commerce service.

Q.  Can patrons make prepayments for future fines and fees?

A.  No.  Payments can only be made for fines and fees currently in Horizon.

Q.  Can patrons make donations?

A.  No.  Payments can only be made for fines and fees currently in Horizon.

Q.  Do patrons get a receipt after making a payment?

A.  Yes.  After the payment has been made, a receipt page comes up.  Patrons may print or make a screenshot for his/her records.

Q.  Can an Online Library use E-Commerce at the Circulation/Children's/Reference Desk?

A.  Yes and No.  The library may certainly offer patrons assistance with the payment page by running the credit card themselves.  They would do so using the same interface as the patron, however, and would have to get the patron's library card number, PIN, and credit card information (number, type, and security number).  It is not yet possible for the Online Library to set up a credit card swiper and take payments like a retail establishment.  SELCO plans to add this functionality six months to one year after the service goes live in November 2009.  Online Libraries will have to purchase hardware (i.e. the swipers) through SELCO in order to ensure compatibility with the software.

There are a few more questions that are a little more complex and require a bit of research on our part.  We will post answers to those questions in the next few days.  If you have sent us questions and don't see the answer here, just sit tight; we're working on finding you an answer.  If you have new questions, email them to Donovan Lambright , Automation Librarian or simply attach a comment to this post.

SELCO has announced plans for phasing in support for Windows 7 at Online Libraries.  Please see this post at the SELCO Librarian blog for further details.

Art Rolnick, Senior Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis advocates for early literacy as the most effective and essential means to economic security.  He will be in Rochester on November 3 presenting, The Best Economic Investment During Difficult Economic Times .  This luncheon event sponsored by the First Steps,  the Rochester Area Foundation and the First Steps Business Alliance will be held at the Kahler Grand Hotel Heritage Hall, 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.  Luncheon reservations are necessary before Friday, October 30.

Episode #57 of SELCOtv, Paying library fines with a credit card - Library Staff edition , shows the E-Commerce process as it looks for patrons.  The video starts with a patron logging in to My Account in the catalog, follows him/her paying a fine online, and concludes with receipt of an online receipt.  By viewing this video, Online Library staff can familiarize themselves with the E-Commerce process and provide patron assistance as needed.  

On a related note, a new E-Commerce page has been added to the SELCO website.  This page brings together links to the various E-Commerce announcements and FAQs that have been posted since the October 12th announcement that the service is going live on November 02nd.

A special event, Naked Civics: Uncovering the Path to the Common Good , will kickoff the newly formed Rochester Citizens League on November 3, 2009.  The featured speaker, Nate Garvis, Target Vice President, Citizens League Board Member and civic entrepreneur, will share his vision beyond partisan divides to an opportunity for community discourse and public decisions.  Naked Civics: Uncovering the Path to the Common Good will take place at the Rochester Golf and Country Club , November 3 from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. with a cash bar and free hors d’oeuvers.  The event is free and open to the public, although pre-registration is recommended.

The search display issues with the iPac have been resolved.  The results are now showing the correct columns in the correct order, and we have completed a full reindex of the iPac database so all bibs and items are showing up in results. 

Thank you for your patience, and if you have any further issues, please contact the SELCO Helpdesk.

The flood of questions on E-Commerce has slackened a bit but there have been a few that others might be also wondering about.  So, without further ado...

Q.  Will fines and fees paid through E-Commerce be shown on my library's Money Report?

A.  No.  As all funds enter the system through SELCO's Horizon Location, E-Commerce payments will not be on your Money Report.  This is dictated by the fact that all Online Libraries are sharing a single EnvisionWare license to reduce costs.

Q.  Are payments credited to the patron's account immediately or is there a lag of some sort?

A.  All payments are credited to the patron's account immediately.

Q.  I noticed on the video that the patron has to log on twice, once in Horizon to access My Account and again in EnvisionWare to access the payment screen.  Can this be changed?

A.  No.  Horizon and EnvisionWare are separate systems and do not provide a way to carry login information from one system to the next.

Q.  In your previous posts, you said that only Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.  But the video shows logos for other cards on the payment screen.

A.  That's not a question but I'll answer anyway.  The three cards named above are the only ones accepted.  The video was made with screenshots that date back almost a full year when SELCO was first implementing E-Commerce for the Chatfield Brass Band Music Lending Library.  We had not cleaned up the graphic yet.  When the service goes live on November 02, 2009, only Visa, MasterCard, and Discover will be shown.

Please send any more questions to Donovan Lambright , Automation Librarian.

SELCO has developed a new Research Page to provide access to the many research databases offered through the Electronic Library of Minnesota (ELM) and by SELCO.  As the ELM databases have been greatly expanded, a new organization for the page was necessary.  Rather than a long list of links, the databases have been organized into categories.

The new Research Page will go live on Thursday, November 12, 2009.  The Research button in the right-hand sidebar of the SELCO website will not change in appearance.  Until November 12, the current Research Page will continue to be fully functional.

For those wish to see the new page, either out of curiosity or to get a head start on reworking finding aids, it is available and fully functional:  Beta Research Page .

We are aware of an issue that is causing holdings at some Online Libraries to display improperly or not at all in the Search Results page of the iPac public catalog.  In some cases, the call number is missing.  In other cases, there is no holdings information at all.

In all known cases, the full display accessed by clicking the title has the normal display.

Please watch this space for further information as it becomes available.