News

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...

No action is required by our libraries. SWAN Libraries are all set for OverDrive changes in October. OverDrive customers were notified that on October 10, 2022, they will be updating their network configuration. Libraries were encouraged to share this information with your consortium. Many of you did and thank you! This gave us the heads-up and ability to add these changes immediate to our network...

We are receiving reports that the OCLC Renewal Agreement cover letters are indicating libraries will be invoiced directly from PrairieCat. You should disregard the sentence "[your library] will receive an invoice from PrairieCat that includes the FY2023 ILLINET/OCLC Group Services Membership Fee.” OCLC membership is included as part of your annual SWAN membership. Please sign and return the FY23...

The Aspen 22.05 release is now live. This development cycle focused on improving migration processes for libraries moving to Aspen and small bug fixes, in addition to performance improvements to the Aspen LiDA app which is still in beta. There are no new features in this release that require any action from your library, but you may consider opting into events integration, which was introduced in...

Please use this form to select the four optional databases for your library. The selection form is available until May 27, 2022. Refer to the SWAN EBSCO databases page on the SWAN support site to find pricing and additional information. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email the SWAN ticketing system.