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Valuing Patron Privacy – Next Step Nov. 21st

Last spring, the SAILS libraries voted to remove titles and authors from email notices, as part of the effort to enhance privacy measures for SAILS patrons. We all realized that a title may be enough to reveal potentially sensitive and personal information. Imagine putting a hold on a book about a health or relationship issue and not remembering to close your email message, leaving it open for anyone to see. Have you ever had the email alert pop-up on your phone, saying your book is ready? Again, that's not private. More often than not, this isn't an issue, but for when it is, we need to respect and protect an individual's right to privacy. The SAILS office plans to implement this change on Monday, November 21.

All notices sent via email, including hold pickup notices, hold reminders, overdue notices, pre-due notices, and assumed lost notices, will no longer include the title or author. The notices will, however, include a direct link to My Account with the barcode field already entered, so you'll only need to enter your password. If you want to look up the title information, just click on the link and enter your password to see which titles are available or due. The notices
will also include the item barcode and item type.

Text and automated voice notices have always excluded this information. Printed and mailed assumed lost notices and bills will continue to contain title/author information. If you would like to create a more secure password, follow this link to the password reset form: https://sails.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/changepinpage/SYMWS/DEFAULT/$N
The reset link will go to the email address in your library record. Please contact your library if you need your account updated with your email address or if you have any questions.

On October 6th, library staff will no longer be able to view PINs/Passwords. If you forget your login, staff will need to reset your PIN/password. This document will hopefully answer your questions about the change. Please contact your library if you have any questions. Read more in our FAQ.

Why are we making this change?

It is a standard practice that “User personal identification numbers (PINs) and Passwords stored in the Library Management System should be encrypted so that only the user has access to them, i.e. library staff cannot view them… In addition, the LMS should provide users with the ability to set their PIN/Password  themselves without having to reveal it to library staff.”

In addition to being unavailable for view by library staff, secured PINs/Passwords are also inaccessible to people who gain unauthorized access to the system through a data breach. Masking both staff and patron PINs/Passwords is essential to maintaining the security of the system.

Answers to other questions may be found in our FAQ.

Password/Login Changes

When we start anonymizing your pins/passwords on October 6th, if you forget your password, you'll have two options. If you have an email address in your library account, you can go to our password reset link, and request a new password. If you don't have an email address in your library account, you'll need to get in touch with your library so they can reset it to the last four digits of the phone number in your record.

As of October 6th, library staff will not have access to view your password.

If you add your email to your account, you'll be able to go to the password reset link and create a new password, which is advisable. At that point, only you will know your password to access your library account. So be sure to ask your library to put your email in your account. Then you'll be sure to have 24/7 access to the system.

World Languages Collection in Overdrive

We are excited to announce that we have made titles available to borrow on Libby and OverDrive platforms in seven languages in addition to English and Portuguese! You can find them all here: https://sails.overdrive.com/library/world-languages or here: https://libbyapp.com/library/sails/guide/world-languages. 

We have made sure to modify our curated collections to reflect English titles so as not to overwhelm them with the new content. However, if you are used to searching in Libby or OverDrive simply by browsing “ebook” or “audiobook” for example, and you do not want titles in languages other than English to show up in your results, you will need to modify your preferences. If you are using the Libby app, this is a one time change that will prevent any content other than English from showing up for them. Here’s how: 

  1. Search for anything in the search bar.Select Preferences
  2. On the results page you will see a circle with a + next to “Preferences”. Click on it.
  3. The options for all of the different preferences will pop up.
  4. Click on language.
  5. Select English.
  6. Make sure to click “Apply Preferences” or it won’t save.
  7. Search again and notice the number in a white circle next to the word “Preferences”. That means you have successfully saved that preference (in addition to any other preferences you may have already saved).

In the OverDrive app, you will need to make this change each time you search. Here’s how:

  1. Click on the search bar.
  2. Underneath the search bar an “Advanced” option will appear. Click on it.
  3. In the Advanced Search screen, scroll down to the language menu.
  4. Under languages, select “English” and then “done”.
  5. This search will only return titles in English.
  6. To confirm this or to view another way to filter searches you can see a drop down menu labeled “Filters”. This will include the language filter and should show you anything you have set as a filter for your search.

New search result display – Enterprise

Today we are working to turn on a new feature in Enterprise. It gives an extra way to view what material formats are available on a title. Here is a pdf explaining what to expect. This is available only in Enterprise, not on the app or in the mobile version. This is something that's been requested and we'll certainly update if it becomes available. 

Managing available holds with “deliver later”

When a hold becomes available for you, you'll receive an email and a notification in your library's OverDrive collection. You have three days to borrow the hold or have it delivered later if you're not ready to read it.

Delivering a hold later means you stay at the front of the wait list, but pass the current copy to the next person in line.

Find details at: https://help.overdrive.com/en-us/2265.htm

eBooks in Enterprise!

new buttons

ERC - Electronic Resources Central, has been added to Enterprise! This is a new service that makes Overdrive and *Hoopla titles available in the Enterprise catalog, giving you the option to "Download", "Preview", and "Place Hold".

You will need to log in with your library card number. If you log in with your ALT ID, the login information can't be passed on to Overdrive or *Hoopla. This means, if you try to download, place a hold or preview a title, you'll get an error saying "There was an error accessing your title. Please contact your library for assistance."  If that happens, log out and back in with the 14 digit number on your library card.

*Hoopla is available by individual library subscription.

In "My Account", look out for a new Digital Checkouts area. Here you can download or view your digital checkouts, cancel holds, return digital checkouts, and suspend Overdrive holds.

More updates to look for:

  • When you're on a mobile device, you'll see a much more attractive mobile-friendly version of the catalog.
  • When you go to the item detail's page, a pop-up (modal) window will display the detailed title information and not go to a separate web page. Most of the same information will appear, including Novelist content.
  • A "Print Books" search limit will show in the 1st drop-down list on the search bar.
  • A "Kids' Search +" search limit will show, which will search only titles with a juvenile subject heading - print and digital 
  • A "series" facet will be added
  • Facets will appear collapsed as the default, making for a less cluttered look.
  • Google preview will be enabled for all available titles - physical and digital
  • You will be able to update your SMS (text notification) information

Would you like to download the app?

When you visit Enterprise on a mobile device, you now have the option to directly download the mobile app from the app store that matches your device (either google play or the app store). This is what it looks like.

Learn more about the mobile app here.

SAILS Mobile App

We are very excited to announce the availability of the SAILS Mobile app in the Google Play and Apple stores!

*Apple users, you may want to uninstall and reinstall to make sure you have the latest version.
Top Features
  • Search the SAILS' catalog: Search for items by title, author, subject, or general keyword and place holds on interesting items.
  • Manage your account: Keep track of your account - view your checked-out items, holds, fines, and account information. You can even pay fines by credit card.
  • Search by barcode: Use your device’s camera to scan the barcode on a book, CD, DVD, or other item at a friend’s house or bookstore and search for available copies in the SAILS' Network.
  • You can link accounts to manage your family's checkouts and holds, all in the same place.

Anyone who had the old BookMyne+ app installed should see a direct update available for this mobile app.