Patrons are now empowered to view their account and place holds in the MnPALS Plus mobile interface! They can now:

• View checked out items
• Renew checked out items
• View holds
• Create holds
• Cancel holds
• View Fines

In addition the Book Bag feature has been improved and users can now create multiple lists, select records from these lists, and print or email these selected records.

Some of the collections of digital sets have been added to +Mobile. These include Films on Demand, Credo Reference, and ebrary.

All this is the result of upgrading to VuFind version 1.2 and the SOLR database to version 3.5.

Patrons and librarians can look forward to more improvements in the future as PALS implements Interlibrary Loan and integrates additional collections of digital sets, such as Alexander Street Press and Oxford Reference into +Mobile. Watch this space for more exciting announcements!

South Central College is reaping the bountiful benefits of an Electronic Resource Management system. South Central College joins the four other libraries that are already actively using the PALSconnect ERM to streamline management of ever-growing electronic resource needs and demands.

“Once I made up my mind to get the process going, setting up the ERM was quick and painless, thanks to Dee. If I had fully understood the usefulness of it, I would have started using it much sooner“ said Johnna Horton, Director of Library/Media Services at South Central College.

If you’re finding it nearly impossible to manage your electronic resources and would like to learn more about how this service may help your library, contact the PALS Office.

Welcome South Central College!

We would like to welcome the newest member of PALS, Alexey (Alex) Lazar, who joined the Technical Services unit in January.

Alexey comes to us from Minnesota State University, Mankato where he worked as a web developer for seven years. Alexey has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Science with emphasis on networking and database management and a minor in International Business from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

As a web developer at MSU, Alexey was responsible for many aspects of the university website including the site's information architecture, content system development, user interface and graphic design, implementation of web development and accessibility standards, information policy development, web project management, and providing web services consulting to campus units. His current professional interests include IT security, mobile devices and system administration.

Start making plans to attend this spring’s MnPALS Consortium Workdays. The following schedule has been confirmed.

The Circulation and Interlibrary Loan Workday is scheduled for Thursday April 26th at the MSU, Mankato 770 France Avenue location in Edina.

Please send session proposals to:

• Ala Garlinska, Circulation Convener
• Leah Anderson, ILL Convener

Agenda and Registration details coming soon!

The Bridge Consortium VuFind implementation was recently updated to VuFind Version 1.2. This update brought the software up to the latest release of VuFind. It also included a number of enhancements requested by the Bridge Consortium.

• Improved displays for printing
• Google Book Previews
• Additional Note fields are displayed
• Title medium is now displayed
• New Collection facet
• Additional MARC fields added to the Description display
• New format icons
• Configurable “retain filters” checkbox