At the request of our PALSconnect ERM libraries, several new enhancements have been added to the PALSconnect ERM.

A new Resource Usage report has been added. This report provides the title of the database, sessions, searches, cost/session, cost/search based on fiscal year.

The Payments by fiscal year report has been enhanced so that libraries can choose the desired resources they want to be used in the report. Previously this report was run on all their databases.

It is now possible to easily download COUNTER stats into an excel spreadsheet.

Libraries can create individual COUNTER records and manually enter COUNTER stats.

Consortium of MnPALS Libraries User Group Meeting
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Atwood Memorial Center, St. Cloud State University
 
Please register now for the MnPALS User Group Meeting! This is a great opportunity for staff from the consortium libraries to come together to network, discuss issues, and exchange information. Your conveners are working hard to put together an informative and productive day.

The closing date for registration is Wednesday, October 17.

The first business meeting and breakout session will begin at 9:00 a.m. but come early so you have time to enjoy refreshments and visit with your colleagues.

A Draft Agenda for the day has been posted on the PALS homepage. It includes links to the draft agendas for each subsystem business meeting. Related documents will be posted a week before the meeting for your review.

Aleph version 21 is up and running as of Sunday, September 23, 2012. In order to perform staff functions with this new version, you must be running the Aleph version 21 client.

To use Aleph version 21 this step MUST be done first. In the Aleph version 21 AlephADM client, verify that the server address in Libraries Configuration points to aleph.mnpals.net:<port#>. This needs to be done on each workstation. See Support Center answer #3238, which has been updated for version 21.

The Go Live document provides additional information in the section titled "What to do in each module AFTER the upgrade to version 21 is live".

More information about Aleph version 21 can be found at Aleph 21 Upgrade Information.

PALS recently completed conversion of East Grand Forks Campbell Library to Evergreen ILS. PALS provided data migration, system configuration and customization as well as in-person and online training for the library staff. PALS will provide ongoing hosting, system administration and support services. PALS is working closely with the Campbell Library to further customize and refine the system to best match the needs of library patrons and staff.

Moving to Evergreen represents a significant technological improvement to the services Campbell Library provides. Patrons benefit from the robust and user-friendly library catalog and the ability to manage their personalized library accounts online. Library staff have access to a multitude of system options and controls through the full-featured Evergreen staff client software.

PALS has an exciting and rewarding career opportunity for the right person as a Library Support and Training Specialist. A master’s degree in Library Science is required, as is experience with Library Management Systems. The successful candidate will provide customer support for the Aleph and/or Evergreen Library Management Systems and other open source and commercial library software. Join the PALS team and take your career to the next level!

PALS provides automated library services to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities libraries, as well as private college, state government, special, public, and school libraries across the state of Minnesota and beyond. PALS is located on the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus. The 350-acre campus overlooks the Minnesota River Valley and the busy streets of Mankato.

Work continues on the upgrade to Aleph version 21 and we are on track for a September 23, 2012 switch to production.

We are now ready to have the consortium libraries begin to work with version 21. It is important that you install the version 21 client, look at the data that has been migrated from version 20 (as of July 14), and test functionality. At this time, begin by checking often used functions to make sure all is still working as expected. We plan to have the document that describes functionality new to version 21 available by August 28. At that time, please look carefully at new/changed functionality. You have until September 18 to test, but if you find something that you think is a problem, please let us know right away to give us time to check into it. Use the PALS support center and select product “Version 21 Upgrade”.