CONSORTIAL ASPECTS

This system is a shared system and needs to be managed in a sustainable way, we will attempt to make it work well for all libraries, but we most likely will not be able to make it work exactly the way a library system has worked for an individual library.

1. ‘Open Borrowing’ in MILS and in MaineCat is the expected standard.
2. To ensure full participation in MILS and MaineCat lending, all libraries will need to be members of the MSL Book Delivery system and will need to pay for at least one day per week of delivery.
3. Libraries will bill borrowing libraries for lost items — documentation will be provided
4. Settings are mostly system-wide:Settings that are system-wide will need the group as a whole and MIN staff to be in agreement before any changes can be made. Examples of such settings would be: loan rules, loan rule determiners, itypes, mattypes, email subjects, Text of Circulation Notices, pcodes 1-3, maximum fine cap, interlibrary loan period and renewal, and the number of requests at one time.
5. When Bib records are matched during initial load and during cleanup, local information that was contained in the bib record may be lost if not moved to the item record.
6. Cataloging:
   • New items will be cataloged using Z39.50 Remote Databases found in Leap cataloging.
   • Records will be created in RDA format from this point forward (documentation will be provided).
   • Information that is local to the library (e.g. donation information)  should be held in the item record, not in the bib record.
   • ‘On order’ records will be in Uppercase letters to readily identify records that are at the pre-publication level (documentation will be provided).

EVOLVING SYSTEM

This system is evolving as new libraries are added, as new problems are encountered, and as new solutions are developed. We will do our best to alert all libraries of changes to the system and policies, and attempt to get feedback when we can, but things will change over time.

1. New policies will be developed in an ongoing manner to aid in the smooth operation of this system and its integration into the broader MaineCat environment.
2. Once there are more libraries in the system a regular User’s Group meeting will be convened.

SUPPORT

Maine InfoNet Staff directly support multiple systems covering nearly 80 libraries across the state-  we do our best to help all libraries as quickly as possible.

1. Our systems have enjoyed great up-time, but system outages do happen. During business hours, we can typically be reached at our offices. During evenings and weekends, James can be reached via his cell-phone (207)866-0240.
2. Direct phone and email support for non-emergency items will be provided up to 1 week from the Go Live date.
3. After that period, any new tickets will need to be submitted via the Maine InfoNet ticket system at http://support.maineinfonet.org. Priority support will be provided via the ticket system for the 2nd week after the Go Live date.
4. After the initial priority support periods, all new tickets will be queued along with other system libraries, where support will be prioritized accordingly.
5. Please anticipate that procedures and system capabilities will be different in this shared consortial system. We recommend that you try out any business-critical operations before an imminent deadline. We’ll do our best to help you figure out how to get information out of the system, but procedures and output may be different than they were in a previous standalone system.
6. Although we may have suggestions for changes based on past experience, please be aware that any in-house network or technical support issues not directly related to MILS will need to be made through your local IT or technology support staff.