Learn a little bit of Alexandria every week by signing up for our email list! You can also follow us on Facebook or X (Twitter).
What are your favorite tricks in Alexandria? Is there a process you've developed that you think others could use? We want to hear it!
Send your Tip of the Week idea to tipoftheweek@goalexandria.com along with how you want to be attributed, and we'll share your brilliance with the world :D
Recent tips
October 2, 2023
Janet's mother asked Miss Zarves to make sure her daughter doesn't check out any movies from the school library that aren't G-rated. But what's the easiest way to keep track of that–especially if multiple parents are asking for different restrictions on what their kids can check out from the library?
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Enter: patron alert notes
Patron alert notes pop up during checkout, which allows you to easily monitor any restrictions.…
September 25, 2023
This week we're highlighting the Loaned Items Notice http://support.companioncorp.com/display/ALEX/Circulation+Notices+Reports#CirculationNoticesReports-LoanedItemsNotice. Usually notices are sent to the individual patrons–but what about utilizing them for teachers as well?
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For example, Mrs. Krabappel’s class comes in once a week, and you want to automate an email to her with a download link to the Loaned Items Notice for her class.…
September 18, 2023
Students often (always) need reminders to return overdue books, which is why we recommend making it easier on yourself! Schedule overdue items notices to send out automatically.
Let's say you have your Policy Preferences set to mark items as lost after they have been overdue for 28 days, and you want to have different overdue items notices sent automatically to patrons based on how close they are to the 28-day limit.…
September 11, 2023
We talked about Password management: best practices a few weeks ago, but this week we are diving deeper into passwords and how to keep your data secure.
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Here are some generally accepted password rules:
It is not safe to use the same password on more than one site. If your password is hacked for one site, then it could be used to get into multiple sites. Reusing passwords is not secure.
Create a password that is hard to guess,…
September 5, 2023
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It's a new school year, and that means new homerooms, new teachers, or other changes that might not be reflected in your Alexandria. Don't worry! We've got you.
"Homeroom" could also be a different terminology, such as Location or Teacher, depending on your organization.
Read on for common problems (and solutions) to make sure your homeroom info is accurate and up-to-date.
Alex S2 Circulation Transaction_Log_Homeroom.…
August 28, 2023
There is nothing worse than forgetting your password and being locked out–especially when it's the start of the school year and you have to get right back to work ASAP! We've created the Password Management Best Practices page to help with all your password needs.
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We recommend going over the whole page carefully–but here are a few important highlights.…
August 7, 2023
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It's that time again–back to school! Start your school year off right and go through our recommended Beginning-of-Year Procedures.
Are you still getting used to the makeover interface? Be sure to check out our Youtube playlists https://www.youtube.com/@AlexandriaLibrarySoftware/playlists to watch the makeover training videos.
You can also sign up for free webinars at goalexandria.com/training http://goalexandria.com/training,…
July 17, 2023
Summer is in full swing, and even though most of the school libraries are closed, public libraries are going strong with summer reading programs and more! So this week, we're going over how to print library cards in Alexandria.
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Pick your paper
First, what type of paper should you use? We recommend Business Cards 250 count: Avery 5371, 2” x 3 ½” https://www.amazon.…
May 23, 2023
Well, we made it to the end of another school year! Here's our send-off (for a little while, at least) with links to our favorite EOY tips.
End-of-year tips: Inventory : A list of resources to help with your end-of-year inventory.
Exports—Move and modify data : Exports make moving and modifying data easy! (Remember that Exports are now in Operations after the Alexandria Makeover.)
Summer is here–let's keep in touch! : Sign up for emails, follow us on social media,…
May 15, 2023
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The end of the school year is a busy time, and we know that things can stack up fast! Don't worry, we have some reports to help.
EOY Reports
Copy Information http://support.companioncorp.com/display/ALEX/Copies+Information+Reports#CopiesInformationReports-CopyInformation - Enter the dates of the school year in the "Copies Added" section of the selections for a list of everything added this year.
Title Information - Similar to the Copy Information report,…
v7 Tip of the Week Archives
Blog Posts
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Restricted items–using patron alert notes
created by
Sep 27, 2023
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Loaned Items Notice for teachers
created by
Sep 21, 2023
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Librarian hack: schedule your overdue notices
created by
Sep 13, 2023
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Passwords: protect your data
created by
Sep 07, 2023
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Cleaning up homerooms: Authority Control
created by
Aug 30, 2023
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Password management: best practices
created by
Aug 23, 2023
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Start the school year off right!
created by
Aug 02, 2023
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Summer tip: how to print library cards
created by
Jul 12, 2023
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Tip compilation: end-of-year edition
created by
May 17, 2023
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End-of-year reports
created by
May 10, 2023
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End-of-year procedures & the message drawer
created by
May 04, 2023
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Cleaning up the grade table–Authority Control
created by
Apr 26, 2023
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Extra, extra! Watch all about it!
created by
Apr 19, 2023
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Items: a few things you may not know...
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Apr 12, 2023
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Four features in Patrons you might not be using
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Apr 05, 2023
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Weeding items: why keep discarded items?
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Mar 29, 2023
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Circulation: Items out tab
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Mar 21, 2023
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Circulation: homeroom tab
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Mar 15, 2023
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Circulation: command line
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Mar 08, 2023
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Your favorite things–Dashboard
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Mar 01, 2023
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It's heeeeeere! Navigating the Makeover
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Feb 22, 2023
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Enhance your skills in Alexandria–Virtual Librarian
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Feb 14, 2023
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Changing teacher names in Alexandria
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Feb 07, 2023
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Curate your collection–Stats with Super Summary
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Feb 01, 2023
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Overdue items notices–"Yes, I am sending them"
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Jan 25, 2023
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How to share your district report standards
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Jan 18, 2023
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Share your top titles
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Jan 10, 2023
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Best browser tips
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Jan 04, 2023
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Winter break–we're here to help!
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Dec 06, 2022
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Get your books back–send emails!
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Nov 29, 2022
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Transaction Scripts–Not just for inventory
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Nov 26, 2022
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The key to assigning keywords
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Nov 08, 2022
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Keep track of items on display
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Nov 02, 2022
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Introducing the NEW Circulation videos!
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Oct 27, 2022
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A note about patron notes
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Oct 19, 2022
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Shortcut to vendors
created by
Oct 13, 2022
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Cash drawer report to the rescue!
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Oct 04, 2022
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Build better bulletins
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Sep 27, 2022
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Level up your searching
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Sep 21, 2022
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Missing the MARC?
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Sep 13, 2022
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Let's browse–it's time to study Genre
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Sep 07, 2022
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We're on top of topnav!
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Aug 31, 2022
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Using Copy Location & Copy Shelving
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Aug 24, 2022
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¿Hablas español?- Filter search results by language
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Aug 16, 2022
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Say cheese! All about patron pictures
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Aug 10, 2022
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Make a calendar just for the senior class!
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Aug 02, 2022
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Back to school, already??
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Jul 27, 2022
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Keeping track of patrons: Account expiration dates
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Jul 06, 2022
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Summer is here–let's keep in touch!
created by
May 16, 2022
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End-of-year tips: Tidying up for summer
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May 10, 2022
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End-of-year tips: Managing patrons
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May 03, 2022
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End-of-year tips: Item clean up
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Apr 26, 2022
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End-of-year tips: Disable emails
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Apr 20, 2022
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End-of-year tips: Due Dates
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Apr 13, 2022
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End-of-year tips: Inventory
created by
Apr 06, 2022
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Researcher Monthly Usage report–How are your students using Alexandria?
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Mar 29, 2022
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Assigning policies–the complete guide
created by
Mar 23, 2022
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When does an overdue item become lost?
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Mar 15, 2022
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Setting rules–Patron Policy Preferences
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Mar 08, 2022
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Setting a cap on overdue fines
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Mar 02, 2022
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Seeing double (barcodes) on patrons and items?
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Feb 23, 2022
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Are your Utilities running?—Take the right steps
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Feb 16, 2022
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Tips we LOVE <3
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Feb 11, 2022
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Got too many tabs open?
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Feb 02, 2022
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Title Assistant to the rescue!
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Jan 27, 2022
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Update title records with exports & imports? Yes, you can!
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Jan 19, 2022
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Getting equipped: Cataloging items for your library
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Jan 13, 2022
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Important info on imports
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Jan 06, 2022
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Top 5 tips of 2021!
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Dec 29, 2021
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2022 tips ... can we get your feedback?
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Dec 08, 2021
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Makin' a list (of winter break to dos) & checkin' it twice...
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Dec 01, 2021
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Overdue Items Notices? We've got you cover-ed
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Nov 24, 2021
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Automatic email notices... What are you waiting for?
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Nov 17, 2021
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Labels–Consider the variables
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Nov 10, 2021
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Let it go—Legacy reports are so last season
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Nov 03, 2021
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Learn and grow—Statistics in Alexandria
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Aug 26, 2021
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The Magic X
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Feb 02, 2021
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Helpful reports—Have you given them a try?
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Jan 13, 2021
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Clean up—Managing Z39.50 servers
created by
Sep 23, 2020
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Help!—Researcher training for librarians
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May 06, 2020
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New Capstone titles?—Hooray!
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Apr 29, 2020
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End-of-year prep—Disable emails
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Apr 01, 2020
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End-of-year prep—Due dates
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Mar 19, 2020
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Get your books back!—Scheduling overdue notices
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Jan 29, 2020
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Help!—Training your patrons
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Dec 04, 2019
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"Elehpants?"—Spell Check for Researcher
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Nov 06, 2019
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"But what if...?"—Policy Exceptions
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Oct 23, 2019
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I've hit my record limit!—Patron Cleanup
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Oct 02, 2019
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Mobile inventory—Offline Mode
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Apr 26, 2019
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Set the terms—Autofill and Authority Control
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Mar 08, 2019
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Importing MARC Records from a Vendor
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Oct 19, 2018
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Keep Track of Tabs
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Aug 31, 2018
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Make Checking Items In/Out Easy for Volunteers
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Sep 11, 2017
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Fee, Fine, Foe, Um?—All About Charges
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Jan 23, 2017
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Just Text Me Please!
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Nov 28, 2016
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Map Out Spring, Map Out the Library
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Feb 01, 2016
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Labor of Love—Cleaning up Your Subject Tags
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Jan 11, 2016
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Set up your Extras Preferences for OverDrive
created by
Oct 05, 2015
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Set up your Extras Preferences for MackinVIA
created by
Sep 28, 2015
Recent Posts
Blog Posts
-
Restricted items–using patron alert notes
created by
Sep 27, 2023
-
Loaned Items Notice for teachers
created by
Sep 21, 2023
-
Librarian hack: schedule your overdue notices
created by
Sep 13, 2023
-
Passwords: protect your data
created by
Sep 07, 2023
-
Cleaning up homerooms: Authority Control
created by
Aug 30, 2023
-
Password management: best practices
created by
Aug 23, 2023
-
Start the school year off right!
created by
Aug 02, 2023
-
Summer tip: how to print library cards
created by
Jul 12, 2023
-
Tip compilation: end-of-year edition
created by
May 17, 2023
-
End-of-year reports
created by
May 10, 2023
Want more tips?
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