The Alexandria Makeover is here! See what has changed.  


Getting Started

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Welcome to Alexandria

Last Updated: Jan 26, 2023 15:01

Overview

Welcome to Alexandria! We're happy to be joining you in the important task of running your library. 

We know that learning new software can be a challenge, but the information on these tabs will give you a smooth and simple start. Whether you're a district administrator who needs to get Alexandria running or a librarian who only needs to learn how things work, you'll find what you need to get started right here!

If your Alexandria system is already set up and you just need to learn how to use the program, skip the Set Up tab.

Set Up

Install and customize Alexandria.

Access

Log in to Alexandria.

Support Center

Learn how to use the Support Center.

Alexandria University

Watch instructional videos on the program.

Resources

See what additional help is available.


Set Up

Setting up Alexandria will be different depending on how your library has chosen to host your data.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud Hosting libraries save time and resources by letting COMPanion host your data. We perform daily archives and backups and handle all updates.

Registration is automatic. COMPanion will email you your Alexandria URL. With this, you can log in or create an account and start managing your library. Check out our Getting Started Guide for Librarians for guidance on setting up preferences, importing patrons, adding items, and more.

Self Hosting

Self Hosting libraries host their own data and are responsible for setting up and maintaining their installation and operations, including backups.

COMPanion will email you with instructions and links to important files for installing Alexandria. See our Self-Hosted Guide for Admins for instructions on installing on Windows or macOS, information on client and server communications, and guidelines for performing backups. Once installation is complete, you can log in or create an account. You'll then want to look through our Getting Started Guide for Librarians for guidance on setting up preferences, importing patrons, adding items, and more.

Logging In

For both cloud-hosted and self-hosted users, you’ll need to create a District Administrator account the first time you try to log into Alexandria if you’re brand new. Simply fill out information in the form that pops up. If you’re coming from a previous version of Alexandria, you can log in with your old account.

How to Log In

An operator account is required to access Alexandria Librarian every time the application is launched.

The basic steps to log in are the same for all Alexandria libraries:

  1. Open an Alexandria URL in your browser.
  2. On the login screen, enter your username and password.
  3. Click Log In.

Need to log in as a different operator? Reload your browser window to get back to the Log In screen, then log in as normal.




Alternatively, if you have the GG4L SIS Integration, you can log in using your GG4L credentials:

  1. Open an Alexandria URL in your browser.
  2. On the login screen, click OR CONTINUE WITH GG4L.
  3. Once the GG4L login window opens, enter your GG4L username and password.
  4. Click Sign In.

Link

But where do I log in?

Well, that depends. The URL you'll use to log in depends on a variety of factors based on how your library is set up and which module you want to log in to. Follow the steps for your particular installation below:

Cloud Hosting
  1. Open your web browser and go to the address bar, typically located at the top of the window.
  2. Enter your library's domain name or IP address, forward slash (/), the name of the module you want to access.
    • yourdomain.com/module
    • 123.456.78.910/librarian
    • yoursite.goalexandria.com/librarian
  3. Tap Enter.
  4. On the Log In screen, enter your username and password.
  5. Click Log In.

Locate your library's IP address in Circulation > Special tab > System Info or /admin > Status.

Self Hosting
  1. Open your web browser and go to the address bar, typically located at the top of the window.
  2. Enter your library's domain name or IP address, colon (:), port number, forward slash (/), the name of the module you want to access.
    • yourdomain.com:port/module
    • 123.456.78.910:8080librarian
    • yourdomain.com:80/librarian
  3. Tap Enter.
  4. On the Log In screen, enter your username and password.
  5. Click Log In.

Alexandria Controller

To access a single site within your Controller account, you need the serial number for that site's data station. You can locate the serial number in /admin > Status, or Circulation > Special tab > License Info, or check with your library administrator.

  1. Open your web browser and go to the address bar, typically located at the top of the window.
  2. Enter library's domain name or IP address, colon (:), port number, forward slash (/), serial number, forward slash (/), the name of the module you want to access.
    • yourdomain.com:port/serialnumber/module
    • 123.456.78.910:8080/5555123/librarian
    • yourdomain.com:80/5555123/librarian
  3. To access the Controller Admin module, do not enter the site-specific serial number.

    • yourdomain.com:80/admin
    • 123.456.78.910:8080/admin
  4. Tap Enter.
  5. On the Log In screen, enter your username and password.
  6. Click Log In.

Link

Modules

Log in to a module directly – just add /module to the end of your URL, like demo.goalexandria.com/browse . Remember to bookmark your favorite modules for easy access!

Alexandria

Librarian
     /tt-circulation
     /tt-items
     /tt-patrons
     /operations
    /tt-tools
    /tt-preferences  
Management
       /tt-sites


Link

Can't remember your password?

  1. Click Can't access your account? at the bottom of the Log In dialog.
  2. In the Reset Password dialog, enter the username, barcode, or email address associated with your account.
  3. Check your email account for the Reset Password email, which contains a link that will allow you to reset your username and password.


Link

Troubleshooting

Please ask your Librarian or System Administrator for assistance. 

Please ask your System Administrator for assistance.

Your Alexandria serial number is located in the following places:

  • /admin > Status

  • Circulation > Special tab > License Info


  • MAKEOVER: topnav > help menu > About Alexandria


If you you're having trouble locating it or cannot access these locations, check with your library administrator.

Link

Support Center

Alexandria's Support Center contains helpful articles, informative videos, and other resources to help you use Alexandria to its full potential.

Organization

The Support Center is organized just like Alexandria, with the top navigation bar mostly matching the program's side navigation bar (sidenav).


The navigation bars have seven sections in common:

  1. Circulation
  2. Items
  3. Patrons
  4. Operations
  5. Tools
  6. Researcher
  7. Preferences

The Support Center's extra Support tab links to more resources, such as Getting Started, Release Notes, Tip of the Week, Video Directory, and Contact Us.

Access

Clicking on the  help icon in the top right corner of Alexandria will open the Support Center page that relates to that part of the program. 

You can also bookmark the Support Center's homepage on your internet browser.

Indicators

Throughout the Support Center, you'll notice indicators/notes that will give you important information:

Indicator/NoteMeaning

Preferences > Advanced Bookings

This shows where the stuff on that page can be found within the program.
(warning) SYSTEM Preference or (warning) SITE PreferenceThe preference applies to either the system (all libraries in your group) or site (your individual library).

SHARED with Textbook Tracker

The preference or section shares data with Textbook Tracker.

 Textbook Tracker

 Textbook Tracker: Remove Textbooks

The report or utility can also be found in Textbook Tracker; if it has a slightly different name, it will be listed in italics.

Teach your patrons!



Green boxes titled "Teach your patrons!" contain resources (PDFs and videos) meant for your patrons. Distribute or post these resources so your patrons can learn how to use Alexandria's Researcher!

Other green boxes contain random tips related to the page's content.



Yellow and red boxes contain important information related to the page's content.



Feedback

We want to hear from you! Each page gives you the opportunity to rate the content on a scale of 1–5 stars. Your feedback will help our team understand what's working well and identify areas for improvement.

Rate a page

To rate a Support Center page, find the rating block on the left-hand side of the page. Under Your Rating, click on the amount of stars you'd like to give that page. Then, your rating will be added to the Results, which shows the average rating in addition to the total.

Give us more details

After rating a page, you also have the option to give us more details by clicking Tell us what we can improve. This short survey will let you elaborate on your rating and—optionally—leave your email so we can follow up if needed (don't worry—your email will be kept private). We appreciate it!

Introduction

Welcome, welcome! This video series will get you acquainted with Alexandria's interfaces and capabilities. Feel free to follow along in our Basic Training Guide as well.

Access and Navigation (2:55)

Help and Support (2:47)


Librarian

Librarian is the management side of Alexandria where librarians and staff can check out books, manage patron and item records, customize settings and preferences, run reports, and much more.

 Circulation

Perform general library activities such as issuing books, placing hold requests and reservations, processing fees, fines, payments, and renewing books in Circulation.

YouTube Playlist

Circulation Welcome (1:55)

Circulation Controls (1:16)

Locating a Patron or Item (1:48)

Circulation Modes (1:53)

Renewing Items (1:45)

Charges and Payments (2:06)

Holds and Reservations (2:22)


 Items Management

Create, view, modify, or remove records that contain information on all assets that circulate (books, magazines, audio, video, media) in your library within Items Management.

YouTube Playlist

Items Welcome (2:02)

Adding New Items (2:21)

Adding Item Copies (1:44)

eBook Items (1:20)

Importing Items (2:51)

Removing Items (2:12)

Item Pictures (1:37)


 Patrons Management

Create, view, modify, or remove records that contain information about the users (i.e. patrons and operators) at your site/school/library within Patrons Management.

YouTube Playlist

Patrons Welcome (1:46)

Adding Patrons (1:59)

Importing Patrons (2:10)

Modifying Patrons (1:14)

Removing Patrons (2:29)

Patron Pictures (2:10)


 Tools

In Tools, you'll find convenient shortcuts to various tools that help you run reports, do inventory, customize bulletins, and more.

YouTube Playlist

Tools Intro (1:20)

Reports (1:45)

Saving and Scheduling (Part 1) (1:44)

Saving and Scheduling (Part 2) (2:13)

Utilities (2:09)


 Preferences

Configure global settings that customize Alexandria according to your library's needs in Preferences.

YouTube Playlist

Preferences Welcome (1:07)

Patron Preferences (2:46)

Item Preferences (1:55)

Circulation Preferences (1:42)

Z39.50 Preferences (2:05)

Security Preferences (2:52)

Policies YouTube Playlist

Policies Overview (1:05)

Patron Policies (2:32)

Item Policies (2:16)


Policy Exceptions (2:01)


 Researcher

Researcher is the patron-facing side of Alexandria that contains various search interfaces, virtual bulletin boards, and customizable links.

Researcher for Librarians

YouTube Playlist

Researcher Overview (1:05)

Search Interface (1:59)

Scout Interface (1:45)

Explore Interface (1:21)

Bulletins Interface (1:10)

Slideshow (1:34)

Patron Status (1:41)


Researcher for Patrons

YouTube Playlist

Patron-Facing Search (2:17)

Patron-Facing Performing a Search (1:34)

Patron-Facing Holds and Reservations (1:58)

Patron-Facing Lists and Sharing Results (1:56)

Patron-Facing Tags and Reviews (1:26)

Patron-Facing Scout (1:12)

Patron-Facing Scout Tools (1:24)

Patron-Facing Scout Holds (0:57)

Patron-Facing Status (1:31)

Patron-Facing Status Specifics (1:42)

Link

Resources

Email Lists and Groups
  • Tip of the Week. Sign up to receive weekly tips that help you use Alexandria efficiently.
  • Newsletter. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for seasonal posters, book reviews, activity ideas, and more.
  • Releases. Sign up to receive information on new features and other updates.
  • User Research Group. Apply to join a group of Alexandria users who give feedback on future features and projects.
Set Up
  • Email Notices. Set up email notifications for your patrons and librarians.

More Resources
  • Tip of the Week. Check out our archives for past tips that'll help you get the most out of Alexandria.
  • FAQs. Get your questions answered! See our Trending FAQs section for questions recently answered by Customer Support.
  • Hotkeys Reference. Print a sheet with basic program shortcuts to reference as you learn them.
  • Video Directory. Check out all of our videos about Alexandria, including how-tos, workshops, tips, and more.
  • Webinars. Tune into webinars with our certified trainers, who will provide guidance and answer questions on the topic.
  • One-on-one training. Contact our Sales Team if you're interested in purchasing and scheduling one-on-one training.
  • Customer Support. Need a question answered? Our 24/7 Customer Support is here to help!  

Other COMPanion Support Centers


Textbook Tracker

KeepnTrack