Security Preferences

Security preferences allow operators (with the appropriate authority) to modify existing or create their own custom security groups by manipulating lists of permissions organized by tab; these tabs include: Management, Tools, Circulation, Preferences, Reporting, Researcher. In turn, these Security Groups (assigned to individuals using the Patrons management window) determine what actions operators or patrons are permitted to perform. By default, Administrator-level access are the only security groups that allows you to do this.

When a new patron is added to Alexandria, their default Security Group will be Patron. However, you may need to change their Security Group to one that grants more appropriate permissions. By default a patron with a Security Group of Library Aide or higher can Log In to Alexandria as an operator, however you can change any Security Group to allow operator access with the exception of Patron.

The very first operator that you should create is the District or Library Administrator. Do not forget to create a Username and Password for this operator since it must be used to examine, edit, add or delete other patrons or operators and address books.

If you haven't yet created a District Administrator for your union site, the very first time that you attempt to access the program or one of its online components (e.g. /preferences), you will be tasked with creating an Administrator-level operator that may be later edited, but never removed. Your first operator needs to be a District Administrator with the equivalent Security Group access. The District Administrator security group is only meaningful for multi-library collection licenses (Centralized Catalog, WAN, etc.); for all other licenses, the District Administrator security group is analogous to the Library Administrator.

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Security Groups

The left pane of the window contains the default and custom Security Groups that can be assigned to operators and patrons in the Patrons management window. Operators with the appropriate authority can add, duplicate, edit, or remove any of Alexandria's security groups with the exception of the default security groups, which can be edited, but not removed or renamed.

After you have successfully created/duplicated a new security group, it will appear in this list.The area situated below the Security Groups list contains several tools icons that are used for adding, removing, editing, and renaming security levels.

• Add. Clicking on the Add button triggers the Create New Security Group roll-down. This allows you to create a new security group that isn't based on any that currently exist.

• Remove. Those with the appropriate authority can remove an operator-created security level by highlighting (selecting) the group from the Security Groups list in the Security preferences window and clicking the Remove button. You will not be able to remove any of Alexandria's default security groups.

• Actions. This menu, located on the lower-left corner of the Security preferences window, allows you to Rename or Duplicate any of the selected (highlighted) security groups.

• Duplicate. This selection allows you to create a new security group based on an existing security group and its list of enabled and disabled security options.

• Rename. This selection triggers the Rename Security Group roll-down, allowing you to provide a new security group name. Each security group name must be unique and you can not change the names of Alexandria's default security groups.

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Default Groups

Alexandria comes standard with several default Security Groups; from District Administrator to Student Aide security groups. District Administrator is the least restrictive and allows unlimited access to Alexandria preferences and settings. Student Aide is the most restrictive security group, only allowing users to search the database.

Below are the default security groups available in Alexandria. Each of these default security groups can be edited; however, they can not be deleted or renamed.

• District Administrator. Full access to every control and setting within Alexandria, including the ability to examine and change registered operators. Operators at this level can edit district-level preferences and have access to all library preferences. All other access levels can only modify records from their assigned library collections. The District Administrator security group can not be removed or modified.
  
  
• Library Administrator. Full access to every control and setting within Alexandria, including the ability to examine and change registered operators. Operators with this security group can only edit preferences for their assigned collection.
  
  
• Librarian. Full access to every control and setting within Alexandria except the ability to examine registered operators and Address Books.
  
  
• Library Staff. Access to all system functions and reports except Preferences, Imports and Utilities.
  
  
• Library Aide. Access to Alexandria Librarian capabilities and standard circulation commands, with the authority to allow restricted actions. For example, if a patron has too many books issued, a warning message appears when the patron tries to check out another book. With this security group, the library aide can override the message and allow the patron to check out another book.
  
  
• Student Aide. Access to Alexandria Librarian capabilities and standard circulation commands, but no authority to allow restricted actions. See the description of Library Aide (listed above) for an example of a restricted action.
  
  
• Self-Service. Supports Student Aide privileges with the addition of Check In and Bookdrop circulation commands and the bookdrop capability. The Circulation window is allowed for Bookdrop mode only. At this security level, overdue fines are automatically recorded with no opportunity to accept payment, or forgive/adjust fines. Fines are still displayed in the transaction log.
  
  
• Patron. This is the default security group for all newly created patrons. It can not be deleted. The only settings that can be modified in this security group are permissions for their own patron account, such as the ability to place holds and reservations when using the Researcher.
  
  
• Patron Limited. For convenience, this patron-level security group is essentially the same as the Patron level, but you are allowed to modify most permissions.
  
  

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Permissions

On the right side of the window, security privileges are compartmentalized into groups of similar permissions. You may toggle between these categories using the Management, Tools, Circulation, Preferences, Reporting, Account tabs that cross the top of the Security preferences window. Each tab refers to a particular set of permissions:

• Management. These permissions allow an operator access to perform Advanced Bookings, manage Patron and Item records, Database maintenance, set Security Levels for Security Groups, as well as manage Routes and Subscriptions.

• Tools. These permissions allow an operator access to perform Inventory, manage Operations Management and Authority Control, as well edit the Map Editor, Explore Builder, Bulletin Board, SIF, Sites, and Reviews on the Reseacher.

• Circulation. These permissions allow an operator to circulate Items as well as process Patron charges and payments.

• Preferences. These permissions allow an operator access to edit system Preferences such as Policies, Calendars, Sounds, etc.

• Reporting. These permissions allow an operator access to run, save or edit Reports.

• Account. These permissions reflect what an operator or Patron is able to view or edit while logged into the Researcher.

Utilizing the drop-down menus contained in each tab, you can enable or disable specific security privileges for the existing security group. When a particular permission is selected, operators assigned that Security Group will be able to perform all the functions listed above that selected permission.

When you have finished editing all of your security permissions, click Save to keep your changes or Revert to discard them. You will be required to Save or Revert before configuring any other security groups.

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