ByWater Solutions Announces Aspen Discovery 21.05.00 Release

by Mark Noble on Apr 23, 2021

In version 21.05, we focused on updates to our ILS integrations, user lists, custom covers, and web builder functionality.

During this release, we completed our implementation of Symphony by allowing patrons to update their messaging settings within Aspen so they can easily control which notices they receive via text message. We have also added support for all core discovery functionality for users of Polaris including the ability to place and modify holds, renew checkouts, and automatically index changed records from Polaris. We have also improved our Carl.X and Koha integrations.

When checking to see how our libraries promoted lists on their websites, we noticed that several libraries were generating custom graphics to represent their lists. Libraries can now add these graphics directly into Aspen Discovery to give patrons a more seamless experience when view the lists in Aspen. Patrons and staff can also now more easily apply manual sorting to lists by either dragging and dropping the titles in a list or by specifying a new position for the title. They can also easily delete multiple titles at once or even clear their entire list. Finally, patrons can easily move or copy titles between lists so if they maintain a list of titles they want to read and a list of titles they have read, they can easily move titles between those lists.

Our libraries greatly value the ability to select exactly which image is used for a grouped work. To make that process easier for them, we have added the ability to select which record the grouped work image is generated from. So you can choose to use a cover from Syndetics, Content Cafe, OverDrive, Hoopla, etc. to represent the entire work. For libraries uploading their own custom covers for games, local materials, kits, etc we have made the uploading process easier by allowing you to specify a URL to fetch from this cuts down on the number of steps needed when loading a cover from the web.

Finally, we have enhanced web builder with support for the ability to create collapsible regions on a page, insert iFrames within a cell, and improved support for libraries using web builder within a consortium.

In addition to the changes above, over 2 dozen additional changes were made to make the Aspen Discovery experience better for both staff and patrons.

Read the Full Release Notes

You can find the full release notes here.

About Aspen Discovery

Aspen is a full-featured Discovery System that integrates with e-content and other 3rd party providers, giving your patrons comprehensive access to all of your materials in one place. Aspen combines your library catalog with e-content, digital archives, and enrichment from all major third-party providers improves relevancy and ease of use, provides native reading recommendations, displays all formats of titles within one result (FRBR/record grouping) and much more. Aspen was created to give users an improved experience over other Discovery systems with less of an impact on library budgets. For more information about Aspen please visit https://bywatersolutions.com/projects/aspen-discovery.

For More Information

Jessica Zairo
Director of Library Sales and Outreach
ByWater Solutions
bywatersolutions.com
Phone:(888)900-8944