Aspen Discovery

Aspen Discovery 22.10.00 Release Notes

by Mark Noble on Oct 19, 2022

Aspen Discovery announced this week that the 22.10.00 release is now available.

See the Release Summary here.

Our libraries love all of the customization options Aspen offers to ensure the catalog aligns with the library’s brand identity. With the 22.10 release, we’ve taken some of the best design ideas from our libraries and made them easy for any library to implement."

- Jordan Fields, Aspen Product Librarian

22.10.00 Release Notes

Format Updates

  • 710 field now checked for: Playaway Launchpad, Playaway Bookpack, and Playaway Wonderbook
  • Added check for wonderbooks in filterPrintFormats() (
  • 250a field now checked for: Playaway, Playaway View, Wonderbook, GameCube, Nintendo Switch, Book Club Kit, Vox
  • 300a field now checked for: Playaway View, Playaway Launchpads, and Wonderbook
  • 500a field now checked for Playaway Bookpacks
  • 538 field now checked for: "4k" and "blu-ray" OR "4k" and "bluray" for 4K Blu-Ray format
  • Check for 4K/Blu-ray combos in 300a, 538a, and 500a (same places we check for Blu-ray/DVD combos). The check for 4K/Blu-ray is before Blu-ray/DVD, so 4K/Blu-ray will take precedence if it is 4K+Blu-ray+DVD
  • Added check for volume/volumes/v. in 300a field to help identify Book+CD formats
  • Added check for "audio disc" in 300e to help identify Book+CD formats
  • 250a field now checked for: "pop-up" and "mini-pop-up" for pop-up books
  • 650a and 655a fields now check for: "pop-up" for pop-up books and "board book"/"board books" for board books

Hoopla Updates

  • Allow filtering Hoopla titles based on genre.

Indexing Updates

  • Look at 490 field for series information if not found in the 830 or 800 field.
  • Allow processing of links between records using the 773 field.
  • Upgrade MySQL connector to latest version.
  • Fixed an issue where Primary Format, when indexing by item records, wasn't being calculated properly

Interface Updates

  • Added option in Grouped Work Display Settings to move the Search Tools to the top of the results page and condense them into a drop-down menu.
  • Added option in Themes to allow for a full width header and footer.
  • Added option in Themes to change cover image display between floating and bordered styles.
  • Added options in Themes for a background image in the header.

New Settings

  • Catalog/Grouped Works > Grouped Work Display > Search Results > Show Search Tools at Top of Results
  • Theme & Layout > Themes > Make Header & Footer Full Width
  • Theme & Layout > Themes > Cover Image Style
  • Theme & Layout > Themes > Header Background Image
  • Theme & Layout > Themes > Header Background Image Fit
  • Theme & Layout > Themes > Header Background Image Repeat

Interlibrary Loan Updates

  • Send VDX location for pickup location if a VDX location code is definted for the user's home location.
  • Allow the "Accept fee" option to be displayed even when the prompt for Maximum Fee is not displayed.
  • When determining if a title should be holdable or request-able via ILL only look at holdable items.

Library Holdings Display

  • When Library holdings are found in the 852 and 866 fields display the information within a Library Holdings section.
    • 852$b is the location code for the holding
    • 852$c is the shelf location for the holding
    • 866$a is descriptive information for the holding.
    • 852$6 and 866$6 are used to match the 852 and 866 fields.

Koha Updates

  • If autorenew is enabled in Koha, properly display a message for if the item is on hold in user checkouts.
  • Correctly return error messaging when placing Koha materials requests.
  • Fixed an issue where patron date of birth not being formatted as expected when sending to Koha.
  • If a patron's home library changes in Koha, reset their preferred pickup location to that library and reset remember pickup location.

OverDrive Updates

  • Force holds to be refreshed after placing an OverDrive hold.

Record Display

  • Add an option in Grouped Work Display Settings to display 856 links as Access Online buttons in full record view as well as search results. 856 fields must have first indicator of 4 and a second indicator of 0, link must be in 856$u.
  • Show all holdings even if no shelf location is set for an item.

Search Updates

  • When no results are found with a scope that is not searching all records (availability toggle not set to global), redirect patrons to the all records search automatically with the option to search the local scope.
  • When no results are found with a non-keyword search index, redirect patrons to the keyword search automatically with the option to search the local scope.
  • Both redirects will not happen if Allow Automatic Search Replacements is off for the library.

Self Registration Updates

  • Add a setting within location settings to determine if a branch is valid for self registration independently of if it is a valid pickup location.
  • Add an option to self register for both cards for adults and minors (Symphony Only)
  • Add an option to opt the user into SMS notices during self registration (Symphony Only)
  • Optionally allow email and/or phone number to be required during self registration (Symphony Only)

Symphony Updates

  • When indexing Symphony items check iTypes to suppress and formats to suppress defined in the indexing profile.
  • Allow placing holds when the patron has logged in with their Alternate ID.
  • When merging MARC records, create subfield 6 if one does not exist for the 852, 853, and 866 fields to enable loading serials holding information.
  • When loading self registration locations, sort main branches to the top.

Web Builder Updates

  • For image cell types, added options to provide alt text for better accessibility and options to decide what happens when a user clicks on it.
  • Allow restrictions for who can view basic pages based on the patron's home location.

Other Updates

  • Fix "Duplicate HooplaId" Error and run Full Update for Hoopla
  • Fix notice while placing holds if debugging is on
  • Fixed a language issue that cause invalid grouped work ids to be created
  • Fix saving the Show On Donations Page within the Locations settings.
  • Update selected colors for default theme.
  • Increase the length of statuses to suppress within Indexing Profiles.
  • Fix loading suggestions when a patron has a title on hold that is not linked to a grouped work.
  • Added the ability to copy Grouped Work Display Settings objects.
  • Added the ability to copy Grouped Work Facet Groups objects.
  • When creating new permission roles, you can now copy settings from an existing role.
  • While managing permission roles, there's now a "Select All" button in each section.
  • Added new options in Library Systems to show or hide circulation modules (checkouts, holds, library card, etc.), contact information link, and preferences link in the account menu and sidebar for users.
  • Fixed an error bots were throwing with Prospector searches
  • Fixed an error when trying to place a hold on records that no longer exist
  • Added check for file size with Symphony exports to prevent processing empty files

New Settings

  • Library Systems > ILS/Account Integration > Show Circulation Modules to Users in My Account
  • Library Systems > ILS/Account Integration > Show Contact Information to Users in My Account
  • Library Systems > ILS/Account Integration > Show Preferences to Users in My Account


This release includes code contributions from:

  • ByWater Solutions
  • PTFS Europe
  • James Staub

Thanks to all of our contributors!!

Aspen LiDA Updates

  • If a grouped work has fewer items without volumes than with, prompt the user to either place a volume-level or bib-level hold.
  • Fixed an issue keeping Quick Searches from displaying in the specified order.
  • Users can now view and cancel their VDX interlibrary loan requests on the Holds screen.
  • Users can now request and submit a VDX interlibrary loan request if prompted ("Request" button) on the Grouped Work screen.
  • Users have a new section on the Notification preferences screen that allows them to enable/disable different notification types.
  • Added configuration for sending custom notifications to users in Local Catalog Enrichment > LiDA Notifications.
  • Added a notification type "Custom alerts" in Aspen LiDA > Notification Settings.
  • Added a new permission in the Aspen LiDA section to allow staff to send custom LiDA notifications.
  • If displayed, the System Recommendations browse category will now properly load additional results.

New Settings

  • Local Catalog Enrichment > LiDA Notifications

Watch the 22.10.00 Aspen Updates in an Instant Recording

Watch a short highlight video of the some of the new features available in 22.10.00

Read more by Mark Noble

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