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SAILS COVID-19 UPDATE
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, the libraries in the SAILS network want to let you know the measures we are taking to provide service to our patrons and students during this period. Our libraries are committed to delivering essential services while also protecting the health and safety of staff and all of our users.
The below information has been updated as of 8/17/2020.
Library closings
Please see our COVID-19 Reopenings list to see which libraries are offering curbside and no-contact pickup services and which are providing in-person service. Please contact your library directly to find out what services they are offering.
Your library checkouts
Because libraries are quarantining materials after they are returned, there will be a delay in checking those items in. They may be listed on your account for several days after you return them. You may also receive overdue or auto-renewal notices for items that have been returned, but have not yet completed quarantine. If checked-out material is still listed on your account a week after returning items, please contact your library.
Consult our COVID-19 Reopenings list to see which libraries are currently accepting returns. In some cases, libraries may only accept returns at specific hours or through the bookdrop. Please contact your library for further details.
Most public libraries are using standard due dates for materials again. Please contact your library with any questions about due date. You can find due dates for materials checked out on your card by logging into your account.
All school library due dates have been extended to September 1, but your school may send information about returning library materials sooner. Students and faculty at SAILS academic libraries should contact their libraries with questions about extended due dates.
Your holds
The statewide delivery system that transports materials among our libraries has resumed service for most SAILS public libraries, but some are still unable to accept delivery. Please be patient while the delivery system catches up on the backlog of holds.
Most, but not all, holds that were suspended during the pandemic have been unsuspended. All holds for public library patrons suspended by the network should be unsuspended by August 31. You can also suspend and unsuspend your holds by logging into your account.
Please understand that, with quarantine periods for materials, holds are not filling as quickly as usual. We thank you for your patience as we go through this process.
Online materials
All of our libraries provide access to online materials. E-books, audiobooks, and e-magazines are available through the SAILS Overdrive collection. We recommend using the Libby app to access these resources.
Your library may also have online collections available. Be sure to visit their web sites to see what else may be available to use while you’re at home.
For people who do not yet have a library card, you can easily sign up for a card by filling out the form at https://www.sailsinc.org/my-account/get-a-library-card/. During the COVID-19 epidemic, this card will be good for two months before you need to visit a library to upgrade it to a permanent card.
If your SAILS card was set to expire in March or later, you can continue using your card through September 1 so that you can access these online resources. Online card registrations done early in the pandemic have been extended through September 1. If you are still unable to access resources due to an expired card, please contact your library to see if it can be extended.
Contact your library if you have further questions.
Managing available holds with “deliver later”
When a hold becomes available for you, you'll receive an email and a notification in your library's OverDrive collection. You have three days to borrow the hold or have it delivered later if you're not ready to read it.
Delivering a hold later means you stay at the front of the wait list, but pass the current copy to the next person in line.
Find details at: https://help.overdrive.com/en-us/2265.htm
eBooks in Enterprise!
ERC - Electronic Resources Central, has been added to Enterprise! This is a new service that makes Overdrive and *Hoopla titles available in the Enterprise catalog, giving you the option to "Download", "Preview", and "Place Hold".
You will need to log in with your library card number. If you log in with your ALT ID, the login information can't be passed on to Overdrive or *Hoopla. This means, if you try to download, place a hold or preview a title, you'll get an error saying "There was an error accessing your title. Please contact your library for assistance." If that happens, log out and back in with the 14 digit number on your library card.
*Hoopla is available by individual library subscription.
In "My Account", look out for a new Digital Checkouts area. Here you can download or view your digital checkouts, cancel holds, return digital checkouts, and suspend Overdrive holds.
More updates to look for:
- When you're on a mobile device, you'll see a much more attractive mobile-friendly version of the catalog.
- When you go to the item detail's page, a pop-up (modal) window will display the detailed title information and not go to a separate web page. Most of the same information will appear, including Novelist content.
- A "Print Books" search limit will show in the 1st drop-down list on the search bar.
- A "Kids' Search +" search limit will show, which will search only titles with a juvenile subject heading - print and digital
- A "series" facet will be added
- Facets will appear collapsed as the default, making for a less cluttered look.
- Google preview will be enabled for all available titles - physical and digital
- You will be able to update your SMS (text notification) information
Would you like to download the app?
When you visit Enterprise on a mobile device, you now have the option to directly download the mobile app from the app store that matches your device (either google play or the app store). This is what it looks like.
Learn more about the mobile app here.
SAILS Mobile App
We are very excited to announce the availability of the SAILS Mobile app in the Google Play and Apple stores!
*Apple users, you may want to uninstall and reinstall to make sure you have the latest version.
Top Features
- Search the SAILS' catalog: Search for items by title, author, subject, or general keyword and place holds on interesting items.
- Manage your account: Keep track of your account - view your checked-out items, holds, fines, and account information. You can even pay fines by credit card.
- Search by barcode: Use your device’s camera to scan the barcode on a book, CD, DVD, or other item at a friend’s house or bookstore and search for available copies in the SAILS' Network.
- You can link accounts to manage your family's checkouts and holds, all in the same place.
Anyone who had the old BookMyne+ app installed should see a direct update available for this mobile app.
Subject to Search
We added a new way to find items at SAILS libraries. You can now click on the icon at the top of the Enterprise catalog (pictured above) and search by subject keywords. This will give an alphabetical list of subject headings and show how many titles in the system match your search. Give it a try!
Automatic Renewals
The following libraries in the network began an autorenewal process today:
Attleboro, Acushnet, Berkley, Bridgewater, Carver, Dartmouth (both locations), Dighton, Easton, East Bridgewater, East Freetown (both locations), Fairhaven, Fall River (both locations), Foxboro (Boyden), Halifax, Hanson, Lakeville, Mansfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, New Bedford (all sites), North Attleboro, Norfolk, Norton, Pembroke, Plympton, Rehoboth, Rochester, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, Westport, and Wrentham.
Update: Marion and Wareham also now autorenew materials.
If you checked an item out at one of these libraries, any item that is eligible for renewal will be renewed 3 days before the due date and email/text notices will be sent alerting of that. If you normally receive Voice notification, you will not receive a call but your items should be renewed as well. You will then receive a reminder notice for any item due in 3 days that could not be renewed.
If your checkout library is not participating in the project, you will still receive reminder notices.