Brief ILL outage Tue 4/28 10pm

The NHAIS ILL System will be offline briefly starting at 10 o'clock tonight (Tuesday, Apr. 28) to install software updates, including two fixes.

-After going from a List view of search results to the Full Record Display, the back arrow is supposed to bring users back to where they clicked on the list but, under certain circumstances, users could be returned to the top of the results page. This has been corrected. 

-Some users have been unable to set the Request Manager as their default opening page since that feature was introduced four weeks ago. Following tonight's update, all staffers logged in with a username ending with "ill" or "all" should see Request Manager as an option at Your Account > Your Preferences > Default Opening Page. 

No NC, SW vans Tue 4/28

The North Country (NC) ILL van delivery route is cancelled for Tuesday, April 28. The affected libraries are:

Whitefield
Dalton
Lancaster
Groveton
Stratford
Colebrook
Errol
WMCC - Berlin
Berlin
Gorham
Jefferson
Randolph
Jackson
Bartlett
North Conway
Conway

The Southwest (SW) ILL van route has been cancelled for Tuesday, 4/28.  Affected libraries are as follows:

Webster 
Salisbury
Andover
Wilmot
New London
Colby Sawyer
Sutton
Warner
Bradford
Newbury
Sunapee
Newport
Hillsborough
Henniker

Your patience and understanding are appreciated.

Thank you,
Jennifer M. Finch (she/her)
Reference Librarian and State Data Coordinator
New Hampshire State Library
 

No LR van Mon 4/27

 There will be no Lakes Region (LR) ILL van deliveries on Monday, April 27. Affected libraries are:

Tilton
Franklin
Bristol
Meredith
Moultonborough
Wolfeboro
Gilford
Laconia
Belmont
Bow
Concord Public

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Best,
Jennifer M. Finch (she/her)
Reference Librarian and State Data Coordinator
New Hampshire State Library

When you need more copies...

From the NHAIS mailbox:

This morning I received 3 requests for the same title, from the same library, with the same book group note attached. This isn't the first time recently either. We know there are always new people doing ILL. Would you mind posting (or reposting) a blog or email to the ILL list about why multicopy requests need to be done differently and how to do them. 

In this case, the borrower had correctly used the Multi-Copy function to create 10 requests for a nonfiction title but then used the Rebuild Lender List feature on some of the requests that weren't filled. One more time: DO NOT use Rebuild Lender List with multi-copy requests. 

Here's more, originally posted in October 2023:

When you need to borrow multiple copies of a title, the Multi Copy function in the NHAIS ILL System helps you get what you need. If you've submitted a multi-copy request but still didn't get enough copies for your needs, DO NOT use the Rebuild Lender List function and DO NOT create a new multi-copy request based on the same edition. Doing either of these means your new or renewed requests will be routed to the same libraries that have previously seen your request. They've either already shipped the item to you or said they can't fill your request. To get your request before new eyes, your best bet is usually a message to the NHAIS-ILL list. Another option for some titles is to create a new request in the system for a different edition than the one previously requested. If you need further help with getting the copies you need, ask the NHAIS Help Desk. 

Annual reports reminder!!!

I think this cow might be wondering, “When are you going to submit your  2025 annual reports/public library surveys?” Don’t leave this cow in suspense! 

In all seriousness, the data collected in this IMLS-funded annual project is critical to public libraries and for education about the impact of NH public libraries state-wide. I just finished my presentation for the NHLTA Conference and the state-wide annual stats figure prominently in it!

Please let the humorous, patient, and generally wonderful Jen Finch know if you need any help at all. You can do it!!!

Thanks,
Mindy Atwood
Administrator of Library Operations :: Assistant State Librarian
New Hampshire State Library
N.H. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources
20 Park Street :: Concord, NH  03301
603-271-2393 (w) :: 603-573-6402 (m)
mindy.atwood@dncr.nh.gov
nhsl.dncr.nh.gov

 

ILL issues Tue 4/21

Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2:50 p.m.: If you were having trouble using the NHAIS ILL System earlier this afternoon--connection failure or sluggish response to searches--try it again now. Auto-Graphics restarted its servers in the past hour to address performance issues. 

2025 Public Library Survey Countdown

As of noon today [Tuesday, Apr. 21], 55% of NH public libraries have submitted their annual reports/public library surveys for 2025.
 
There are 10 days left for the remaining 100 libraries to turn in theirs. 
 
You can do it, folks. I have faith in you!  
 
Tip: Remember to click the SUBMIT button after Verifying.  😊
 
Please email or call me if you are having trouble.
Thanks!
Jen
 
Jennifer M. Finch (she/her)
Reference Librarian and State Data Coordinator
New Hampshire State Library
N.H. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources
20 Park St.
Concord, NH 03301
Office: 603-271-2060
Ref Desk: 603-271-2144
Jennifer.M.Finch@dncr.nh.gov

No SW-B van Wed 4/15

The SW-B van route is cancelled today, April 15. The affected libraries are:

Nelson
Alstead
Westmoreland
Chesterfield
Winchester
Richmond
Fitzwilliam
Rindge
Jaffrey
Hancock

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,
Jennifer M. Finch (she/her)
Reference Librarian and State Data Coordinator
New Hampshire State Library
 

Title sorts in tables

As promised, non-filing characters for initial articles in titles are now ignored in title sorts in NHAIS ILL System tables. That may not be evident when you open a table:

You need to click on the column header to get a proper sort. Clicking on that header several times will cycle you through ascending sort, descending sort, and the default (which is...semi-sorted).

Until last night's program update, requests created before last June 25 included initial articles in the sort so, for example, The Da Vinci Code showed up in the T's rather than the D's.