Earlier this month the Five Colleges Libraries completed implementation of a new shared library services platform, and began backend systems operations and staff work in FOLIO. Things may look a little different to you at first, but the services you know and use are still available! See below to learn more about updates to your account management tools and our updated circulation policies.
Still have questions after reviewing this page? Contact mhcfolio-g@mtholyoke.edu.
Logging in to Discover and accessing your account
Discover is not a new tool in the Five Colleges, but with our migration to FOLIO your account management tools have been rolled into this one platform. Instead of moving between our 5C library catalog interface and Discover when requesting and renewing items, for example, all of these functions are now possible in Discover. The Using Discover Guide contains helpful tips and tricks for searching, as well as additional information about accessing and using your account.
Some new account management features we are excited about are:
- You can now view all of your Five College loans listed together in order by due date
- You can see what number you are in the request queue for MHC and Five College items
- Items you have already requested are clearly marked when you are logged in to your account when searching the catalog
Another change you will notice is the addition of data privacy terms when you log in to your account for the first time. For a more detailed explanation of the terms see below.
Privacy Statement
Now that account management features are in Discover, you will see an explanation of data privacy terms the first time you log in. These terms apply to the “My Account” features of Discover and govern what EBSCO – the company that owns Discover – can do with the data you generate while using the “My Account” features, their responsibilities, and your rights. This policy is in alignment with digital data privacy laws around the world, including the California Consumer Privacy Act and the EU’s GDPR. For more information please also see the EBSCO FAQs about the data policy and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). When viewing the data privacy terms, you will have the option to accept or reject the terms:
- If you do not accept the terms and select No, you can continue to search for materials in Discover, view results, and read most full text articles, but will not be able to place requests, renew loans, or view your loan information in Discover. Also, you will be prompted with the data privacy screen the next time you click on the login options.
- If you do accept the terms and select Yes, you will be fully logged in and be able to see the folders in “My Account,” with lists of your loans and requests. You will not see the data privacy terms again unless you choose to revoke your acceptance.
Please note, in order for the library to provide you access to licensed resources and owned materials, we use your campus ID number to verify your identity as a member of the Mount Holyoke community. This is the only information that we share with EBSCO when you log in to Discover.
Physical circulation data from all Five Colleges is not included in this policy statement from EBSCO, as those policies are made locally by the Five Colleges Libraries. That data will continue to be anonymized as it was before implementation of the new system. See the Mount Holyoke library privacy policy for more information about what data we use to provide library services to the community, and our commitment to protecting your privacy.
Borrowing updates
As part of our system migration preparations, the Five Colleges Libraries worked together to review and revise circulation policies across the consortium. Our goal was to further align our policies to provide you with a consistent and positive experience across the consortium. The result? Longer loan periods! More renewals! Reduced late fees!
Loan periods and renewals
A comprehensive listing of loan periods can be found at Borrowing & renewing on the LITS website. Some notable changes are below:
- Faculty now have unlimited renewals for items borrowed from the general collection (an increase from 3 renewals)
- Staff can now borrow general collection items for an initial 1 year loan period, with unlimited renewals (an increase from 90 days, with 3 renewals)
- Graduate students can now borrow general collection items for 6 months, with 3 renewals (an increase from 90 days, with 3 renewals)
- Films from the teaching collection now circulate for 4 weeks, with 5 renewals (an increase from 5 days, with 2 renewals)
- Leisure films now circulate for 7 days, with 2 renewals (an increase from 5 days, with 1 renewal)
Fees & fines
As part of our efforts to continue addressing questions of equity and access, and to remove barriers to essential resources, the Five Colleges Libraries are discontinuing the following overdue fines:
- Course reserves. While LITS does not apply overdue fees and fines for course reserve materials or 4-hour loan equipment, we do monitor late return of these items. Keeping a reserve book or equipment beyond the specified time limit is a violation of academic responsibility as outlined in the Student Handbook.
- Recalled items. Books may be recalled from you when another user has requested them or if they are needed for the course reserves collection at the library. In these cases, your due date will be adjusted. Please note that while we will no longer charge a $2/day late fee for recalled items returned past their due date, replacement fees will be charged after items are 7 days overdue.
A comprehensive listing of fees and fines can be found at Fines & payments on the LITS website.
Email Notices
Our new library system will generate a number of automated notices in response to your loans, just as our previous system did. One nice improvement is that FOLIO is able to send notices in real time, rather than on a set schedule. This will be especially helpful when you are borrowing an item for a short period of time (e.g. a phone or computer charger), as your courtesy due date reminder notices will now dependably come 30 minutes before your item is due.
FOLIO’s automated notices are sent from fse.hosting@ebsco.com. This is a no-reply email address, and is not configured to receive incoming mail. If you have a question about a notice you’ve received, please forward the message and your question to the LITS Circulation Desk at libcirc@mtholyoke.edu, or give us a call at 413-538-2622.