Donovan Lambright, Automation Librarian

With today's announcement that the SELCO Horizon ILS is to upgraded in December, a lot of you in the Online Libraries are sure to have questions.  We are still pulling together release notes and other documentation for the SELCO website but I can tell you a few things now:

Q.  Is the entire ILS really going to be down for the whole day on December 08?
A.  Yes, with a few caveats.  The upgrade will include all four major subsystems of the ILS:  Horizon server & databases, Horizon client (the software you use on PCs), iPac, and WebReporter which means that every subsystem will be down at some point in the day.  Hypothetically, it is possible that some subsystems might become useable before the rest are ready.  For example, if everything is working except WebReporter, the other subsystems will be useable.  If some subsystems come up then we'll let you know. For example, if the staff client and Horizon server are ready for use while iPac is still down, we will contact you. Such updates will be sent out via email to Directors and Automation Contacts (DIRPUB, DIRSCH, CONPUB, and CONSCH).  As to the timeframe, SirsiDynix will begin first thing in the morning, at 8:00 AM Central.  Right now, we have a best estimate of four to eight hours but it's not an exact science.  Keep an eye on your email for the most recent and accurate information.  An alternative option to save you the hassle is to simply tell your staff and patrons to expect things to be down all day.  Each Online Library will have to make its own judgment on that.  If you're not sure what to do, give us a call and we'll talk it over with you.

Q.  Will I have to upgrade my Horizon client software?
A.  Only if you are not moved onto Citrix MetaFrame.  For Citrix sites, your client software runs on our server farm and we'll upgrade it (the one upgrade we're still allowed to do).  You can just sit back and relax.  If you are not up on Citrix, we'll send you an upgrade CD about a week before December 08.  You'll need to run it on all of your Horizon PCs.  This is the same procedure we've used on past upgrades.

Q.  What will happen to Pharos when the Horizon patron database is not available?
A.  When the Horizon server and databases go down, Pharos will be unable to authenticate your patrons.  Your public internet PCs will still be usable.  Pharos will continue to run and will ask patrons to enter their barcodes but will do nothing with the data.  The good news is that things will appear to be working normally.  The bad news is that Pharos will not catch repeat patrons, those with delinquencies, or others who should not be able to log in.  Once the Horizon server and databases are back up, Pharos should resume working normally, even if the rest of the upgrade is not yet completed.  We'll send email updates to Pharos sites using the PHAROS_SITES distribution list as the situation changes throughout the day.

Q.  What is the best new feature that comes with the upgrade?
A.  Most of the modifications made by this upgrade are bug fixes and small, behind-the-scenes changes.  There is, however, one very cool new feature: Preoverdue Notices.  Preoverdue Notices are just what the name implies: notices that go out to your patrons BEFORE their items are due.  A few things you should know:

• Preoverdue Notices are email only.  Patrons receiving paper notices will not get them. 
• Preoverude Notices are optional by Online Library.  If you don't want to use them, you don't have to.
• Preoverdue Notices go out a few days before the due date.  The exact timing is determined by each library.  The timing can be different for different BTYPEs.
•  Preoverdue Notices can be enabled at the time of the upgrade or at a later date.  They can also be disabled if the library changes its mind.

Further information on Preoverdue Notices and other changes to Horizon will be emailed out and posted to the SELCO website shortly.

As we learn more about the December 08 upgrade, we will post it here and send email to Directors and Automation Contacts.  Please feel free to contact the SELCO Help Desk if you have a question that has not been addressed.