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pergamonmu:quickstart:new_assistant

Creating a Reader Assistant

In order to create a reader assistant in the library, first ensure that a reader record exists for the individual in question. Reader assistants are given managerial powers by creating a parallel managerial user with limited permissions and then linking the two together.

  1. Logging in as the managerial user will automatically also login the reader.

  2. Logging in as the reader user will not login as the manager, but will grant the reader limited managerial powers.

In order to operate as a reader assistant, the reader only needs to login using the normal reader details and does not even need to know that they have a 'manager' component.


Warning Do not confuse 'Reader Assistants' with conventional 'Library Assistants'

Library assistants are staff members and should only be created as normal Managerial users unless they also require a reader record for conventional use of the library as a borrower. 'Reader Assistants' are conventional readers (e.g. trusted pupils) who have been selected to assist in the library but only in certain functions, such as Circulating items to fellow class members.


In order to create a Reader:

  1. Create a new reader or select an existing reader to be a Reader Assistant. We will use our current reader, '00001', Albert Johnson.

  2. Select [Manager] > [Users] from the [Manager] toolbar menu to display the User Manager dialog.

  3. Select [Create] from the toolbar and select the new user that appears in the left-hand list to display the details.

  4. Edit the [Login] field to reflect the new managerial record - we will use 'RA-Albert' to indicate that this is 'Albert Johnson', but you can choose anything that is locally appropriate - then complete the other name fields. As this user account will probably never be used by Albert, it is not really important that the login name is memorable - we do not even need to set the user account's password.

  5. Use the drop-down field to select the [Reader] to which these managerial permissions will be attached.

  6. Select each of the permissions that we want Albert to have, and check the line to ON. In our case, we have turned on the 'Circulations: Access' permission to allow initial access to the Circualtions area, as well as to issue and return items.



  7. When finished, click [Update] to save the changes to the database.

Using the Reader Assistant

In order to demonstrate the Reader Assistant Account working:

  1. If you are currently logged in as a manager, log out until the [Manager] toolbar icon shows a closed lock.

  2. Select the green reader [Login] button from the toolbar.

  3. Enter the Reader Barcode for Albert Johnson - in our case '00001', but use whatever reader barcode you entered locally.

  4. Enter the Reader Password that you created for your user in the Reader Manager - in our case the same as the reader barcode, '00001'.

  5. The reader should now be logged in and displaying the standard Reader menu items [My Borrowing] and [My Reservations], but also the new managerial authorised menu option [Issue & Return].



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pergamonmu/quickstart/new_assistant.txt · Last modified: 2017/08/10 15:25 by admin