The Mystic application, as with all applications in the Pergamon family uses two different types of authorised accounts, which can sometimes confuse Mystic clients:

• Users
• Readers

In Mystic, a User is a member of staff, volunteer, manager etc. whose principle role in this area is as a 'staff' level member of the library and who is able to assist readers in their use of the library environment.

As such, Mystic Users (sometimes called Staff Users in documentation to assist in the distinction) are responsible (if authorised to do so) for creating reader accounts, setting authentications, cataloguing, circulating loans etc.

Staff User Accounts have access to the staff menu, which is located in the toolbar as the far-right most toolbar icon.

In Mystic, a Reader is a traditional user of library services (in its verb form, not noun). Readers are able to both borrow and return items from the library, as well as utilise a range of services provided by Mystic such as OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) searches and any research facilities which the library has permitted access to via the Mystic interface.

Most readers do not typically have Staff User permissions (see below), and can only access services provided by the left-hand side-bar.

Readers are also permitted some level of automated or non-authenticated access to Mystic services via the MysticAIR system (if enabled), which is discussed further in the MysticAIR concept article.