Integration with Polaris and eContent Vendors

Libraries can implement integration between Polaris and the following eContent vendor applications:

cloudLibrary from Bibliotheca
Axis 360 from Baker & Taylor
OverDrive from Rakuten OverDrive
RBdigital from Recorded Books.

After a library subscribes to one of these eContent applications and configures Polaris to enable the integration, patrons can search for, place holds on, and check out a vendor's eContent directly from the PAC.

For eContent integration where item records are created as part of the import process, the associated circulation processing and tracking for integrated eContent occurs in Polaris. For RBdigital integration where no item records are created in Polaris, checkouts from the PAC are logged, but not checkouts from the RBdigital application. Although Polaris logs statistics, the eContent vendor is the source of the most accurate and timely circulation data.

The eContent products cloudLibrary and Axis 360 use Polaris API (PAPI) authentication, defined in Patron initiated circulation rules. For these vendors, Polaris requires an SSL certificate for PAPI server security. OverDrive and RBdigital use SIP authentication, defined in Polaris SIP authentication rules. Since authentication takes place via SIP and not PAPI, SSL is not required.

Note: Your library can choose to configure Axis 360 to use SIP authentication instead of PAPI.

When an integrated eContent vendor’s bibliographic records are imported in Polaris, a resource entity is automatically created for each 856 tag. A resource entity is a group of fields that collectively identifies the eContent vendor, the library’s account with the vendor, and the specific electronic resource in the vendor’s repository.

The following components are required for implementing eContent integration with Polaris:

Subscription to the eContent service - The library contracts with the eContent vendor for a subscription to the eContent service.
Polaris Integrated eContent license - The library obtains a single integrated eContent license that covers Polaris PowerPAC, Polaris Mobile PAC, and Polaris PowerPAC Children’s Edition.
Polaris API (PAPI) license - (Only required for cloudLibrary) Only one Polaris API license is required for each Polaris installation, regardless of the number of vendor contracts. If the library already has a license for the Polaris API, no additional API fee is required.
Automatic import item template - The library sets up the item template that is used to create item records if the vendor integration creates item records. The template is selected in the Vendor Account record if the import process creates item records. The name must begin with Ebook automatic import (case does not matter, and e-book is also accepted). This template is used for any eContent items, including audio ebooks.

Tip:
The integrated vendor record is visible in Polaris Administration only if the library has a license for that vendor.

Vendor Account - The library staff, with the assistance of their Polaris site manager, sets up the integrated vendor account record under the vendor record in Polaris Administration. The vendor account is used to create resource entities for the eContent bibliographic records and eContent item records in Polaris (if item records are created). If the library is using resource groups, the vendor account is also linked to the resource group.
Integrated EContent Import Profiles - Polaris provides a read-only Integrated ebook Bibs import profile that can be renamed and modified. For RBdigital, the import profile is named Integrated eContent bibs (without items). Your library may want to set up multiple import profiles for different tasks. Your Polaris Site Manager can assist you with creating import profiles.

Important:
For OverDrive and cloudLibrary, newly-purchased eContent records are imported automatically using the import profile selected in the Vendor Account workform. Newly-purchased RBdigital titles are automatically imported as part of the overnight sync processes. Your library can copy and rename the Integrated ebook Bibs profile, but the renamed profile must be selected in the Vendor Account workform.

Your library may also implement the following optional Polaris records and settings:

Polaris Digital Branch - If multiple libraries in your system use the same vendor account (contract), Polaris recommends that you set up a digital branch to represent the account. You can set up multiple digital branches, one per multi-library vendor contract, if necessary. Or, you can set up a single digital branch and associate multiple eContent vendors’ materials with this branch. During import processing, the item records are created with the digital branch as the assigned branch. In the PAC, materials associated with the digital branch are available according to the branch’s resource group membership. If only one library is involved in the contract, a digital branch is not needed. All the eContent item records are assigned to that library.
Resource Groups - The library can set up resource groups for library organizations that allow their patrons to access the eContent.
Patron Services Administration - The library can set Patron Services parameters and profiles to manage patron initiated circulation of eContent from the PAC (PowerPAC and Mobile PAC):

Patron initiated circulation: Transaction branch profile - You can change the transaction branch setting from Patron’s branch (the default) to Item’s branch in the Patron Services profile to track eContent circulation transactions from the PAC separately from check outs and holds for physical items. See Set the loaning branch for eContent circulations.

Check-out: Require format selection when checking out integrated eContent parameter - When this parameter is set to Yes for the library organization the patron is connected to in the PAC, the patron must select the format when checking out eContent titles. See Require format for integrated eContent check outs in PAC.

PAC Administration - The library can set the Item availability: Suppress for integrated econtent titles PAC profile to suppress detailed item availability information for integrated eContent. See Suppress EContent Availability Display in PAC.
OverDrive Advantage Vendor Information - If your library has OverDrive Advantage, you can control access to the Advantage eContent using a setting in the vendor record. See Create an OverDrive integrated vendor account.
Preferred Vendor Accounts Policy Table - This policy table is used for libraries using the cloudLibrary eContent service that also use Bibliotheca's cloudLink groups to share resources.

Note:
By default, integrated eContent titles are not included in patron notices. Polaris administrators can change this setting on the Reminder tab of the Notification options dialog box. See Setting Up E-mail Reminder Notices.