Borrow Direct login
The following information may be of interest to public services staff who get questions from patrons about logging in to Borrow Direct. Please feel free to send email to borrowdirect@yale.edu.
There are several possible problems with Yale IDs that might block a library patron from logging in to Borrow Direct (BD). The first step is to check the ORBIS circulation system to confirm that the ID is current and active. If the ID is valid, the patron can be referred to Circulation, where staff might be able to spot something else in the patron's record which is causing the problem. Optionally, the patron can send an email message explaining the problem to borrowdirect@yale.edu. I will respond with the answer to the problem or the bad news that the patron is one of those few whose IDs just don't work with BD. Here are a couple of scenarios which we know can affect BD access.
1) Patron has had more than one ID. When a replacement ID is issued, a check digit is added at the end of the SSN. The patron must type that additional number in order to be able to log in to BD.
2) Patron has had only one ID, but has progressed through various group categories while at Yale. For example, John Smith first received an ID as an undergraduate, continued his studies as a graduate student, and is now a faculty member, but his ID (i.e., his SSN) has not changed and does not have a check digit at the end. ORBIS circ adds each new group at the bottom of the list and makes the ID in that line ACTIVE, with the earlier ID entries changed to inactive. Since the ID itself has not changed, BD matches on the first line, see status INACTIVE, and will not authenticate the patron. Unfortunately, we have not been able to find a way to circumvent this problem. It's relatively rare, but these folks are not able to use BD and should be referred to traditional ILL.
3) IDs which begin with VIS are not authenticated by BD. For the most part, those who hold VIS IDs are not regular Yale faculty, students, or staff who are not eligible for regular ILL either. VIS IDs are a problem only if an otherwise eligible patron does not want his/her SSN used as the ID. The BD software does not detect such distinctions and there is no way to override since the authentication takes place automatically, in the background.
4) Patron's ID is blocked. Again, although ORBIS often allows authorized staff to override blocks, there is no way to override in BD. If the patron consults with Circulation staff to have the block removed, patron's ID should work in BD
The succinct answer is--refer the patron to Circulation staff, preferably a supervisor, or have them contact me.
Though there are supervisors in some School and Department libraries who can address some of the kinds of ID and Orbis patron record problems described below, some of the scenarios Carol describes will need to be resolved in the Privileges Office in SML. Please don't hesitate to refer readers to us Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. At other times, it is probably best to suggest that the reader write to borrowdirect@yale.edu. It might be helpful for everyone to keep in mind that, with the exception of the white cardboard "proxy" patron cards (PRX numbers) issued to people who work as assistants to Yale faculty and other members of the Yale community, only readers with plastic picture Yale IDs are eligible to use Borrow Direct.
June 26, 2008
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