WISCAT / Badgerlink Training Opportunities

Scheduled Trainings for WISCAT (AGent)

WISCAT (AGent) training opportunities for library staff are announced on the WISCAT listservs and on this WISCAT Training page. To subscribe to the Union Catalog or Interlibrary Loan listserv, click on Listserv info.

Online Training for WISCAT

Please REGISTER for any of the following BadgerLink web sessions in one of three ways:

1. Select the organization WI DPI then select the date of the event. If you have never used the registration system, click on the Sign-Up link to set up an account.
2. Search from a list of all events.
3. Search for an event by name.
   

What are Web Sessions?

Web conferencing is often used to present voluntary training to staff at libraries subscribed to WISCAT. Web conferencing enables conducting live, interactive meetings, courses, and programs using a web browser and a phone. To participate in a web conference, you simply dial into the phone-conference call, and point your browser to the pre-assigned URL to enter the conference center.

Sometimes the WisLine Web online registration program is activated for use by individuals to sign up to attend a WISCAT training web session. Here is a guide explaining how to use the program.

WISCAT Training Schedule

Maintaining Your Participant Record in Interlibrary Loan Administration (1 hr.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Walk step-by-step through a participant record. This will help you understand how requests are routed and what actions are taken automatically by the software, based on the dates profiled. It also covers updating your Lending Policy so requests for items that you do not lend will not come to your library..

Interpreting Interlibrary Loan Request History Information (30 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Few staff members look at the History Information when a request has been filled and the item arrives for the patron. What happens when a request has not been filled and you need to look at the History? What is it telling you? This session will show you how to read the History and will give you an understanding of the various uses of the information found there.

ILL Admin - Editing the Lender List for Requests in Retry and Unfilled Status (30 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

This program is aimed at libraries that want to use the Retry and Unfilled statuses to make new requests. It explains how to relate the libraries remaining in the Retry Lender List to the History Information to determine if an existing library should be retried. It also explains when you might want to edit a request and/or add additional holdings, before approving the request.

WISCAT - Interlibrary Loan Administration Basics (1 hr.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Learn the basics of interlibrary loan borrowing and lending using AGent software. Discover the ILL Admin Participant Record. Learn to create requests for your patrons and how to respond to requests received from other libraries. Find out when to use Bookstraps and Shipping Labels.

ILL Administration Request Management (Advanced) (1 hr.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

This advanced session delves deeper into the ILL Admin Status Browse. In addition to complete explanations of all statuses, other features covered are use of the Special Instructions field to ensure that the specific format of the item needed is reinforced. Use of the History Notes field is explained, so that borrowing libraries can determine why a request has not been filled, or will know to search for other notes (such as a renewal date) from the lender.

How a Request's Lender List is Formed (45 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Discover how AGent automatically forms the Lender List once a request has been created. Explains how the software interacts with the Participant Record, Lending Policy, and holdings for the title. See how the process is different for books than for audiovisual materials.

WISCAT Overview (for Library Staff) (1 hr.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Curious but don’t want all the how-to details? This session gives library staff a tour of the features and functionality in each of the administrative modules: Staff Menu, Pac Admin, ILL Admin, Cat Admin, User Admin, Statistics, and Splash Page Admin.

WISCAT Orientation (not Interlibrary Loan) (1 hr.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

An introductory orientation for library staff new to using WISCAT. Basics of searching WISCAT; adding/deleting/modifying holdings on a WISCAT record; selecting preferences for staff and public interfaces. (Interlibrary Loan orientation is covered in a separate session)

Creating and Responding to Reference Requests (1 hr.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Reference requests are submitted using the AGent blank request form, by selecting the correct request type. Once submitted, the request is handled differently, depending on the response that is given to the request. This session will demonstrate the various ways a reference request might be referred.

Creating Interlibrary Loan Requests: Returnable (Loan) (30 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Covers the basics of creating requests for Returnable (Loan) items using AGent ILL software.

Managing Interlibrary Loan Requests: Returnable (Loan) (30 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

This program covers the basic status changes needed to manage ILL requests for Returnable (loan) items using AGent software.

WISCAT Search Tips (45 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

This program provides a variety of tips in finding materials in the WISCAT union catalog and/or the many Z39.50 catalogs available for searching within WISCAT (AGent). It will also cover information to assist in developing search strategies.

WISCAT - Setting User Preferences (1 hr.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Find out how to customize the WISCAT interface for library staff and patrons/users. Includes how to edit the bibliographic brief record and full record displays in WISCAT.

User Records in WISCAT (1 hr.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Each library with a current WISCAT license has at least one staff member with User Admin permission. Training covers how to create individual user records for patrons. Creating user records can be of benefit to all WISCAT libraries, not just to those participating in patron-initiated requesting. User records for selected patrons can also save staff time when creating interlibrary loan requests on behalf of those patrons.

PAC Admin - Add Z39.50 Catalogs to WISCAT Search Resources (30 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

This training explains how to select newly configured resources in WISCAT to make these catalogs accessible for searching, interlibrary loan requesting, and shelf status checking by the AGent Interlibrary Loan software.

PAC Admin - Create Scoping Levels and Location Groups (1 hr.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Learn how to assign selected libraries into scoping (sub-groups) levels for searching and how to assign selected libraries to Location Groups to bring them to the top of holdings locations listed on a full record display

Patron-Initiated Interlibrary Loan - Orientation for Library Staff Users (1 hr.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

Patron-Initiated Requesting allows patrons/users to create their own ILL requests in WISCAT. This session will explain how a library's patrons/users create their own ILL requests in the WISCAT union catalog and track them in AGent. Training will show how the library ILL staff manages and mediates those requests in WISCAT.

Badgerlink Training Information

Gates Program

Grant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation U.S. Library Program is being used to provide hands-on BadgerLink training sessions. These sessions are open to public library staff in the public library system and surrounding areas. Registration is necessary to participate as the number of seats in each lab is limited.

2007 Training Schedule and Registration Information

Online Training for Badgerlink

Please REGISTER for any of the following BadgerLink web sessions in one of three ways:

1. Select the organization WI DPI then select the date of the event. If you have never used the registration system, click on the Sign-Up link to set up an account.
2. Search from a list of all events.
3. Search for an event by name.
   

BadgerLink Training Schedule...

WISCAT - New Access to BadgerLink Databases (30 min.)
Thursday, August 28, 2008 09:00-09:30 AM

This session for library staffs will provide tips for searching the new BadgerLink reference databases and how to manage the search resources (library catalogs and BadgerLink databases) to meet their preferred workflow when logged in as Staff to WISCAT.

BadgerLink - New Features (1 hour)
Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:00-11:00 AM

This session explains the authentication process for using the BadgerLink website and how to use the new federated search functionality.

BadgerLink - Ethnic Information (1 hr. 30 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

This session provides information on using EBSCO, ProQuest, LitFinder, and the African American Biographical Database to find information on different cultures and ethnic groups. The trainer will show how to find resources in Spanish and resources to help students with homework assignments. Examples are given that can be used by library staff to train others in BadgerLink use. Advanced features of EBSCO and ProQuest will be covered such as using folders, personal interfaces and accounts, etc.

Badgerlink - Searching Techniques for Selected Databases (1 hr. 30 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

This session will provide an overview of searching techniques in several BadgerLink databases including, locating items in different formats (pamphlets, book reviews, primary historical documents); searching for articles in a specific periodical; finding images; using subject directories, truncation, and wildcard searching. The session will cover databases in specific subject areas such as business, medicine, and humanities using examples specific to these disciplines.

BadgerLink - Resources for Kids (1 hr. 30 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

The EBSCO interfaces for kids are a major part of this session. Featured are the resources for Kids that are part of EBSCO [Kids Search and Searchasaurus (grades K-5), Student Research Center (grades 6-12)], LitFinder, and TeachingBooks.com. Focus of this session is on materials for children including access to images.

BadgerLink - Newspapers (1 hr. 30 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

This session shows how to search newspapers through ProQuest (NewsStand and Ethnic NewsWatch), EBSCO (Regional newspapers, Corporate ResourceNet), and NewspaperARCHIVE. The trainer will review the vendor interface feature and show how to locate obituaries and information by personal names, historical resources, and information on current events. Access to NewspaperARCHIVE will require some knowledge of Adobe Acrobat which the trainer will provide. The trainer will use examples that can be used by library staff to train users in BadgerLink use.

Badgerlink - Humanities (1 hr. 30 min.)
No Sessions Scheduled at this Time

This session uses EBSCO, ProQuest, and LitFinder resources to find information on the arts, literature, and music. The trainer will show users how to locate reviews of books, plays, films, and recordings. Advanced features of EBSCO and ProQuest will be explored to find short stories, speeches, and poetry; in addition, the resources of LitFinder are covered. Resources for hobbies will also be shown.

Training Contacts

If you would like to schedule a training session, please contact:

WISCAT Union Catalog

Vickie Long
(608) 224-5394
(888) 542-5543 Ext. 1 (for WISCAT) then press 2

WISCAT InterLibrary Loan

Terry Wilcox
(608) 224-6163
(888) 542-5543 Ext. 4 (for WISCAT ILL) then press 5

BadgerLink

Lisa Reale
(608) 224-5384
(888) 542-5543 Ext. 2 (for BadgerLink) then press 1

Reference Services

Martha Berninger
(608) 224-6168
(888) 542-5543 ext 5 (for Reference) then press 1