Aspen Discovery

Announcements

🟢Systems are up. Outstanding Aspen issues can be found on the Evergreen Issue Tracker.

(11-17-25) Our new mobile app is available for download! App Store and Google Play Store

(11-17-25) Aspen Discovery was successfully upgraded to 25.10.

Mobile App Marketing (Dec 1)

View the Marketing Page on the Aspen Discovery Help Center

Scroll down to Aspen LiDA Mobile App section. The Help Center has community-created Canva templates, images, PDFs, and more to promote Aspen LiDA to your patrons.

Note: The logos for Aspen LiDA are for the community version and not the SELCO-branded version that we are using. You can use our logo below if needed for your template!

View and Download the SELCO Mobile App Logo (512px by 512px PNG)

Mobile App Update (Nov 17)

The Discovery Task Force decided we will move to the Aspen LiDA app provided by Equinox due to cost savings and functionality. The app is now available for Apple and Android devices.

The new mobile app shows the following positives:

Linked Accounts for card management. This will offer the adding-a-card functionality we already have with the Communico app. The survey is now closed.
- What do Linked Accounts Do?
For Aspen Local Admins, the app can be customized from the same Aspen Discovery login used for the catalog.
Fee payment is basically the same as paying through Aspen.
Item searching can be limited to location and can display call numbers.
Grouped records function similarly as Aspen Discovery to combine the formats of titles; the interface makes clear which format is currently being viewed.
An ISBN barcode scanner is integrated.

We acknowledge the current shortcomings:

We cannot yet activate mobile self-check via the app due to various issues found in testing. This feature may be added later. The survey is now closed.
If location is not used as a filter, items may display as On Shelf if they are available at any library, not just a user’s home library.
Library-specific themes may not be available until after the Aspen Discovery update on November 17.

Here’s how we’ll help with this transition:

There will be a period of overlap where we will have both apps available on the app store. We will put an announcement banner on our current mobile app on December 1 to encourage patrons to switch to the new mobile app.
We have a video demonstration of searching and account management, with the opportunity to ask follow up questions of the Task Force.

Basic Service

Discovery Task Force Guiding Document (Google Doc)

By default, SELCO staff will manage your Aspen Discovery page and make basic changes (like changing library hours or fixing broken links) through the Help Desk. Priority is given for requests that affect functionality of Aspen. Less priority will be given for customization.

All Aspen Discovery sites will be upgraded periodically to take advantage of new features and fixes. We plan to upgrade Aspen once per quarter, starting November 2025. Frequency may increase or decrease depending on the severity of issues fixed.

Aspen Local Administrator Guide

Updated November 17, 2025

How to Request a Staff Login

Some member libraries have staff capacity to manage all parts of their Aspen Discovery page. Read this page and ensure you're confident in taking this role. SELCO will not manage day-to-day adjustments your library's page once one or more staff members of your library have an Aspen Local Admin account.

If you want editing capabilities for your library's page, email the Help Desk requesting an Aspen Local Admin account.

Current Capabilities

Change your library’s theme and related options: colors, logo, headers, fonts, footers, and menu links
Create announcements
Edit library hours and locations
Add pages in Web Builder
Implement the Materials Requests module

Create Browse Categories
Create Collection Spotlights
Patron Linked Accounts management (enabled for most libraries on 11/17/25 with the announcement of the mobile app)
View Dashboards for various statistics

Caution

It is possible for local admins to delete their library system or location from Aspen. Don’t touch the delete button. SELCO staff cannot recover your library system. You will be without an Aspen Discovery site until the Equinox support team can resolve the issue.
When creating new themes/browse categories, assign them to your library before saving. If you forget to select your library system, the browse category/theme will be added, but invisible to you.
Even though Aspen Discovery safeguards against some accessibility errors (ex. theme colors), local admins must be good stewards of content by writing in plain language, using alternative text, and creating accessible images.
- Refer to the accessibility segment in training (timestamp: 03:13-15:00)
Let the Help Desk know when you see something weird with your staff account.
- Examples of weirdness include, but are not limited to: editing another library’s themes, editing system information, or being unable to perform an action you could perform previously. This could mean your permissions were changed, an update broke something, or your account was set up incorrectly.

Needs Further Discussion

The Discovery Task Force disabled the following options at a regional level because they require further discussion and consensus. There were concerns of patron privacy, the necessity of content moderation, or in the case of content enrichment, the lapsing of a contract that was tied to SirsiDynix.

Ratings (Ratings, Reviews, & Sharing)
Goodread Reviews (Third Party Enrichment -- Goodreads)
Patron Reviews (Ratings, Reviews, & Sharing)
Masquerade Mode (Masquerade Mode)
Regionwide Content Enrichment (requires contract with third-party vendor)

Training and Resources

Aspen Discovery Help Center/Documentation
Equinox Training Materials Portal

Current Aspen Local Admin Libraries

The following libraries have one or more accounts with Aspen Local Admin permissions.

Albert Lea Public Library
Austin Public Library
Hokah Public Library
Northfield Public Library
Winona Public Library
Zumbrota Public Library

Minty Cat

Minty Cat Catalog Computers Help

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