Patron Data Upload

What
This facility (developed by Wheelers) involves ePlatform sending an enquiry to a secure area in the ePlatform where basic patron information (encrypted) has been uploaded.

How it works
Basic patron information (within a text file) is uploaded into a secure FTP site embedded in the ePlatform environment. The minimum information required from a patron includes a Student / Patron ID (or equivalent) and a password. More patron information can be included e.g. Year Level, which allows you to restrict borrowing by age. When a student logs in, the ePlatform sends an enquiry to check the username/password is valid, and if it is, lending is enabled. Many Schools export Student IDs/passwords from their school database for the Patron upload (encrypted).

Note: This has to be done in a very fixed format, all password resets and user management must be made through these files. It takes regular uploads to manage properly.

Benefits
There’s no need for a remote inquiry to the library LMS (so the school doesn’t need an additional SIP2 license). It effectively allows a School or Library to upload and activate all of their members and manage at once (vs. the Self-Registration option).

LDAP and Active Directory

What
If a school already uses LDAP or Active Directory (free secure databases) we simply tap into this database to authenticate students as members of the school.

How it works
We connect to LDAP or Active Directory within your school environment and send an enquiry each time a student logs in to authenticate them (or not) against the school database. Our IP addresses simply need to be cleared for this option to work (also relevant port, LDAP path etc.).

Benefits
Student information is already in place and the school doesn’t need an additional SIP2 license through your LMS. Simple set up.

SIP2

What
SIP2 is an inquiry protocol that facilitates a remote inquiry to a School’s Library Management System (LMS). Note this requires your LMS to be SIP2 enabled, please contact you Library Management Supplier to see if they support SIP2 (Note: SIP2 is not a Wheelers/ePlatform product, SIP2 is obtained from your Library Management Supplier; fees may apply. Contact your Library Management Supplier for installation information and instructions).

How it works
We connect to your LMS via SIP2 so when a student/patron logs into the ePlatform – SIP2 facilitates an enquiry to the LMS to ensure the member is current/valid. The LMS then sends back a response (all within a few seconds), and if ‘YES’ the eBook loan can go ahead. Please note: Your SIP2 connection must contain logins and passwords for this option to work.

Benefits
User details are maintained in the LMS only. Please note you need to ensure patron logins and passwords are stored within your LMS (or fed into it) for SIP2 to work. Future ePlatform updates are likely to make further use of a SIP2 facility to feed information back into your LMS.

Single Sign-On

What
Connection with an established ‘single-sign on’ facility. We currently support SAML and OpenID.

How it works
We work with these platforms to enable automatic authentication once a student has logged into their SSO.

Benefits
Interfacing with a single sign-on platform makes authentication easy to set up, and makes it even easier for students to borrow eBooks (no additional login).

Aurora Web Services

AURORA LMS has its own enquiry protocol that is used instead of SIP2. We can connect directly to AURORA to authenticate members.

Millennium Patron API

Millennium LMS has its own enquiry protocol that is used instead of SIP2. We can connect directly to this Millennium Patron API.

EZPROXY

We can connect and authenticate against your EZproxy server.

Libcode

Libcode and Wheelers provide a patron authentication option for schools that use the Libcode Library Management System. You will need the Libcode API activated on your account to do so, please contact Libcode directly for information on this option.