Reading Cloud – New Academic Year Setup Guide
A step-by-step process for preparing your Reading Cloud Library System for the new academic year.
Below you will run through the typically steps a school needs to follow at the beginning of September/a new academic year. Please do note that not all schools will need every step. Please use the sections relevant to your setup and if you have already completed a task (e.g. student import via Wonde), you can skip directly to the next step.
Table of Contents
- Getting Students from Your School System
- Adding Students to the Library
- Checking & Fixing Student Information
- Setting Up Student Logins
- Student Cards, Labels & Other Access Methods
- Managing What Students Can Access
- Everyday Student Management
- Need Some Extra Help?
Getting Students from Your School System
What help is in this section?
Here you will find help on how to export student data from your school’s MIS for use in Reading Cloud. This section will help with exporting CSV files from common MIS platforms and also covers generic export methods for other systems.
This section does not cover: Importing CSVs into Reading Cloud; Removing or archiving old borrowers.
When do I need to do this?
At the start of the academic year, before importing a CSV, moving tutor groups, or removing leavers.
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Getting Students from Your School System
Adding Students to the Library
What help is in this section?
Here you will find help with adding new student records to Reading Cloud. This section will help with manual CSV imports, moving tutor groups, adding individual borrowers, and automated imports via Wonde.
This section does not cover: Exporting from MIS or fixing mismatched records.
When do I need to do this?
After exporting your new student list from your MIS and before setting up their logins.
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Adding Students to the Library
Checking & Fixing Student Information
What help is in this section?
Here you will find help with ensuring your imported students match to existing borrower records. It covers the process of verifying borrower matches and/or resolving mismatched records.
This section does not cover: Initial import of students.
When do I need to do this?
After importing students, especially if your MIS data has changed.
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Checking & Fixing student Information
Setting Up Student Logins
What help is in this section?
Here you will find help on enabling your students to be able to log into Reading Cloud. This will cover the standard login setup, SSO setup and linking with identity providers.
This section does not cover: Importing students.
When do I need to do this?
After your students have been imported into the library system and records have been verified.
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Student Cards, Labels & Other Access Methods
What help is in this section?
Here you will find the help that you need to set up access to the library system for your students. It covers different methods like library cards, barcodes, and labels. This will cover items like printing library cards, printing labels and barcodes and more advanced access methods like RFID (e.g., electronic cards) and biometrics (e.g., fingerprint recognition).
This section does not cover: Login setup which is for processes like usernames & passwords and SSO (Single Sign On).
When do I need to do this?
After all your students have been added and verified.
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Student Cards, Labels & Other Access Methods
Managing What Students Can Access
What help is in this section?
This section provides guidance on how to set permissions and restrictions in Reading Cloud. These will determine things like book limits, loan periods, renewals, and reservation limits. This will cover group-based permissions, restrictions settings, and advanced borrower/resource permissions.
This section does not cover: Granting access to management or circulate.
When do I need to do this?
After all your students have been added and verified, and logins are active.
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Managing What Students Can Access
Everyday Student Management
What help is in this section?
This section has guidance for everyday borrower management tasks. This will cover tasks like finding borrowers and editing borrower details.
This section does not cover: Managing reservations, reviews or reminders.
When do I need to do this?
This section can be completed as and when as this includes tasks that you will carry out throughout the year.
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Need Some Extra Help?
If you are struggling with an issue please let the friendly Reading Cloud Service Team help. If you are using the chatbot and your issue is urgent, just say “Please transfer me for help”. Alternatively if you prefer you can email them with support@reading-cloud.com or give them a call on +44 (0) 330 822 5359.