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Next-Generation Notifications overview

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Use Next-Generation Notifications to send customizable library communications that reflect your library's identity and service model.

Next-generation notifications help you communicate with patrons effectively and efficiently while being customizable to your library's unique branding. They allow you to include logos, web links, and custom messages in your notifications to customers. Additionally, you can control which data elements to include in a template and determine the notifications' frequency and timing. 

Legacy notifications will not be turned off until mid-2027. However, activating the Next-Generation Notifications will remove some of the legacy notifications. 

Create Next-Generation Notifications overview

To create Next-Generation Notifications, follow the steps below.

1. Complete the General Settings

Refer to General Settings for more information.

  1. Navigate to the WMS Circulation module of the  OCLC Service Configuration and select Next Generation Notifications.
  2. Open the General Settings section.
  3. Complete the following sections:
Setting Description
Enable notification types

Once your notifications have been created and added to the appropriate policy, enable the notification for use. This will disable the legacy notification.

 Caution: Do not toggle the Enable notifications section to On for the notifications until you have completed all the required fields in the templates.
Manage logo images

Add logo images that can then be selected in your Next-Generation Notification templates.

Once added, institutions will be able to view previously configured logos in alphabetical order by Name. The previously configured logos will include a last modified date as well as the Name, URL, and Alternative text.
Manage web links

Customize and configure web links to be used in your Next-Generation Notification templates.

To add a My Account or custom web link to a template, enter ${ and type the Name of the desired web link into a text block. Select the web link based on the name configured. Refer to Create a template for more information. 
Manage reply to addresses

Add a Reply-To address to be used in your Next-Generation Notifications.

  • This setting is required.
Manage field labels

Customize the field labels to be used in your Next-Generation Notification templates.

Each label includes the Default label and a Custom label. If your institution is a part of a group, each language available in your group will have a column for a custom label.

 Notes: 

  • Customized field labels are not required. Institutions can revert to the default values.
  • Each customized label must be unique.
  • There is a limit of 50 characters for the Custom labels. 
Manage custom messages

Add custom messages to your Next-Generation Notification templates.

  • Patron type messages
    • When institutions add the Patron type message to a notification template, the system will dynamically identify and insert the applicable custom message(s) based on the patron's type.
    • To add a Patron type message to a notification template, enter ${Patron Type Message into a text block. Once the template is assigned to the Notification section of the Patron Type Policy, the template will include the patron type message when the notification is sent to that patron type. If there are multiple Patron type messages assigned to a particular patron type, each message will be included in the notification.
  • Pickup Location messages
    • Pickup location messages enable you to add repeatable blocks to hold notifications based on item pickup location. The pickup location message will be included in a hold notification if you have configured the pickup location message template and included the Hold Pickup Location field label in the template. Refer to Add blocks of repeatable data to the Template for more information.
Manage error handling options Set up a staff email address to receive copies of notifications that failed to send to patrons due to missing or incorrect email addresses.

 

2. Create the Next-Generation Notification templates

Refer to Create a template for more information. 

Navigate to the WMS Circulation module of the  OCLC Service Configuration and select Next Generation Notifications.

  1. Select which template to add via type, Loan, Patron, or Point of sale (POS) printing.
  2. Required sections of loan templates include:
    • Name 
      • Name templates clearly. Templates are listed together alphabetically on the indicated policy screen. A clear naming convention makes it easier to retrieve the appropriate notification when entering it on the desired policy screen. 
    • Subject
    • Loan Details
      • Optional. Add data fields.
    • Optional sections include: Logo, Header, Footer, embedded custom messages, and web links.
      • To add a My Account or custom web link to a template, enter ${ and type the Name of the desired web link into a text block. Select the web link based on the name configured. Refer to Create a template for more information.
      • To add a custom message into a text block, enter ${ and type the Name of the custom message into a text block. 
  3. Complete the General Information section of the template and click Save.
  4. Each additional section of the template requires you to click Edit and then Save after entering information prior to moving on to the next section.
  5. Fill out the required elements of the template, otherwise, the notification will not send. 
  6. Once the templates are created, you can preview each template via the preview icon under the Actions column. From the preview screen, you can choose to email the notification to yourself.
    Screenshot of the Loans template screen in WorldShare Circulation
  7. Use the Actions column to edit or delete templates. 

Find previously created templates

Use the filter options to retrieve the desired templates more quickly.

Screenshot of the Next Generation Notifications Loans template screen in WorldShare Circulation

Available Next-Generation Notification templates

Next-Generation Notification template Type of template Policy to add the template Legacy template to be replaced
Account Overview Patron Patron Type Policy  
Automatic Renewal Failure Notification Loan Loan Policy Recall Notification
Checkout Due Date Confirmation Loan Patron Type Policy Automatic Due Date Receipt Notification    
Due Date Change Confirmation Loan Patron Type Policy Automatic Due Date Receipt Notification    
Loan Claim Confirmation Loan Patron Type Policy  
Loan Due Date Reminder Loan Loan Policy Loan Overdue Reminder
Loan Long Overdue Notice Loan Long Overdue and Lost Policy Loan Overdue Reminder
Loan Overdue Notice Loan Loan Policy Loan Overdue Reminder
Loan Returned Confirmation Loan Patron Type Policy Automatic Checkin Receipt Notification    
Recall Due Date Reminder Loan Loan Policy Recall Notification
Recall Notice Loan Loan Policy Recall Notification
Recall Overdue Notice Loan Loan Policy Recall Notification
Restricted Loan Due Date Reminder Loan Loan Policy  
Restricted Loan Overdue Notice Loan Loan Policy  
Checkout due date confirmation (POS) Point of Sale (POS) printing   Automatic Due Date Receipt Notification    
Due date change confirmation (POS) Point of Sale (POS) printing   Automatic Due Date Receipt Notification    
Loan returned confirmation (POS) Point of Sale (POS) printing   Automatic Checkin Receipt Notification    
Fulfilled Hold Completion Confirmation Hold Hold Fulfillment Policy Hold Pickup Notification
Fulfilled Hold Deletion Confirmation Hold Hold Fulfillment Policy Hold Shelf Expiry Notification
Fulfilled Hold Expiration Confirmation Hold Hold Fulfillment Policy Hold Shelf Expiry Notification
Fulfilled Hold Notice Hold Hold Fulfillment Policy Hold Pickup Notification
Fulfilled Hold Reminder Hold Hold Fulfillment Policy Hold Pickup Notification
Hold Request Confirmation Hold Hold Request Policy Hold Pickup Notification
Hold Request Deletion Confirmation Hold  Hold Request Policy Hold Request Expiry Notification
Hold Request Expiration Confirmation Hold  Hold Request Policy Hold Request Expiry Notification

3. Configure Notifications on the appropriate policy pages

Each Next-Generation Notification template can be assigned to a different policy. To enable the Notification, select Yes next to Configure notification to view the additional settings. 

For information on creating or editing these policies, please see:

Policy Example
Patron Type Policy, Notifications Screenshot of the Patron Type Policies > Edit Policy screen in OCLC Service Configuration
Loan Policy, Notifications Screenshot of the Loan Policy > Notifications screen in OCLC Service Configuration
Long Overdue and Lost Policy, Notifications Screenshot of the Long Overdue and Lost Policy > Notifications screen in OCLC Service Configuration

4. Enable the notifications 

When ready to use the Next-Generation Notification templates that you set up and allow these notifications to be sent, you must enable them within the Enable notification types section. 

  • Next-Generation Notifications are sent out every 10 minutes. 

 Caution: Do not toggle the Enable notifications section to On for the below notifications until you have completed all the required fields in the templates.

  • Incomplete templates will prevent new notifications from being sent. 
  • Once the Next-Generation Notifications are enabled, legacy notifications will no longer be sent. 

For more information, refer to Enable notification types.