What’s new in Destiny Library Manager

The redesigned Advanced search now lets patrons combine keywords with options such as format, language, location, and reading level to find resources that best meet their needs.

The new Filters panel on the search results page complements Advanced search with additional categories to further refine results.

Learn more about searching for and filtering library resources.

Library AI Assistant now supports district-level analysis and recommendations, enabling district users to ask questions across one or more sites.

Get district-wide insights into:

• Circulation analytics and statistics
• Inventory and cataloging
• District policies and how-to guidance

District users can access the assistant from District View, a site, or both.

Required permissions:

• To access Library AI Assistant from District View, district users need one or both of the following permission pairs:

  • Manage Library Materials for the District and the new Follett Software AI Access permission, Library functionality.
  • Manage Resources for the District and the new Follett Software AI Access permission, Resource functionality.

Note: If you enabled Library AI Assistant before this release, existing district users with the Manage Library Materials for the District or Manage Resources for the District permission were automatically given access to Library AI Assistant in District View.

• Site access requires the Allow site access permission. District users can access the assistant at a site when their assigned access level includes the appropriate permission.

District users can ask questions about any site or multiple sites wherever they can access the assistant.

Learn more about Setting up Library AI Assistant.

The updated patron management experience streamlines patron-related tasks by bringing key functions together in the sidebar.

From Patrons, you can:

• Search for patrons on the new Search Patrons page (formerly Manage Patrons). Search results include a patron's photo, homeroom, site barcode, site(s), and district ID.
  
• Update patron records on the Update Patrons page.
• Import patron data on the Import Patrons page.
• Export patron data on the Export Patrons page.

From the Patron Status page, you can now use a toggle to turn on a re-designed experience. The Patron Status page becomes the new Patron Details page.

You'll see much of the same information as in the previous version – now organized in a layout that makes it easier to find what you need. Plus, get direct access to circulation functions.

Learn more about searching for patrons and viewing the Patron Details page. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

Report Builder 2.0 is now available for Resource Manager and offers new patron and general statistics.

Resource Manager

Generate custom reports for Resource Manager. To get exactly what you need, select resource-specific options and resource types directly within the new Report Builder experience.

Patron

Also new to Report Builder 2.0, you can create a Transaction Summary report to see current counts of patron checkouts and fines.

General

Another addition to Report Builder 2.0 is the General Statistics report, which lets you view overall collection statistics, including checkout, overdue, and fine data.

Learn more about Report Builder 2.0. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

Save time managing holds, reserves, and interlibrary loans (ILL) with the new experience.

Redesigned View Requests page

A refreshed View Requests page makes it easier to see which hold and ILL requests need attention, and then take action. Clearer statuses and next steps are organized across the following tabs:

• Needs your approval: Requests placed by patrons at your site that need to be reviewed.
  
• Local holds: Requests placed by patrons at your site for items at your site.
  
• Local ILLs: Requests placed by patrons at your site for items at other sites.
  
  
• Offsite ILLs: Requests placed by patrons of other sites for items in your library.
  

Enhancements include:

• Visual indicators to help you quickly identify requests that need attention.
• A red dot on tabs that contain requests needing attention.
• A green status label next to individual requests.
• Requests grouped by status and then sorted by date (so requests needing attention appear at the top).
• Links to check out materials, and print or email notices.
• An improved ILL check-in workflow. After a borrower returns an ILL item, the request status shows as Checked In until the borrowing site clicks Mark Shipped. The status then changes to Shipped.

Improvements when placing requests for patrons

The following enhancements make it easier to help patrons place requests for materials:

• More information is available on the New Hold Request page. When searching for a title to place a hold for a student, the results now show the series and volume.
  
• Librarians can now place an ILL request on behalf of a patron, even if the title is available at their site. This lets staff request multiple copies across sites more efficiently.

Learn more about managing holds, reserves, and ILL requests. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

Use the new District Current Holds and ILLs report to gain insight into holds and interlibrary loans across your district. The report includes both current and expired holds for current patrons. You can specify a date range for when holds and ILLs were placed, and choose whether to include unapproved requests, local holds, and/or ILLs.

Learn more about the District Current Holds and ILLs report. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

You can now update copy statuses in batches by scanning barcodes, uploading a barcode file, or using a Resource List.

To access this feature, go to Catalog > Update Copies > Batch Update tab. The Update the following Library information drop-downs now include a Change Copy Status to option.

Learn more about performing batch updates (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.).

The Copy Status page now includes series and volume information, making it faster to find the details you need.

Learn more about viewing a copy's status. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

You can now edit or delete any collection created within the district. This permission is available only to users assigned the Administrator, Faculty, Instructor, or Staff role.

To access this feature, go to Discover Admin > Collections Policies. In the Can edit or delete... Any collection column, select the checkboxes for the roles you want to give this permission to.

Learn more about Collections roles.

You can now see a copy's sublocation during check-in, making it easier to sort and reshelve books quickly.

Learn more about checking in library copies and managing sublocations. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

The new Title Subscription Report lets you quickly generate a list of all your Follett Digital titles with subscription details, such as sales model, start and end dates, and remaining access. Use this report to easily monitor the status of your digital titles. You can access the report in Discover Admin.

Learn more about running Follett Digital reports.

Destiny AI: Data Assistant is now Library AI Assistant. It brings a more unified, embedded experience, designed specifically for K-12 library and resource operations, inside Destiny Library Manager and Destiny Resource Manager.

Enhancements include:

• AI where the work happens
  Access insights, analysis, and recommendations from any page in Destiny Back Office.
  .
  

• More insightful answers
  Ask anything – from ideas for book displays or reading challenges to detailed insights into the health of your collection. Use pre-built prompts for common tasks, or ask your own questions. Library AI Assistant uses Destiny Help Center content to give step-by-step guidance on how to perform tasks in Destiny.
  
  
• District policy-aligned guidance
  Upload district policies and documents so your assistant's responses reflect your district's guidelines.
  
• Access level-based control
  Enable Library AI Assistant for the schools and access levels you specify.
  

Learn more about how to set up and use Library AI Assistant by visiting the Follett Software AI Help Center.

Report Builder 2.0 is a new custom report-building experience for library and patron reports. From one page, choose your data and its organization, and preview it before you run the report.

Besides the time-saving workflow, Report Builder 2.0 offers new data points, including:

• Site short name
• Genre (references MARC record field 655)
• Interest level (references MARC record field 521)
• Series volume number (references MARC record field 490_v)
• Language (references MARC record field 008)
• Circulation statistics

Access Report Builder 2.0 from the Custom Reports sidebar menu option (Reports > Custom Reports).

Learn more about Report Builder 2.0.

You can now print or email a checkout summary from the Check Out or Patron Status pages.

The report contains all checked-out and overdue items (from all Destiny products), including off-site materials.

Learn more about patron status and checking out copies to patrons (Library Manager and Resource Manager). (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

When you generate Current Checkouts/Fine notices, you can now decide what value to use for a patron's name. Choose from the following:

• Patron's full name (default)
• First name and last initial
• First name only
• Initials (first and last)
• District ID
• No name (Salutation followed by 'Patron')

Learn more about the Current Checkouts/Fines report. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

In Advanced Search, a new Language filter lets you narrow your search to content in a specific language. Over 30 languages are available.

Learn more about searching for library resources.

Destiny v23.5 brings a re-designed Title Details page to Destiny Back Office. The new Title Details design is responsive to screen size, providing a seamless experience on any device.

Turn on the new interface to:

• See all copies across your district right away.
• Quickly access titles in Destiny Discover.
• Add and remove titles from multiple Resource Lists.
• Access a device-friendly view of a title's details.

Use the toggle to turn on the new look. During this introductory period, you can toggle back to the previous version of Title Details at any time.

Learn more about the Title Details page. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

More reports now give the option to output data as an Excel file (CSV format), including:

Learn more about reports. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

More reports now offer the Sublocation field as a limiter and/or data you can include in the output. Reports include:

• Completed Inventory
• In-Progress Inventory
• Spine/Pocket Labels
• Barcode Labels
• Title & Copy List
• Weeding Log
• Collection Statistics - Historical

Learn more about reports. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

There's now an option to run monthly overdue notices. When you schedule the Current Checkouts/Fines report to run monthly, choose the day of the month it runs – a specific date, such as the 15th; or the first or last.

Learn more about the Current Checkouts/Fines report. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

Checking out materials to students in a homeroom is more intuitive and efficient than ever. Enhancements include the following:

• From the Check Out By Homeroom page (Circulation > Check Out > By Homeroom) and when checking out to a patron accessed via their homeroom, the button you click once you select a homeroom was renamed "Go to Homeroom" (previously Select Patron). This more appropriately describes the button's action.
  
• Once you select a homeroom, on the Select Patron page, there is a new link to return you to the Check Out By Homeroom page – where you can choose another homeroom, or switch to the Check Out To Patron page.
  
• A new option lets you move more quickly between patrons when checking out materials to students in the same homeroom. If enabled, when you click Reset Checkout from a patron's checkout page, you will return to the currently-selected homeroom page (rather than to the homeroom selection page).
  To enable this option, go to Admin > Site Configuration > Circulation tab. Then, under Library Options, select For homeroom checkout, maintain current homeroom selection after reset.

Learn more about homeroom checkout and Site Configuration Circulation settings. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

The ability to limit interlibrary loans by site type gives you more oversight in how you receive and share materials.

From Admin > Site Configuration > Circulation tab, if you select the Allow materials at my site to circulate to all patrons in the district option, you choose if materials should circulate to all sites in the district, or to selected sites by site type (such as high schools).

Learn more about Site Configuration Circulation options. (Before you click a Help topic link, log in to the latest version of Destiny.)

Key information about a title now displays more prominently, helping students quickly identify where to find a resource in the library.

Enhancements to titles on the homepage, in search results, and on title details pages are as follows:

• If a title has a call number and sublocation, both appear. Previously, on the homepage and in search results Card view, only sublocation displayed.
• Design updates improve the visibility of information of most interest for students.

Search results: Card view

Search results: List view

Title details

Learn more about search results and viewing title information.