Consortium FAQ's
Click here for a presentation about the Connected Library Consortium.
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What is the purpose of the consortium? Why can’t I just buy eBooks on my own?
The beauty of the Connected Library Consortium (previously the PA NJ eBook Consortium) is that schools can bank their money together so that they can afford a relatively large collection of ebooks and audiobooks for their students and staff. It is particularly beneficial for schools who cannot afford or who have not yet explored ebooks in their libraries.
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What if I leave the consortium next year? Will I lose access to all of those titles?
No! (How awesome!) This feature is what truly sets us apart from other consortiums. We don’t want you investing money in something only to lose it the following year because of another budget crisis. If you paid for it - it’s yours for life. If you subscribe even for ONE year, you will have access to all of the titles purchased that year.
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I would like to purchase the collections from other years. Is that a possibility?
We no longer offer the opportunity for purchasing past collections due to management of sufficient copies
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If our entire district wanted to join the consortium, what is the pricing?
The consortium pricing is set up on a per-school basis rather than a district pricing model. It was strategically established this way to allow individual schools to subscribe if they wanted, but to also keep the price low if the entire district wanted to join.
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I have some advanced readers and some struggling readers. Does this mean I should subscribe to multiple collections?
While subscribing to multiple collections is certainly an option, it is not a necessity. The titles for the collections will be selected by groups of librarians that serve that level, and will be reflective of varying reading abilities.
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How are titles selected?
We have an awesome committee of school librarian volunteers who thoughtfully select titles based on reviews, award and state lists, and standards. Note that titles must be single-use, perpetual format to be included in our collection.
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Do you have a statement on your selection policy?
The Connected Library Consortium Committee is composed of several highly professional, certified school librarians . The process of selecting titles for the CLC collection is comprehensive and utilizes book reviews and selection lists,and also considers requests and suggestions from our participating librarians. The committee follows the selection guidelines of the American Library Association and upholds the First Amendment Rights and the Freedom to Read.
CLC serves a wide population of students across Pennsylvania and New Jersey and we strive to meet all of their varying needs and interests. If a participating school believes that one or more titles do not accurately reflect the needs and interests of their community, participants are provided with the option of “deactivating” individual titles from the collection or purchasing alternative or additional titles.
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What titles are included in each collection?
Collection title lists for each year can be found on our Collection Info page.
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Can I submit title suggestions for the collections?
Yes! As long as you are a current subscriber, you can make title suggestions for the collection of which you subscribe. The committee will take every suggestion into consideration, depending on the availability and licensing of each title. Licensing must be "perpetual" and "single-user". Click here for directions on searching for applicable books in Mackin.
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What if I want to add more titles than the ones in the consortium?
Adding additional titles to your MackinVIA is incredibly simple and is a great way to supplement the titles offered by the consortium. By using Mackin.com, you can browse through the eBooks and audiobooks and add titles individually to your collection. You can also browse titles in other languages or with different usage rights. Consortium members receive a 5% discount on additional digital books they purchase and 10% off print books. Just for being a member of the Consortium, you continue to save. Titles that you purchase for your school are accessed right alongside your consortium titles in your MackinVIA account. There is no need for a separate account or a separate login for your patrons to remember!
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If I’m paying via Purchase Order, to whom shall I address it?
Mackin Educational Resources
Customer Service
3505 County Road 42 West
Burnsville, MN 55306
Phone: 800.245.9540
Fax: 800.369.5490
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MackinVIA Questions
MackinVIA has a dedicated CLC page with set-up guides, FAQs, videos, and more at https://www.mackin.com/hq/connected-library-consortium/.
If you need assistance, contact MackinVia eservices@mackin.com or call 1-800-245-9540 and ask for the digital services team.
Does MackinVIA work on mobile devices?
Absolutely! MackinVIA can be accessed on any desktop, laptop, or mobile device with a supported browser. If users would like to download titles to access offline, our free MackinVIA App is available for all major mobile devices as well as Mac and Windows desktop and laptop computers. Please visit Supported Platforms and Devices for more information
Will I have access to usage statistics?
In your MackinVIA Administrator account, you have access to a proprietary report engine for resource usage with the ability to run reports for a single MackinVIA collection or multiple locations. Additionally, you can view historical Backpack activity for your users. Backpack activity includes checkouts, online reads, assignments, requests, and favorites. Reports can be viewed online or exported to excel.
How many titles can be checked out at once?
In order to allow for as many students as possible to access the resources, the consortium has placed a limit of 3 books per student at one time. There are no limits as to how many titles a student can check out for the year. If a student needs a particular title, they will simply have to return one of their checkouts.
Can titles be renewed?
Yes! We have enabled titles to be renewed one time.
Does MackinVIA support access from home?
Yes! Whether on the bus, at an after-school event, or at home, MackinVIA can be accessed as long as you have a device with internet access and a Backpack. If you want to use an eBook or Digital Audiobook where you do not have internet access, use the MackinVIA App and download the resource onto your device while you have internet access for offline reading later.
Are your eBooks compatible with my library circulation system?
Yes – Every eBook and digital audiobook purchased from Mackin comes with an enhanced MARC record that you can load into your library circulation system. Each record contains a link to the specific title in MackinVIA from the 856 tag. After the MARC records have been loaded into the catalog, users will be able to discover MackinVIA resources alongside other titles in your OPAC.
How will my existing resources be accessed through MackinVIA?
A unique feature of MackinVIA is that you are able to Bring Your Own License. We realize that you may have purchased digital resources before adopting MackinVIA, so we built our platform to be open and robust enough to accommodate this very common request from our customers. When your existing digital resources are migrated into MackinVIA, a link to the host platform is established. Whenever possible, Mackin will work with the vendor of the product to authenticate it within MackinVIA, so no additional logins are necessary.
How do I add previously purchased resources to my MackinVIA collection?
Digital resources purchased from other vendors can be added using the Add New Resource tool in your MackinVIA Administrator account, or you can request a migration from Mackin’s Digital Services team. Please see our Migration Policy for more information.
How do my students sign in?
Students will access MackinVIA through their “backpack”. Each student will have a unique username and password to access their backpack.
What is a Backpack™?
A Backpack is an individual account used to store and manage digital resources. Users can save favorite resources, check out and request Mackin-hosted titles, view and edit notes, and access assigned resources.
How do I create Backpacks for my users?
This document gives complete details on setting-up Backpacks for your users including automatic authentication.
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Are Holds and Renewal features available?
Yes, when logged into a Backpack account, a user can request an eBook that is currently checked out by clicking the Request button next to the cover image. If an email address is associated with the Backpack account, a notice will be sent out when the eBook is available to check out. Due dates for checked out items are displayed in “My Checkouts” so the user can see when the book will expire. The Renew button will only be available when at least 5 days remain in the checkout period. The administrator has control over the number of renewals allowed.
Can an administrator or teacher set restrictions on the titles in a MackinVIA account?
Yes, an administrator can make titles inactive so that they do not appear to patrons.
I’ve never used Mackin or MackinVIA before. Will there be any training or support available?
Rest assured someone will be there to assist you the entire way. Mackin will also send a representative to your school if you’d like any face-to-face professional development. Consider scheduling a time with Mackin during your library department time or summer professional development days. We also hold webinars throughout the school year to make sure you are making the most of MackinVIA and your consortium titles.
Are ebooks downloaded using Adobe Digital Editions?
No. We have a proprietary ebook format and built an HTML5 reader. Also, you can access our ebooks online through any device. We also have an app for offline reading.
What if I have more questions about MackinVIA?
Contact Jessica Gottlieb, Sales Consultant, jessica.gottlieb@mackin.com.
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