Learning Objectives

• Successfully log into BLUEcloud Central.
• Set context to the desired institution (school building).

Use the BLUEcloud Circulation Guided Notes below to help track your learning. 

To access BLUEcloud Circulation, log into BLUEcloud Central using your preferred browser. Bookmark the BLUEcloud Central URL for future use.

• BLUEcloud Central URL: https://bluecloud.infohio.org

Once the site has loaded, enter your BLUEcloud Central Username and Password. Please note: Your BLUEcloud Central login is not the same as your WorkFlows login.

• Username: Contact your ITC's Library Support Staff for this Username.

  Your Username is set up by ITC staff and is entered in your WorkFlows patron record under the Privilege tab.

  Password: Contact your ITC's Library Support Staff for this password. 

Once you have signed in to BLUEcloud, spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the available menus.

Institution Context Menu

After you log in, you must select the institution you’ll be working in (your specific building) before you enter Circulation.

1. Click the Institution drop-down to select your district.
2. Click your district to display the buildings.
3. Select the building you’ll be working in.
4. Click the Select Institution button. The building name will update (if changed).

If you’re working in multiple buildings, follow this same process to change the building you are working in. Keep in mind that your district name (#2) groups your buildings together. The district name is not linked to a specific database, so you must choose the building that you’ll be working in. If you don't, you will get an error message when you try to access Circulation.

Once you have selected your building, you can now enter Circulation.

Other important menus you should become familiar with are the Home, Staff, Connections, and User menus. Each contains helpful information for using BLUEcloud. See below for more information on each menu.

Home Menu

If you get lost or need to switch between Circulation and Cataloging, use the Home menu to get back to the BLUEcloud Central home screen.

1. Click the drop-down next to the SirsiDynix Logo.
2. Click Home to return to the BLUEcloud Central home screen. From here, you can access Circulation (#3).

You can also visit About to verify the version of BLUEcloud that you are running. Release Notes and System Alerts are available to those who have a SirsiDynix Support Center account. At this time, those accounts are limited to INFOhio Providers.

Staff Menu

1. The Staff menu lists the operations you have access to, such as Circulation. Click the Staff drop-down to list those options.
2. Click Circulation.
3. Click Search to begin using BLUEcloud Circulation.

Clicking the Circulation tile on the home screen will take you to the same Search screen that the Staff drop-down uses.

You can also navigate to Cataloging and eResource Central (if that has been setup for you) from the Staff menu.

Connections Menu

The Connections menu allows you to quickly access additional resources or sites that your INFOhio Provider has highlighted for you.

1. Click Connections.
2. Select Connections (highlighted in blue).

The Connections list of available links will display. The list of links available will vary from district to district.

Select an item from the list and a new window will open. Talk with your INFOhio Provider for any additions or customizations to your list.

Menu Search

BLUEcloud Central's menu search allows users to search for a page by name instead of navigating through the available menus.

1. Click the magnifying glass icon to get started.
2. As you are typing, potential destinations are presented.
3. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + F will also open the search.
4. Use your mouse or keyboard arrows to navigate to the page you want.
5. Select Esc on your keyboard or click outside the search area to exit the search. 

User Menu

With the User menu, you can customize account settings like the displayed language, the background, and set up silent printing.

1. The User menu displays your active account name as well as a drop-down menu to other account options.
2. Click Select Language to change the displayed language.
3. Click Select Background to change the displayed background.
4. Click Change Password to change your BLUEcloud Central password. Changing your BC Central password does not change your WorkFlows password and support will be unable to look up your password if you change it.
5. Manage Printers allows you to select your preferred printer for silent printing. Please see below for further set up instructions.
6. Click Sign Out to sign out of BLUEcloud.

Silent Printing with QZ Tray

Downloading the QZ Tray application (https://qz.io/download/) will allow library staff to print without a print preview getting in the way. When library staff click Print to print a circulation receipt, a receipt will automatically be printed using the printer set as the default. This application can be downloaded for both PC and MAC computers.

1. To get started, download the QZ Tray app to your computer. The site should recognize whether you are using a PC or MAC and provide the appropriate download option.   
2. Follow all of the prompts to download the app until you get an "Installation Complete" message. You may need to click "Next" or "Continue" multiple times until the download is complete.  
3. Next, log in to BLUEcloud and use the drop-down menu next to your user name to access the User menu.  
4. Click Manage Printers. 
5. BLUEcloud will connect to QZ Tray and a pop-up will appear asking for permission to connect. 
6. Check the box next to "Remember this decision." If this box is left unchecked, the pop-up will continue to appear each time you click Print.
7. Choose "Allow" to grant access.
8. Select your preferred printer, this could be a receipt printer or other connected printer. 
9. Enter any margin values. These and the printer selection can be changed at any time. 
10. To print a circulation receipt, go to Staff > Circulation > Search, search for a user, and proceed to circulate materials. When finished, click Print and the receipt will be printed automatically to the printer selected in Manage Printers. 
11. You can also choose the Print drop-down menu and choose Print or Print Preview for a preview of the receipt before it is printed.
12. The printed receipt can be given to the user. 

Help Menu

The Help menu is indicated by a question mark icon. Click the icon to open BLUEcloud Central Help. From here you can find information and help on any BLUEcloud topic.

In addition to the Help menu, please see the BLUEcloud Pathway within INFOhio Campus or contact your INFOhio Provider with questions for further BLUEcloud support.

In addition to the different menus, when you enter Circulation, note the following information and links on your screen.

1. The heading on your screen will always tell you what operation you are using. If you have access to Circulation and Cataloging, this will help you quickly see what you’re using.
2. This is the breadcrumb trail to show you where you are in the product you’re using.
3. Gives you quick access to Check In.
4. Gives you quick access to the Circulation home screen, which is what you see above.

Click the Next button to learn how to search for an existing patron.