Masquerade Mode
With these settings, you can:
- Enable masquerade mode for specific admin users
- Control whether users in masquerade mode can view patron reading history
This optional setting allows staff with the Masquerade permissions to act as other users and see their account information within Aspen.
For example, this can be useful for staff who need to assist patrons over the phone, such as when walking them through how to access information in their account or performing actions as the patron. When using Masquerade, you will never have to ask a patron for their PIN/password -- the only information you need is their library card number.
Using Masquerade Mode
While masquerading as a user, you can:
- View account pages (including econtent integrations*)
- Place and modify holds
- Renew checkouts
- Update preferences and contact information (if applicable)
- View reading history (only if this setting has been enabled and the patron has opted into recording reading history)
- View recommendations and rate titles
- View and create lists
- Manage materials requests*
*In some cases, the patron must log into Aspen first before a staff member can fully perform all masquerading tasks - such as managing purchase suggestions or perform actions with econtent integrations (place/view holds, place/view checkouts).
Libraries can choose to have Masquerade Mode enabled for certain IP addresses so that the functionality is limited to only work within the library.
To enable this, first go to Aspen Administration > Primary Configuration > Library Systems > click into the library system > ILS/Account Integration > Masquerade Mode > Allow Masquerade Mode > Allowed from enabled IP addresses
Next, go to Aspen Administration > Primary Configuration > IP Addresses > click into the IP address settings > check Allow Masquerade
This is also something you can update in batches for libraries with multiple IP Addresses by using the Batch Update Selected or Batch Update All buttons underneath the listed IP Addresses.
Then, select Allow Masquerade from the dropdown.
Please keep ByWater-related IP Addresses with Allow Masquerade Mode checked so that we can troubleshoot tickets.
Go to Aspen Administration > Primary Configuration > Library Systems > click into the library system > ILS/Account Integration > Masquerade Mode > Masquerade Mode Automatic Timeout Length
Specify an amount of time, in seconds, to have Masquerade automatically time out. This will ensure that the masquerade mode will end so that staff cannot mistakenly perform actions on the patron's account.
The most common timeout length is 120
If no timeout length is set, there will be a timeout of 15 minutes of inactivity. The page will automatically refresh upon the ending of the session.
Libraries can choose if staff are able to see Reading History in Masquerade Mode. By default, this is turned off. To check your settings, go to Aspen Administration > Primary Configuration > Library Systems > click into the library system > ILS/Account Integration > Masquerade Mode > Allow Display of Reading History in Masquerade Mode
With this option enabled, Administrative staff using Masquerade Mode will be able to see a patron's reading history if the patron has opted in to recording their history.
If you are a library using an ILS that has Username as an available option for patrons, you can add/remove the Username option in Masquerade Mode.
To adjust these settings, go to Aspen Administration > Primary Configuration > Library Systems > click into your library system settings > ILS/Account Integration > Masquerade Mode > Allow Masquerading Using Username
Evergreen, Koha, Polaris, Sierra, or Symphony: Staff can masquerade as users regardless of whether or not they've previously logged into Aspen.
Evolve: The user must have already logged into Aspen before staff can masquerade as the user. Otherwise, you will receive an error when trying to masquerade as the user.
If you'd like to restrict certain patron types from allowing staff to masquerade as them (exp: We don't want staff masquerading as staff), then you can set this in Aspen Administration > Primary Configuration > Patron Types > click into the patron type you do not want to allow the masquerading of > check Restrict masquerade from accessing patrons of this type.
Next, we recommend for your general staff, you make sure they have this permission assigned in System Administration > Permissions: Masquerade as unrestricted patron types.
For Full Admin, you might want to give them the permission: Masquerade as any user.
Masquerade Mode is a great way for staff to help patrons in Aspen Discovery. Learn more about Masquerade Mode.
In Masquerade Mode, staff can help patrons view their econtent checkouts and holds, as well as help with other econtent functionality - like checking out titles, placing titles on hold, seeing hold queue position and returning titles early.
To use Masquerade Mode to assist with eContent, users must log into Aspen Discovery at least once. For example, if patrons only log into apps like Libby and not directly into the catalog, you might want to check with them if staff are having issues with the patron's account in Masquerade Mode.
Similarly, even if the patron has logged in before, if it has been a while and they have changed their password since the last time, they might need to log into Aspen Discovery again before staff can assist patrons in Masquerade Mode.
The logging in by a patron is what authorizing the connection between the ILS, the econtent provider and Aspen Discovery/LiDA.
Logging in by the patron should almost immediately correct any errors you might have been seeing.
