14 Mar 11 ALA Login Change Notification

The message below went out to all ALA members today.

Dear ALA Member,
As the ALA website begins its migration to a new software platform, we’re planning to implement some exciting new features later in the year, including

• Single sign-on (log in to the ALA website and you’ll automatically be logged in to ALA Connect),
• A secure way to reset your password yourself at any time,
• Standardization of your login to a single username.

As we start making software changes in the background, the way you log in to the ALA and ALA Connect websites will change in the future.  The current method allows you to log in using your choice of a weblogin (“username”), email address, or member/non-member ID number along with your password. The new login method will only allow a single username. You can set your username to be anything as long as it is unique. It can be your email address, ALA ID number, or a unique name, but you’ll have to decide what your username will be. Please keep in mind that your username may be displayed to others when you post content, leave comments, or participate in other ways online.

After March 20, 2011, you’ll need to log in to both the ALA website and ALA Connect using only your username and password.

• Your current username is : [Username].
• If you’d like to change your username, log in to http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=login&template=/security/universalentry.cfm and go to your profile. Whether you edit your username or not, check to ensure that your email address is correct.
• Password recovery will no longer send passwords in plain text by email. Instead, we’ll send you a link that allows you to reset your password. This is an enhanced security feature to help protect your ALA account information.
• If you need help with username or password resets, Member and Customer Service can change your username or password for you. Call 1-800-545-2433, x5 to reach them during ALA’s normal business hours, 8:30am — 4:30pm CST.

Our first software upgrade is scheduled to begin after 5:00 PM CT on Friday, March 18th, and is expected to take about 24 hours. During this maintenance period you will not be able to renew your membership, register for any ALA events, or update your ALA profile. However, you’ll still be able to use the ALA website and ALA Connect as you normally would.

Because this is only the first of many steps, you’ll still need to log in to each site separately until the migration process is complete. Watch for an announcement about the launch of the new website and single sign-on in September. Updates will be posted periodically to the ITTS News blog at http://itts.ala.org/news .

Sincerely,

Sherri Vanyek
Director, Information Technology & Telecommunication Services
American Library Association
50 East Huron
Chicago, IL. 60611
Phone: (800) 545-2433 x2437
Direct: (312) 280-2437
Email: svanyek@ala.org
www.ala.org
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