312 results found
-
Advanced Search in Leap
When our library switched to Polaris a couple of years ago - we were baffled enough by the absence of a standard advanced search, to add it ourselves. You can find the idea demonstrated in the below or attached clip.
There was no formal push for this option, but it was quickly adopted by most of our staff through word of mouth. Which I took as evidence that the current search was a common source of frustration.
Idea Value
An advanced search allows for quickly scoped searches, in a standard format that most library staff will be familiar with…21 votes -
Better Handling of "Display" Items
: In its current configuration, a "display" shelf location can be used to indicate an item has been placed on display. However, changing this shelf location is a semi-permanent change and when the display comes down staff must change the location codes, either manually or through a record set, to the original location. Because displays are often very popular, this often results in items being checked out and returned. Without markings on the books that indicate they're on a temporary display, these items are often reshelved in their original location while their Polaris record indicates they're still on display, hindering…
99 votes -
Allow Lost or Billed Items to Be Claimed
I'd be really helpful if it were possible to claim lost items. This has always been an issue here at Chicago Public Library, but even more so after we went fine free and started making items go lost after seven days. Now items often go lost before patrons notice, and it takes a lot of staff time to return the items and check them back out to the patron just to claim them.
Idea Value
Being able to claim lost items items would make life easier for staff and speed up circulation desk lines.As more and more libraries go…
30 votes -
Make filter sticky when searching Leap
When searching in Leap, any applied filters are automatically discarded when the search box is closed. It would be beneficial to have the option to make filters stick from search to search. A good example is in the case of consortia - it would be extremely helpful if the patron assigned library filter would stick so staff would always begin an initial search for patrons with their library filter in place.
Idea Value
Time savings would be gained if staff did not have to select a specific filter each time a search was conducted - such as selecting the patron…58 votes -
Ability to set a specific time delay prior to calling patrons for holds using Polaris Telephony
Currently, outbound Telephony places a call to patrons that a hold is available almost instantaneously after the item has been checked in and moved to a Held status. For some of our larger libraries, the checked in material may not be available for pickup for 2-3 hours - but they have patrons who are coming to the desk expecting to be able to pick up their item right away because they received that instantaneous call. (sometimes the patrons are in the building, get the call, and simply walk downstairs to the hold shelves)
It would help avoid stress for staff…
27 votes -
Suppress cover images in the patron account pages
Since the upgrade to 6.3, cover image art now appears in the patron account pages. This is a nuisance to a number of patrons, who are more satisfied with the previous compact view. We'd love to see either
- a system-wide option to enable or disable cover images in the Account pages in SA
OR
- a toggle for patrons in their account to enable or disable images.
This is heavily borrowed from a previous idea: https://idealab.iii.com/alwaysopen-polaris/Page/ViewIdea?ideaid=8171
Idea Value
Less scrolling and more power/control put into the hands of the patron to have the my account area function as they would like…16 votes -
You Saved in PowerPac and API functionality
We would like our patrons to see how much they have saved YTD and Lifetime when logged into their account in the PowerPac. Also having it be information that can be passed through API. I imagine this could be something we would be able to turn on and off same as the You Saved receipts.
Idea Value
Currently we compose an email to each of our patrons every year to let them know how much they have saved and they enjoy the email. We are looking to have it more streamlined and patrons can see this at any time by…12 votes -
Ad-Hoc Bulk Changes for ALL Record Sets
Currently only Item record sets have the option to bulk change selected records (Polaris 6.2). We'd like this to be available in all other record sets.
Idea Value
Many of us (myself included) have tried to apply a bulk change to a small number of selected records within a record set, only to have the change applied to all the records in the set. It's beneficial having an ad hoc bulk update option with item record sets, but it's a gap not having this available for patron and bib records as well, since they also frequently require bulk edits. The…30 votes -
Patron expiration date to match patron code
We have different time frames for different patron codes. For example a regular adult or child card is two years. We have others, such as a visitor card that is three months and several others. We would like the system to automatically adjust the expiration date to a pre-determined time frame set for each code.
Idea Value
Fewer mistakes made by staff. They often forget to adjust the expiration date for patron codes that vary from our default. Like many things, it's a 'training issue' and we try our best but with the size and turnover mistakes are made. This…58 votes -
Remember scroll position when working with record sets in Leap
When using Leap on an iPad, if you select a record to view and then close it you are sent back to the beginning of the list. It would be an improvement to be able to go right back to where you selected the item record.
Idea Value
This would save a lot of time scrolling back to the exact place you were before you opened a record.31 votes -
Simplify Overdrive Sync
Simplify the Overdrive integration to eliminate the use of item records, while retaining hold, checkout, patron account sync functionality. This would speed up Overdrive imports and syncs for customers with large collections and remove inaccurate statistics from reports.
Idea Value
When Overdrive integration was developed, having one central source for statistics of physical and digital material was an end goal and integration at the item level was developed. Several years later, econtent collections have ballooned in size and the deep integration has led to lengthy import and sync processes.Additionally, Overdrive authentication procedures result in inaccurate econtent statistics as some…
14 votes -
Ability to select multiple items/chunks of items in LEAP
When working with a list of bibs, items or patrons, ability use ctrl and shift keys to select a chunk of sorted records (without having to checkmark each item) to add them to a record set. If other web tools like gmail can do this for email deletions, it seems we could do this with LEAP too.
Idea Value
Saves time.77 votes -
Show allowable renewals as zero if the item has a block or hold
Show that there are no available renewals on an item if the item is blocked or has a hold.
Idea Value
This will reduce the confusion that patrons have when checking their accounts for available renewals. It will show that the item is not renewable and must be brought back.42 votes -
Granularity in Staff Permissions
This idea has been brought up before I believe as an enhancement. We would like more specific permission levels in item modifications. Specifically we need the ability to set permission to modify the Circulation Parameters in an item record (Material type, Loan period, Fine code, Renewal limit, separate from permission to change any Call number fields. This would allow us to choose which modifications certain levels of staff have the permission to perform.
Idea Value
This would result in fewer errors and fewer cataloging corrections on item modifications that have been done at the branch level. We realize this is…30 votes -
Have Leap quick search use keyword instead of phrase
We'd like to have Leap's quick search box do a keyword search instead of phrase, or at least have that be an optional setting. Currently searching something like 'help stockett' (without quotes) looks for that as a phrase, so we don't get any hits. Other searches might bring up random bibs that do have that phrase, but not everything that would be found with keyword. The PAC's quick search uses keyword. I'm not sure why it would be helpful for the default quick search in Leap to do something different. It seems like most staff would expect a simple keyword…
25 votes -
Add option to de-dupe on EAN, in addition to ISBN/UPC
We'd like a bibliographic duplicate detection rule using 024$a with first indicator 3, either a new rule or modifying the existing 024$a rule. Currently there is a UPC rule that uses 024 1; there is also a 024$a rule but it specifically excludes fields with indicator 1 or 3. Why no option for 024 3? The 024$a rule says it "exclud[es] ISBN and UPC" but ISBNs aren't in 024. It does exclude EANs though, which means a lot of bibs, especially CDs, aren't detected as duplicates and one must manually find and merge them. That is, if they know to…
32 votes -
PAC Language should use 041 in addition to 008
In PAC, Language only searches the 008 field (the item's primary language). It should also search 041 subfields a and d (the item's other languages). For example, if we have a bilingual book in English and Spanish, a search for materials in Spanish will not find it because Spanish is not the primary language in the 008 field.
Idea Value
Users will be better able to find items by language, especially those in more than one language.31 votes -
Ability to delete notification options
Ability to delete unused notification options (e.g., Mailing Address, Fax) so they can't be selected during patron registration.
Idea Value
Will save staff time cleaning up unused notification options.35 votes -
Reserve in advance - Book Club Kits or Library of Things
Add an option based on material type that allows the customer to reserve an item for a certain time frame. For example, if the item type is book club kit, they can reserve a title in June for a meeting in October. For greater flexibility, we'd like to control how far in advance they can book the item based on material type. We'd be interested in using this for book club kits, laptops, and other types of kits that we have or might add.
Idea Value
As more libraries are adding non-traditional materials such as tools, cake pans, and sewing…42 votes -
Add required field in Patron Registration
In Admin > Parameters > Patron Services > Patron registration options > Required Fields tab only five fields are listed - Address, Birth date, Gender, Password, and Statistical class. We would like to require that Notification Option be filled in before the record is saved. There may be fields that other libraries would like to make required, such as Phone.
Idea Value
The patron's notification preference should always be selected before an account is created. There must be a way for the patron to receive library notices for holds, reminders, overdues, and bills.28 votes
- Don't see your idea?