76 results found
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Send verification email when patron pre-registers using PAC
When a patron pre-registers for a library card using the PAC, they need a verification email sent to them that confirms that they've successfully created an account. This email should include the temporary barcode that is assigned to them, instructions on how to access their account on the PAC, and what to expect next.
Idea Value
1. The email provides instant feedback to patrons so they will have a more positive user experience.The temporary barcode created when a patron registers is not discoverable after logging out of the initial session. The enhancement would allow patrons to use the library…
33 votes -
Add Library Level to Hold Pickup Limit
Currently, a library may limit an item to be holdable for pickup at a single branch location. This setting allows the item to be limited to pick up at the item's assigned branch only. While this feature may work for single-branch libraries, it does not function in a practical way for multi-branch libraries. Expanding this feature to have a library-level option would increase the usability of this setting.
Example 1: Library A has 3 branches. They want to make their mobile hotspots holdable for pickup at any of their 3 branches. They do not want their hotspots to be placed…
28 votes -
Transitioning Claim Returned and Claim Never Had
We would like Polaris to transition items with a Circulation Status of Claim Returned and Claim Never Had to Withdrawn after a specified number of days. We envision this working like Lost Item Transition and the Missing Item Transition.
Idea Value
Adding this feature would allow a library to automatically remove items from patron view and allow for a more streamline process for deleting item records.35 votes -
Bulk changing item records from Provisional to Final
In the Cataloging module of Polaris, we are able to Bulk Change bibliographic records to change the record status from Provisional to Final ('Save provisional records as final'). During imports, this allows us to push records into the system if there are known duplicates, MARC errors, etc.
It would be great to have the same functionality for Item Records: to be able to save hundreds of Provisional records as Final instead of having to click on each one and manually save them as Final.
Idea Value
This idea would directly benefit the cataloging staff in the amount of time we…27 votes -
Granular Permissions for Web Admin / Language Editor
Add granular permissions for the use of the Web Admin /Language Editor tabs. Ideally, each tab in the language editor should have its own permissions sets.
Language Tools tab permissions for "Access, Edit, Add, Import, Export".
PAC Tools tab permissions for "Access, Reload, Compile CSS, Identify Strings"
PAPI Key Management tab permissions for "Access, Generate, Edit, Delete"
Idea Value
At this time there is just the one permission to access and use the Web Admin / Language Editor. Specifically the permission is the following:Permission Name: Allow
Control Record Name: WebAdmin Access
Subsystem: System Administration
Organization: Not Applicable
Level: System…
22 votes -
Remove extra clicks in PAC when placing holds (nnn other people are waiting message)
When placing a hold request, if there are other people on hold for the same title, you get a "warning" message. We'd like the option to eliminate this message and allow someone to place the hold request without going through this step.
Idea Value
Each step of a "checkout" process can deter people from completing the task. The Baymard Institute shows that 21% abandon checking out because the process is "too long / complicated checkout process". This extra page can also scare people from placing a hold because if they see 900 people are "ahead" of them, they may never…22 votes -
Bibliographic bulk change template
We just upgraded to 6.5 and I'm very pleased with the ability to save record set changes as a template to use again and again. I make frequent identical changes on bibs in bulk mode to fields for incoming records. I know some people use MarcEdit for this purpose. Instead of having go "outside the system" for this process, it would be fabulous to be able to save frequently and repeated bibliographic bulk changes as templates for future records.
Idea Value
This would be a huge time saver when doing database clean up that needs ongoing monitoring as well as…31 votes -
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…22 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…
115 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…
31 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…
28 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…13 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…31 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…67 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…
15 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.47 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…32 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
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