Implement a detailed and accessible audit log for all configuration changes made within the Polaris ILS System Administration (SA) and "adjacent" modules.

Description of the Problem

The Polaris ILS lacks a granular, searchable audit trail for System Administration changes. This makes it difficult to determine who made a specific change, when it occurred, and what the previous setting was. This ambiguity hinders troubleshooting when a configuration error occurs, complicates training, and reduces accountability.

Proposed Solution

A comprehensive, transaction-based audit log that automatically records the following data for every saved change in the SA module:

Timestamp: The precise date and time of the change.
User Account: The Polaris username of the staff member who made the change.
Workstation: The name of the workstation from which the change was initiated.
Configuration Area: The specific parameter modified (e.g., "Receipts - Fines," "Patron Services - Loan Period").
Previous Value: A record of the setting's value before the change.
New Value: The setting's value after the change.

This log should be presented in a searchable interface, allowing administrators to filter events by date, user, and configuration area.

Initial Focus for Implementation

For an initial release, prioritize the audit of settings that can be modified by general staff, not just system administrators. A key area is workstation-specific settings, such as receipt configurations. Because System Administration access is typically restricted to a few users, changes made in more broadly accessible areas are often more frequent and difficult to trace. Focusing development on these staff-level settings first would offer the most immediate value in improving accountability and simplifying troubleshooting.

Justification

While the storage and processing constraints of 1997 may have made detailed logging impractical at Polaris's inception, modern server infrastructure can easily handle this function. Implementing this feature would align Polaris with current enterprise software standards where robust auditing is critical for system integrity and security.

Benefits:

Rapid Troubleshooting: Quickly identify the source of problems caused by configuration errors.

Clear Accountability: Create a definitive record of all administrative actions.

Simplified Reversal: Know the exact previous value to accurately restore a setting.

Enhanced Security: Provide a crucial tool for security audits and investigations.

Use Case Example

If a library's hold pickup notices suddenly aren’t printing for one workstation, an administrator could use the audit tool to filter for recent changes to "Receipts." The log would immediately show which user modified the settings and when, displaying both the old and new settings. The administrator could then use the "Previous Value" information to instantly revert the setting.