268 results found
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Allow users to freeze a hold even when an available item could be used to fill that hold.
If a library's circulation or OPAC rules allow a customer to place a bib or item hold, the customer should also be able to freeze that hold at any time. This functionality is available in Polaris, but not Sierra.
Currently, customers cannot freeze a bib-level hold if there is an available item that could fill the request. This prevents customers from managing their holds the way they want. In many cases, they do not know an appropriate "Not Needed Before" date, but they do know that they are not ready to receive the item immediately.
Allowing holds to be frozen…
3 votes -
Add Unique Control Numbers to Predefined Charges Table
Please add a unique, control number (ID) to predefined charges table in Sierra. This control number should be exported in the Fines Paid report. Currently, libraries waste significant administrative hours manually reconciling monthly, quarterly, and annual revenue because edited descriptions break automated data sorting (like Excel Pivot Tables).
The Problem:
To balance monthly revenue, libraries must sum payments by the type of predefined charge (e.g., photocopy charges, replacement cards, damaged books, donations).
Because Sierra lacks a dedicated, un-editable control number for predefined charges, we are forced to hardcode budget codes directly into the text description fields:
• 3323 Library Mug…2 votes -
REST API-compatible Time to Holdshelf/Time to Reshelve
Our library has deprecated the classic WebPAC in favor of a REST API-based custom discovery layer, but the Time to Holdshelf/Time to Reshelve temporary status message we've configured isn't included in the API response. It would reduce frustration for staff and patrons if we could implement a delay before items appear to be on the shelf when patrons check our website or mobile app.
Please add the temporary status to the REST API response.
3 votes -
Add index selector and pre-search limits to Check Out (Circulation Desk) Function
This idea is expanding on one originally proposed here by Catherine Kelso (https://ideas.iii.com/forums/951745/suggestions/47046682).
It would be helpful to more easily search on patron record indexes besides barcode when you need to (name, record number, e-mail, etc...) and for those sorts of searches it would be helpful to limit the search preemptively as you can in other search functions throughout Sierra. Say you want to search for the "Smith, John" with a teen ptype and a home library of anytown branch.
The current default search of entering a barcode should remain, it should just be simple to toggle to…
6 votes -
Generate Statement of Charges directly within patron record
It would be very helpful to be able to print or email a Statement of Charges directly from a patron record (and have it formatted for 8-1/2 x 11 paper and mail-ready).
Customers want a list of what they have out, and it looks very bad for the library to hand a customer a very, very long receipt when we are trying to save paper across the system.
3 votes -
check in claimed returned workflow - item location should reflect where item was made claimed returned
For libraries with floating collections, the branch where an item is marked Claimed Returned may not be reflected in the item record. This is because none of the three Claimed Returned options update the item's location.
Example
An item is checked out from Location A.
The patron reports returning it to Location B, and staff mark it Claimed Returned at Location B.
The item record still shows Location A.When marking an item Claimed Returned, staff have three options:
1.Add a Claimed Returned note to both the item and patron records.
2.Remove the checkout link between the patron and the…2 votes -
Allow Create Lists to sort and export the normalized best author and best title fields
These two fields can be incorporated into searches performed within create lists but are not available among the fields that can be exported or used for sorting. Best title normalized is particularly helpful for data brought into a spreadsheet as the removal of special characters and diacritics can greatly improving sorts and searching.
These fields are available via SQL, where I make frequent use of them, but for most of our users Create Lists is the only option for extracting data from the system.
1 vote -
New Max Owed amount for renewals only within the patron blocks table
Add a new Max Owed for Renewals within the Patron Blocks table that is separate from the Max Owed dollar amount/threshold. Sometimes patrons accrue more fines when renewing overdue materials via the online catalog or app on their own. Added charges from renewals online may also put them over the set threshold preventing them from renewing additional materials. The only way around the situation is for patrons to work with staff and the staff override the renewal using Sierra. When patrons use the "Renew All" feature in our discovery catalog and encounter the above issue, they are no longer able…
2 votes -
Overlay matching should evaluate all repeatable subfields (e.g., every $a in the 019), not just the first occurrence
When a load table's overlay match point targets a repeatable field such as the 019 (OCLC number cross-reference), the load process only compares the first subfield occurrence against Sierra's index. Although Sierra correctly indexes every $a in the 019 individually, the overlay-match routine stops after the first $a. Any additional OCLC numbers stored in the second, third, or subsequent $a subfields are ignored when determining whether an incoming record should overlay an existing one.
As a result, records that should match an existing bib overlay as new duplicates instead, because the matching value lives in a $a other than the…
4 votes -
Multiple Notice Preferences
Allow patrons to choose one or more notice preferences. A patron would receive the same notice through any and all channels they want, allowing the library to better serve a variety of needs and lifestyles.
3 votes -
Text/SMS Notice Preference
Please integrate text messaging/SMS as a notice delivery method just like print, phone, and email. Some patrons want texts and no other method. Even if patrons must complete a step outside Sierra, staff should be able to see and choose text as a preference. This would make things more consistent and easy for both patrons and frontline staff.
We had planned to switch to Vega Interact SMS but discovered that it is intrinsically linked to email notices, limiting its ability. We would love to have SMS as a real notice option in Sierra.
5 votes -
Set a maximum price allowed for the item price field
I'm blatantly copying this idea from a suggestion by Wes Osborn in the Polaris Idea Exchange (https://ideas.iii.com/forums/951742-ils-polaris/suggestions/46833076).
While creating item records, generally while following prompts in an item template, it is easy for staff to scan a value such as a barcode or ISBN into the price field by mistake, resulting in items that can incur bills in the billions of dollars if the issues are not caught. Additionally, it's easy to miss entering a decimal point and still wind up with charges exponentially higher than intended.
This could be mitigated by setting a maximum allow value for…
1 vote -
Access to SAML logs
When using the LDAP authentication option, it was useful to be able to see the authentication logs to diagnose login issues. After switching to SAML authentication, access to the SAML logs is only available to Innovative support.
I propose granting customers access to the CAS Apereo application logs so that we can see SAML authentication issues. These logs may not be as detailed as the LDAP ones since the authentication is happening at the IdP but they might provide clues to further investigate authentication issues.
1 vote -
Re-Page Item Level Holds
Our library would like to have pages for item-level holds repeat until they are filled. Currently, the only way to achieve this is by checking the "Do Not Clear" checkbox when running the item paging list each day. However, staff have to remember to toggle this setting every time they run the list, and if they forget, all previous pages will be lost and can't be restored the next time they run the list.
We'd like a way to have item pages persist by default.
8 votes -
Create user permissions/roles for limiting SierraDNA access
We have had a number of instances recently in which a vendor has requested SQL access in order for us to utilize there services. We are hesitant to allow for that (and have policies against it) due to the quantity of secure data that would also provide access to.
What we need is a way to provide lesser SQL access to particular users to allow them to tap into only the relevant tables (bibs & items for some. Circ_trans and patrons for others).
Beyond the vendor scenario it would also be fantastic to provide limited access to more of our…
5 votes -
Make Third Party API Transactions More Apparent in Sierra
Some time ago, an idea was submitted to enhance the Sierra API to provide statistical group information, so that circulation transactions in third party applications could be credited to a statistical group other than 0 None.
The idea won the "Let's Connect Sierra API Challenge."
With the release of Sierra 6.0, it then became possible to include a new optional data parameter to specify the statistical group that should be used when recording a transaction performed using the APIs.
My library was excited to hear this, as we'd recently begun using the self-checkout feature in the Bibliocommons' app not long…
5 votes -
Modify Estimated Price Via Rapid Update
Our Acquisitions staff does not use List Price when ordering, & is hoping that Estimated Price could be modifiable via Rapid Update. At the moment, this would help them modify 200+ order records, which they now have to do manually.
2 votes -
Sorting Searches in Patron Indexes
When creating a new customer record from scratch, or when updating & finalizing those submitted through our online application, we have staff perform some checks to prevent duplicate records.
They'll begin by searching the Name index to make sure that there's no pre-existing record for the same name. Then as backup, they'll try searching by birth date or phone number.
However, when you search by birth date or phone number, the results do not come back in alphabetical order, making things a bit harder than they should be for frontline staff. See example image where the search for the DOB…
2 votes -
Sorting Search/Holds Queries
Staff would like to see the ability to sort results retrieved from queries performed in Sierra's Search/Holds mode.
Say for example they do a keyword search for Star Wars at our Forest Park branch. 124 items are found. The results are displayed alphabetically by default. But if the staff member wants to quickly sort by DVDs, they can't even click on the Format column heading, as it exists currently.
While they can run multiple limits to narrow down the results by format, language, shelving location, publication date, etc., they might just as equally be inclined to SORT the entire list…
3 votes -
include PostgreSQL scheduled patches and upgrades in roadmap and upgrade documents
Sierra 6.6 includes an upgrade to PostgreSQL 16. Innovative should be more specific and tell us that we are upgrading to PostgreSQL 16.10. PostGres 16.14 was the last version in this cycle.
Does Innovative upgrade PostgreSQL with each Sierra upgrade? Will they patch between upgrades with any security fixes?
Libraries need to know Innovative's plans PostgreSQL development, and I am unsure if they are always included in the upgrade notes.
4 votes
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