330 results found
-
Automatically add date/timestamp to Notes and Messages
It would be helpful if the system automatically added a date/timestamp to Notes and Messages added to Patron and Item records by staff. Currently, we ask our staff to always add thier initials and date to notes and messages when adding them but it doesn't always happen. There are also inconsistnecies in how these are added and no easy way to search for them. We also find that notes/messages are not always removed after they are addressed.
If we had an accurate way to determine the date a note/message was added, it would be possible to develop a retention policy…
36 votes -
Allow Pickup Location Changes After Hold Is Activated (with Optional Patron Notification)
In Sierra, once a hold is activated, the pickup location becomes locked. This occurs even if an error happens or the original location becomes unavailable. The limitation creates workflow issues for libraries that use lockers, shared delivery systems, or multiple branches.
We are requesting a system enhancement that allows authorized staff to edit the pickup location of a hold after it has been activated, but before it is checked out or expires.
-Why This Is Needed:
Locker and space-based workflows: Staff may discover after trapping a hold that a locker is full or not functioning. At that point, there is…
24 votes -
Clarify Fines Payment Lock Messaging
The current wording of the fines payment lock messaging implies the presence of fines, which is not always the case and is misleading. To reduce confusion for staff, please change the message wording to indicate that another station has the record open, therefore the fines function in the patron record is locked. This will indicate to staff the reason why it's locked (another station has it open) and what they can't do while it's locked (access the fines function in the patron record).
33 votes -
Include Individual Item Costs in Overdue Notices
Make it an option to also include the item cost in the overdue notice as well (incentive to return!).
In our date due slips (JasperSoft) we include the cost of each item and a total cost to show what the patron saved by using the library vs. buying.
59 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
-
Expand invoice record fields that can be exported from Create Lists
Create Lists allows staff to create review files of invoices, but a number of useful fields from the invoice cannot be exported from the system. Notably the subtotalamt, shippingamt and totaltaxamt fields, which can all be accessed via both SQL and the RestAPI, are missing from the export options.
We would like to see these added so that fuller invoice data could be exported into something like Excel for further accounts reporting and tracking.
12 votes -
Show item status at check-in
When checking in an item over Sierra, it would be helpful to have an extra column added for item status. e.g. Available, In Transit or On Holdshelf. This would add more transparency when processing items (especially if we are interrupted mid-scan), allow for double checking items are placed in the right pile, and help with training new staff who may want to have more visibility around the different journeys an item can take once returned. Added bonus: If it can show the additional sorting groups available in IMMS, this will assist staff even more.
14 votes -
The patron selfreg form should record the origin IP in the patron record
To inform the blocking of IP ranges from which bad actors are abusing the /selfreg form, record the origin IP in a varfield or new fixed field on the patron record.
If a varfield, the default of an x-Note would suffice, but make this varfield tag customizable via one of the administrative interfaces. Historically speaking, Admin Corner would have been the go-to place to make this customization.
7 votes -
Rearchitect iiirecord.record_metadata to provide improved audit trail accountability
It is sometimes helpful to see who created, updated or deleted a record. Catmaint provides a lot of detail but doesn't cover many record types. I propose the following solution, which doesn't have particularly burdensome storage requirements:
- Build a many-to-many table with an id primary key column, a timestamp, a code indicating the C-R-U-Uprevious-D record operation and foreign keys linking to record_metadata.id and to iii_user.id.
- Backfill this new table using the available timestamps in record_metadata, catmaint and any other table like catmaint which might provide record edit history.
- Rename record_metadata and drop its four *_gmt timestamp columns. Yes, this creates…
13 votes -
Improve patron address parser to better map data to the patron_record_address table
Sierra has a mechanism for parsing the free text entered into patron address fields in the client into separate fields for elements such as city/state/postal code that exist in the patronrecordaddress table. Those distinct fields may then be searched in create lists or utilized in SQL queries. However, the algorithm used to parse out those data points is extremely rigid in terms of the data it expects to see and is quite prone to mapping data incorrectly if an address entered into a patron record does not conform to those guidelines.
For one common example in our system…
23 votes -
Add "mark damaged items" workflow to checkin
Staff need an easy way to make an item "damaged" when performing check-in. The current damaged workflow requires staff to be in the patron account.
All of our libraries have book drops, and every day, damaged items are returned. It doesn't make sense for library staff to stop their process, review the item record, and then review the patron account details in order to mark an item as damaged.
Can the "Mark Damaged Items" button that appears in the checkout function (checked out items) screen be added to the check-in window. I have attached an image where we would like…
19 votes -
Add a Stat Group When Creating a Patron API Key for Vendors
This proposal suggests enhancing the Patron API key creation process by incorporating a Stat Group field, allowing staff to categorize API keys by vendor and track their usage using existing reporting tools. The proposed enhancement would modify the API key creation window to include an optional Stat Group field towards the bottom. If left blank, the default stat group (zero) would be assigned, maintaining current functionality. This change addresses a common issue where vendors do not implement the stat group provided by the library, often resulting in API-driven transactions being categorized under stat group 0. This leads to inaccurate or…
23 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
-
Add an API endpoint which permits writing to review files
Currently, when a query is beyond the capabilities of Create Lists, it is usually possible to use a SQL query with Python to produce a report. Such a report might list record numbers of bibs/items/orders/patrons/etc which bear further examination and correction by library staff, but staff must copy record numbers or barcodes in the report and paste them into the SDA to pull up the records in question. It would be much easier if an API endpoint permitted those record numbers to be written to a review file so staff can go through them one-by-one in the SDA.
Another use…
8 votes -
Create a GET API endpoint for circulation transactions
This idea came from a discussion at the IUG2025 Sierra Reporting Forum.
It would be very useful to provide an endpoint to assist with gathering/generating the sorts of circulations statistics that would normally require SQL access. However, the all or nothing nature of SQL permissions is a barrier that prevents many users from being permitted to access those features. With the API on the other hand a user could be limited to simply having read access to an endpoint such as this, along with likely the bib and item endpoints so that they may craft reports without also having to…
21 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
-
Improve search relevancy for titles with many adaptations
Our staff have found that when they search the staff catalog for classic titles with lots of adaptations many of the adaptations are ranked higher in the search results than the title they actually searched for. For example, a title search of our catalog for "Moby ****" yields "Ahab's Wife" as the top result, with other derivative works and commentaries all appearing before the first record for the novel itself (in our case, result number 24). We'd like to see the results weight matches on the work's own title (e.g., 245 field) higher than matches in other fields, such as…
9 votes -
A "full Payment History file" event should log an error to the Admin App's System Messages log
Today our Payment History file reached 9,999 records which is close enough to the 10k record capacity that the attached error message was displayed. Fortunately the staff member had the presence of mind to screen-capture this error dialog today so I could read its message verbatim, but this isn't always the case. It would be helpful for an error of this severity to be written to the System Messages log viewed using the web-based Sierra admin app.
Given the low variety of error messages written to that log, there must be all kinds of similar messages which are not logged,…
11 votes -
Decision Center - Include Series Information in Weeding Reports
When pulling Low Circulation (or High) reports (Collection Tools > Maintenance), would like to include the Series Title (if applicable) in the displayed (and exported) report. We run into titles that have low circs, but if we see it's in a series, we normally don't weed it, because the series should remain complete. Thus we are stuck using Create Lists for this type of information (either exporting the report as a review file and then exporting fields THAT way or simply starting with Create Lists from the get-go). It would be more convenient if it was included in Decision Center.
8 votes -
Add 'Previous' button to Receiving
Staff are really appreciating the addition of a 'Previous' button to the record creation process which allows them to back up and fix a mistake without having to go all the way through the process before returning to make a correction. Staff would like to see similar functionality within the Receiving process. We receive using the process that combines creating the item with receiving.
Currently, for receiving an item, it will prompt you through the boxes to fill in the required information. As you proceed through, if you make a mistake or skip something you have to cancel and start…
9 votes -
Create RestAPI with a Patron Validate role that updates the “last circ activity date” in patron record
Our library wants to provide the patron validate role to our vendors.
But, we do not want to give the vendors any read or write roles.We do this now with several vendors, but the authentication does not update the "last circ activity" field in the patron record.
Is it possible to add a new permission that would only allow authentication but update the "last circ activity" field in the patron record.
Why add this feature?
Our library purges patron that don't circulate for X number of years. We don't want to delete patrons that are actively using our eVendor…17 votes -
Pop-up windows
When creating a new bib record and using the insert drop-down box, the windows always open in the same place and the same size. If I change the location or size of the window, I have to do it EVERY TIME. This is very annoying. Let me set those parameters and make them permanent for my login.
7 votes -
More universal accessibility features
Improving universal accessibility features for users/employees with diverse accessibility needs.
For example, for employees with visual impairments :
- High contrast mode and adjustable font size. Currently, users can change text color and size, but increasing the font size often causes content to be hidden, as the window does not automatically adjust. Users must manually resize the window each time. A responsive layout would greatly improve usability.Other potential improvements could include : screen reader compatibility, customizable keyboard navigation, text descriptions for icons, etc.
Even just the high contrast would help a lot. Additionally, it would be helpful if users…
14 votes
- Don't see your idea?