282 results found
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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.
54 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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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…
20 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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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…
16 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…
17 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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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…15 votes -
Create a different template for repeat bills
Add the ability to create a template specifically for repeated bills. This would allow us to send a different message for a reminder bill than what we sent in the original bill. This is would be similar to how we are able to create different templates for 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc Overdue Notices.
20 votes -
Add "max number of overdue items" column to patron block table
Many libraries have eliminated fines and they would like alternative ways to provide an incentive for patrons to return items. We would like the option to block patron circulation based on a Library determined number of overdue items. This rule could be added to the Patron Block table so that libraries could customize rule as necessary.
Idea Value: This new setting would provide an incentive for Customers to return their items.
Idea Value: We don't want to restrict the number of items a Customer can sign out, but want to restrict borrowing after a specific number of overdues.
Idea Value:…
19 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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Batch Check-In Should Not Update Circactive Date
Batch check-in is a necessary component of debt write-off and system maintenance. Running this process updates the patron account circulation activity date (CIRCACTIVE) even though this is a system-generated process and not initiated by the patron.
We use the CIRCACTIVE date when reporting on card usage, and as an indicator of when to delete inactive cards. Because the date is updated through batch check-in, we have to do a lot of clean-up work to understand actual patron usage and behavior.
Ideally, batch check-in should not update CIRCACTIVE. It would be fine for the account UPDATED date to be updated.
This…
19 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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Create Lists - Saved Searches - Ability to Rename, Show Creator, Last Used
We repeatedly run up against our limit of saved searches in Create Lists. There are probably saved queries created long ago that no one is using/needs. I was hoping to assign staff to review the queries and put their initials in the saved search name, but when you go to Edit, you can only edit the query, not the query name (like you can a review file). Ideally it would work like the review files themselves, when you can see who last ran the list (initials, date and time). And perhaps apply the "Own" option. This would really help to…
32 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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Ability to view history for item and volume records.
It would be helpful for us to have access to the history of item and volume records, including details of their creation and any subsequent edits. This would improve our ability to track changes and ensure accountability if any issues come up.
15 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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Add Character Map to Patron Record Creation/Editing Menu
Despite the constant threats to our funding & the fact that some seem to treat the notion of DEI as offensive, we continue to want our library to be seen as a welcoming & inclusive environment for our patrons.
We would like to be able to extend this to how their name is represented in Sierra & on notices/when seen in the catalog. We currently have a sort of crib sheet for staff to use to insert diacritic characters into patron names as needed, but think it would be helpful if they didn't have to navigate away from Sierra when…
9 votes -
Insert/Update Location Codes from a CSV file
Develop a utility to add new location codes to the so-called Branches table using a CSV file as input. Optionally permit updates (overlays) of existing location code entries so that the branch_code_num, name and/or is_public columns may be reassigned values in this way.
Our library has very granular location codes which describe branch (or collection subset of a branch such as a display area), audience, format and genre, loosely speaking. This amounts to 220-250 location codes per branch (or collection subset). We currently have over 5,000 distinct location codes in our Sierra database, and every time a new branch is…
8 votes -
Include periodical issue information in overdue notices
We had a patron complaint that the email notices do not include magazine issue information, only the main title. The notices also do not include item barcodes, so there isn't any data to match against a specific issue. Could information from the Issue field in the item record be displayed in overdue notices?
12 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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Add "hold status" and "item status" limits to high-demand holds function
The high demand hold report is a powerful tool that sums system items and system holds.
Adding a "hold status" and "item status" pre-search limiters would vastly improve the use of this report
Why add these limits?
There is no Sierra product (including Decision Center) that allows users to deselect frozen holds from “total holds” count.
This report counts "system holds" as any hold with any status (including item holds that will be filled by "in transit" item)
This report counts "system items" as all items (including billed and missing) so there is no way to know how many items…
9 votes -
Options Group setting for showing Last Patron
In a consortial setting we have some libraries that would like to avoid showing last patron data for a item in an attempt to avoid retaining data that could be used to breach a patron's privacy.
11 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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2038 issue
We use the patron's 18th birthday as their youth card expiration date. Due to the Year 2038 issue we have been unable to add the correct date for several years now. We would really like to be able to have (any/all) date fields updated so we can begin to record accurate future dates again.
21 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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Allow holds on bibs when holdable items are on order
We have a non-holdable lucky day collection whose items are on the same bib as our regular, holdable copies of those titles. Sierra allows patrons to place holds on titles that are on order, but sometimes the non-holdable copies are the first to arrive -- at which point, Sierra sees that all items on the record are non-holdable, and stops allowing holds until the first holdable copies come in.
Innovative recommended splitting nonholdable items onto a separate bib record, which seems liable to clutter up the catalog; moreover, some of these items are likely to be moved into our regular…
22 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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Add ability to extend the hold Pickup By date to the /v6/patrons/holds/{holdId} API endpoint
Currently the only hold parameters one can modify via the API are
PatronHoldPut {
pickupLocation (string, optional): the hold's pickup location code,
freeze (boolean, optional): whether the hold should be frozen (suspended)
}It would be very helpful if the Pickup By date – and while you're at it, the Hold Note – were added as modifiable parameters. There have been many times when unscheduled branch closures or problems in sending hold pickup notices have caused us to want to extend hold Pickup By dates for items on the holdshelf.
Having this functionality in an API endpoint would permit a…
7 votes -
Add ability to suppress a subfield in the 1xx
Add the ability to suppress subfield 1 in the 1xx field so it will not show in Sierra. This way it can be unsuppressed when the library starts using linked data.
15 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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Automatic SSL Certificate Renewal
Keeping our systems secure with SSL certificates is essential. Certificates need to be renewed and there is a service commitment to handle this process. But there is a better way. SSL providers can be setup to automatically renew and deliver an updated SSL certificate to our systems when their expiration time approaches.
This idea is for Innovative to support software-only site with setting up an automatic SSL renewal process thereby keeping our systems safe from expiring certificates and making the process worry-free.
10 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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