312 results found
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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…
16 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.
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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).
22 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…
21 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…
10 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.
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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…
15 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…
19 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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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.
23 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…16 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:…
24 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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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…
7 votes -
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…
14 votes -
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…
11 votes -
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…
14 votes -
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.
17 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…
22 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.
19 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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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,…
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…
10 votes
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