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  1. Sierra uses a particular Load Table to determine how bibliographic records are overlaid when new records loaded via Remote Search (i.e., downloaded from another library catalogue using Z39.50)

    According to Sierra's documentation the default Load Table is "m2btab.b", but Innovative can configure Sierra to use another one if desired.

    We have found that certain projects call for different Load Tables because different sets of fields should be retained, discarded, or inserted. It is possible to change to a different Load Table for remote search temporarily (or modify the current Load Table), but that would affect all cataloguers for the duration…

    6 votes

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  2. 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…

    15 votes

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  3. Sierra SDA allows you to place holds on items with special statuses, and do not show any pop-up window to warn of this circumstance. Currently this is not possible in Sierra for statuses other than 'Library Use Only'.

    We would like the system to display a pop-up window when attempting to place a hold on an item with special status, as Sierra SDA does in checkout and checkin procedures.

    Thanks.

    3 votes

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  4. Currently, only when you cancel a hold from either the Hold tab or the Hold queue do you get the option to generate a hold cancellation notice. When a defunct hold is cleared from the holdshelf (clear expired holds), we would like to see a prompt to send a hold cancellation notice(s), just as we do when cancelling holds outside of the clear holdshelf process. All those that get cleared could use the same “drop hold” message in the text of circulation notices (explaining your hold has been cancelled because it’s expired/hold pickup by date has passed). These would be…

    7 votes

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  5. When a hold has been cleared or is defunct, the information Sierra provides integrated integrated systems (IMMS for our example) over API is not consistent In particular, when clear holds is run in Sierra. During clear holds, the item status either remains at ! On holdshelf or changes to another item status. When it remains as !, IMMS sees the hold is still active and does not instruct staff to clear the item from the hold shelf. Daily and weekly processes are needed to update the item records for IMMS to recognise the changes.

    Can the clear hold function in…

    8 votes

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  6. Block particular bib records from having their URLs checked by use of a suppression code

    5 votes

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  7. Under the count use function, is it possible to add a location column? Currently, we have Title / Barcode / Count / Status. This way, when staff collects used but not checked out items and counts their usage, they can also see - at a glance - if the item belongs to a different floor/location and can separate it on the spot.

    This added information will save staff time and minimize the chance of something being misplaced.

    9 votes

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  8. Add a field to ILL records that includes the hold pull date. This information is in the ILL clear hold shelf report, so the system has the information. It does not appear in the ILL record and therefore cannot print on the hold slip. Staff need to manually write the date on each hold slip. Other hold slips, including INN-Reach, print a pull date and ILL holds should be able to have this information added to the record for printing purposes.

    3 votes

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  9. Idea: update the expected format requirements for the email variable-length field to account for modern, non-standard email domains.

    Relevance: The prevalence of non-standard email domains is growing. Currently, Sierra accepts some non-standard formats, like .me, but rejects others like .health. This prevents the saving of the patron record and requires that the patron provide another email or change their notice preference.

    5 votes

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  10. 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…

    23 votes

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  11. Idea: add a limiting feature to Globally Purge Charges that allows for choosing which fines to clear by itype.

    We use itypes to delineate lending in addition to the location code. With libraries transitioning to fines-free policies and seeking to waive existing overdue fines for patrons on some items (but not all), the current function structure complicates matters, as it only allows for limiting by location code, rather than by item type. There are ways to work around it but they are cumbersome.

    5 votes

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  12. It is very easy to accidentally overwrite a review file in create lists. There should be a pop-up that asks if you want to overwrite the file so that you know you're doing it.

    9 votes

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  13. Sierras Homebound Patron Report currently excludes items that are checked in via selfcheck (SIP2). Since almost all check-ins in our libraries are done through selfcheck machines, the report provides an incomplete history and is not usable for tracking items checked in for homebound patrons.

    Please update the report logic so that all check-in methods, including selfcheck check-ins, are included. This would ensure accurate reading history and make the module much more useful for libraries that rely on automated check-in workflows.

    3 votes

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  14. 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…

    40 votes

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  15. It would be great if the logic & momentum that introduced Send To - Rapid or Global Update in Sierra 6.3 & will soon allow the same shortcut to Delete Items could also be applied to the Notices function.

    I had submitted a similar request that the shortcut be added to Globally Purge Charges & am wondering if this might be combined into one request or if it's easier to introduce them one at a time?

    Use case: each week, Cincinnati generates a list of customers sent a statement of charges (bill notice) via Create Lists. This list is then…

    6 votes

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  16. Because our library does not use fines, having the "Failed to acquire fines payment lock. If not cleared, fines payments cannot be processed" message is of no utility for us. We'd love multiple users to be able to view a patron record without this message showing up.

    9 votes

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  17. It would be helpful to have the ability to prevent a hold from being canceled based on its pickup location.

    We have holds pickup lockers installed in three locations and are finding that if the lockers contain an item which has since had its hold canceled, the lockers will send a CheckIn SIP transaction to Sierra for that item, resulting in the item being [logically] used to fulfill someone else's hold [while physically still housed in a locker]. For popular new releases, this is happening more frequently than one might imagine. The ability to disallow the cancellation of holds at…

    10 votes

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  18. 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…

    10 votes

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  19. 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.

    28 votes

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  20. We would like to see more granulated permissions for user administration, especially with assigned permissions, settings, options, workflows, etc.

    We would like the ability to assign a particular group of user accounts (e.g., circ student employees) to a specific admin (e.g., head of circulation) without assigning ALL system administration. It would be helpful for troubleshooting and having this department be able to assign macros, specific permissions, and print settings to different accounts.

    Ideally, this "group admin" would have the ability to edit settings on accounts for options, settings, and workflows. It would be great if they could clone and create…

    9 votes

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