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  1. Each week staff go into Create Lists and repopulate a designated review file with current data from a system-generated list. Two examples of system-generated lists include the OVERDUE ITEMS and PURCHASE ALERTS files. It would be great if our site could schedule Sierra to identify a specific list number and replenish or refresh the contents of it with most current system file's data. This would make the task fully automated. It's important to our system to be able to designate which list or review file number to use for each system-generated file job, however. We are a consortium and our…

    1 vote

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  2. We are needing a way to update the inventory date field when an item is checked-in using the "checkin no patron" function.
    When an item that is already in "-" available status, and you check-in the item, there is no field in the item record that records the date of this transaction. We are wanting a checkbox on the screen in that function that when checked, will update the item inventory date so that we can then see the last time that item was scanned.
    This will help us with our inventory projects, as we do a full scan of…

    29 votes

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  3. Sierra patron records should include a patron pronouns field, so that library staff can record customers' stated preferred pronouns and use the correct language in conversations and communications with customers. The field should be able to display in the Brief patron display. This step would help to support inclusion, wellbeing, and belonging in libraries.

    13 votes

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  4. When matching on an ISBN for record loading, it should be possible to limit the match to the first 13 (or 10) digits. There are often extraneous data in 020 subfield |a. There are now other subfields where that is supposed to go, but it frequently ends up in |a anyway, and then your record loading won't match.

    7 votes

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  5. We are a Consortia of 51 libraries with 25 Acquisition's Units. We would like to see how many copies each library has ordered. This was available in Encore.(see screenshot) Vega does not show order records at all so we would like to see more detailed information in Sierra. Currently, you can only see that other libraries have ordered, not number of copies (see screenshot)

    15 votes

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  6. We have implemented SDA Context User functionality so staff will open Sierra using shared library login and then add their own login (permissions). We would hope faster way to change the user. At this time you must first remove previous user (Admin - Clear Permissions) and then add new user (Admin - Set Permissions). Staff suggested one function that would both Clear previous and Set new Permissions. E.g. Set Permission could remove the old user and then ask the new user. We set up macros for both functions so staff can use them instead of drop-down menu. However, I suppose…

    2 votes

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  7. Persistent Column Resizing in Summary Tab:

    Currently, users can resize columns in the Summary Tab (Orders, Items, and Holdings) during a session. However, these adjustments are not retained after the session ends, requiring users to reapply their preferred column sizes each time they log in.

    I propose an enhancement to allow users to permanently save column resizing preferences across sessions. This feature would greatly improve usability and efficiency by enabling a more customized and consistent interface tailored to individual workflows.

    This enhancement would benefit users who frequently manage data within the Summary Tab by reducing repetitive actions and ensuring a…

    7 votes

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  8. Sierra does not preserve any applied sorts after a "Notices Job" Edit dialog is closed. Instead, jobs are re-sorted by job number. This makes it difficult to keep track of which jobs have been reviewed, and generally contributes to unnecessary frustration in the Notices function.

    This improvement is related to "Arrange Saved Notice jobs" suggested by Kathy Setter, but instead of applying a custom arrangement I am asking for persistence on a short-term basis:
    https://ideas.iii.com/forums/951745-ils-sierra/suggestions/46677958-arrange-saved-notice-jobs

    Rationale:
    When making changes to multiple notice jobs at once, it is often necessary to sort notice jobs (e.g., by template, location, or "auto") to…

    12 votes

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  9. Technical Services Staff and Circulation Staff often ask for the ability to toggle between tabs in Check Out. We need to reduce repetitive keyboard strokes at checkout and this workflow requires staff to continually reach for the mouse during a circulation transaction.

    For example: There is no way to move from the patron check out screen to the patron holds screen without using the mouse to select the corresponding tab.

    The Check Out options (check out, checked, out items, holds, fines, check in, linked patrons, bookings etc) could be hardcoded to the drop down menu options so that Administrators could…

    10 votes

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  10. The problem that's prompting this suggestion:
    I work at Gondor Library. An item arrives from Rohan Library (outside of scope) to fulfill a hold for my Gondor patron. But staff notices it has damage that has NOT been noted in the record (or on the physical object).

    Gondor staff have two choices.
    a) the damage is extensive enough that we decide to not fulfill the hold and send it back to the owning library, Rohan.
    b) we use our judgement to decide whether the Rohan book's damage is minor enough to fulfill the hold.
    For example, only light stains on…

    17 votes

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  11. Our library has very generous allowances for both checkouts & holds on patron accounts. This can sometimes come into conflict with Sierra's seemingly arbitrary system limits. For example, when these items go unreturned & result in replacement charges, which then cannot be added because of the imposed limits. Like my waist can no longer accommodate 32" pants, Sierra cannot currently accommodate the lending policies taken advantage of by some of our more active borrowers.

    I'm sure there are other examples where these limits can manifest, but attached is an example message recently seen by staff which reads:

    CANNOT ADD FINE…

    1 vote

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  12. There must be a configuration in Sierra to limit the number of holds can be placed at the bib level. We want to limit the hold count to number of copies in the Bib.

    1 vote

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  13. The ability to create custom print templates is an essential component of many parts of the system. LX Starter is a viable replacement for the templates used for notices but not for the printing of things like due slips, spine labels, and hold slips that must remain within the SDA to support daily workflows.

    Print templates are designed in a third party software called Jaspersoft Studio, but Sierra's documentation lists version 6.0 as being the last supported version of that software. However, that version is roughly 10 years old and the installer only seems to exist as an old link…

    40 votes

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  14. One of our branches uses shielded RFID pads, and the software could hook in to their previous ILS and context switch the current RFID action (tag on, tag off, no change) depending on the active function screen by overlaying a screen over the ILS to track the toggling.

    Can support for this functionality be offered for Sierra? I assume it would involve working with the RFID vendors to get it up and running.

    The current workaround is to use Sierra macros to trigger the RFID function change, but this is reliant on staff remembering to press the keys which may…

    1 vote

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  15. In Sierra's invoicing function, when selecting an order record already paid, a pop-up box appears with a warning message stating, "ITEM ALREADY PAID FOR." Currently, the only option available is to click "OK," which immediately proceeds to the next step of entering the item's price on that paid order record. However, adding a button labeled "CANCEL" in the warning pop-up box would be beneficial to prevent staff from inadvertently continuing to pay for the item on the wrong record. Clicking "CANCEL" should close the warning pop-up without proceeding further, returning the user to the search results list. The "CANCEL" option…

    21 votes

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  16. As a default suppressed records are not included in the harvest stream. This becomes an issue when a harvested record later becomes suppressed in Sierra as the harvester does not know to remove it from its listings as its omission from the stream does not allow for identification of its suppressed state. I would recommend that the option to include suppressed records should be configurable as a harvest stream level, giving the library the ability to configure the inclusion/exclusion dependent on their business rules.

    9 votes

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  17. For testing purposes, it would be beneficial to be able to make a backup of a patron PIN, assign a new temporary PIN, perform the testing from the patron's perspective, and then restore the original PIN. This way we would not have to inconvenience the patron by asking them to reset their PIN when testing has completed.

    We can retrieve the encrypted PIN with this API GET request:
    https://library-app-server:443/iii/sierra-api/v6/patrons/patron-record-number?fields=varFields
    but the PIN string will be re-encrypted if we attempt to write it back using the patron record PUT request. We would like to have the option of passing a directive…

    1 vote

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  18. Our library recently started using LX Starter, which includes merge tags for the hold pickup location and expiration date in its template for hold cancellation notices. However, we've been told that Sierra doesn't pass this information to LX Starter and therefore this information can't be included in our cancellation emails. We would like to have this information added so we can provide additional information to our patrons about when and where their holds expired.

    16 votes

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  19. The current documentation on loan rules, loan rule determiner, and float determiner table is very limited, and training on these important functions do not exist within Innovative's training & learning center. More comprehensive documentation with examples would help libraries better manage loan rules, and perhaps simplify how libraries' existing rules are setup.

    20 votes

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  20. Do you want all of your patrons to receive due slips by email, every time they check out an item?

    Express Lane can be configured to automatically print a due slip, or allow patrons to choose between some combination of print or email due slips with an option to decline, but cannot be configured to automatically send an email due slip with no option to decline.

    In our special library, it is desirable to always send email due slips with no option to decline. We want our patrons, who are all employees, to receive this documentation for every loan for…

    5 votes

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