246 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…
80 votesPlanned for the Sierra May 2027 release (v7.1)
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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.
63 votesWe are planning to add the item cost to overdue notice data so it can be included in overdue notices sent through LX Starter as of Sierra 6.7.
Additional changes will be needed in LX Starter before the new data can be included on emails for overdue items.
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Remove duplicate items from paging list
Remove duplicate items on paging list. This is very confusing for staff. Even if there are 5 holds for an item if my library only has 1 available copy on the shelf then that item should only show up once on the paging list.
62 votes -
Keep Bib Information for Deleted Records (for Reading History)
Unlike Polaris, when a record is deleted in Sierra, all information is deleted from the system. Unfortunately, this means that Sierra libraries would not be able to take advantage of the Vega Enhancement to "Display Deleted Titles in Reading History." Thus patrons only see "Resource is not available" in their Reading History.
Patrons opt in to keep their reading history assuming that the data will be there when they look for it. They don't understand why there is no record of it, think something is broken with the system.
51 votes -
Update print templates to support current release of Jaspersoft Studio.
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…
51 votesSupport for a newer version of Jaspersoft Studio will be provided in Sierra 6.7.
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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…
49 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).
46 votes -
Provide full Branches table and full Location code list via Sierra REST API
Today, Sierra’s REST API does not provide a reliable way to retrieve a complete list of location codes (and their names/labels) as defined in Sierra’s Branches table (SDA: Admin > Parameters > General > Branches). This creates friction for discovery-layer implementations and other third-party integrations that require an authoritative, up-to-date list of locations.
Innovative Support shared that “it’s not possible to get a list of all locations using the REST API,” and that the closest option is the branches endpoint, which only returns locations that are linked to entries in the Branch Address table, not a full representation of the…
44 votes -
Offer the ability to retain a patron's receipt preference at checkout
At checkout, Circulation Staff must ask patrons at the end of each checkout if they want a printed receipt, email receipt, both, or none, or place a pop-up message on their account. It would be great if there were a way to retain each patron's receipt preference so that upon closing out the patron's record, the preferred receipt would be sent, print, both, or no receipt would be given.
42 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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Provide An Indicator/Warning When Order Has Already Been Sent to a Vendor
This is a resubmission of a just-expired idea from Jeremy G.:
In the print/send orders function, it can be easy to accidentally upload an order to a vendor multiple times. As a means to mitigate this error I propose a two part feature.
As a first step, the system should provide some indication when viewing the orders to ftp queue if an order has already been ftp'd once. I could see two methods for accomplishing this. 1) Add a column to the queue display for sent date, taking the most recent date present that has been appended to the ISBN…
41 votes -
Recycling Bin Feature for Clear Expired Holds & Holdshelf & Notices
We will periodically have situations, as we did this morning, where staff move to print their holdshelf report & for one reason or another (today's was some manner of technical issues with their printer), the content of the report is lost.
We can sometimes salvage this data from the back end by looking for holds cleared on the day by the login responsible, but it would be much easier if there were some sort of Recycling Bin style feature, where "cleared" files like the holdshelf report or paging lists were stored until the user logs out, giving them another chance…
40 votes -
Hold Pickup Reminder/Courtesy Notice
Idea: Create an additional notice type, Hold Pickup Reminder/Courtesy, that can be configured to send a reminder notice to patrons that they have a hold ready for pickup that is about to expire, similar to the courtesy notice for checked-out items.
Relevance: When you place an order for pickup at most other businesses, you are sent a reminder email before the pickup deadline that the item is ready for pickup. Libraries would benefit from a similar option, especially those that use hold pickup lockers where there is limited space for holds. This way, if a patron decides they don't want…
40 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…
39 votesThe product team will review this idea for consideration for a future release.
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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…
38 votes -
Passing the UPC Code
When an item lacks an ISBN in the 020 field (DVDs and CDs only generally have UPCs in the 024 field) the cover image is very much hit or miss. Syndetics has been contacted, however, it appears that Sierra needs to "pass the UPC code” in order for this to work. This addition would be helpful.
38 votesThis idea will be included in the Sierra November 2026 release (v6.7).
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New Skins for Sierra
This is a resubmission of a just-closed idea that was pretty well-received with 28 votes. New color options might breathe some new life into Sierra & be a fun way to mark its coming 15th anniversary as an ILS!
Can we get some new skins to choose from for the SDA/Sierra Web?
There are currently two: Half Dome & Glacier Point.
We currently use colors to differentiate between our Production instance of Sierra & our Test version. However, we also have a Training database.
Variety is the spice of life! How about a rose-colored skin, a powder blue, or a…
32 votes -
Add fund code field to item record
We need the ability to report on items based on the fund used to purchase them. Recently, I was asked to create a list of items added to the database using a specific fund code. This cannot currently be done in Create Lists because there is no common field that links item records to their associated order records.
Create Lists also does not allow us to pivot from an item record to its attached order record, or vice versa. This creates a significant reporting gap.
This functionality is important because a single bibliographic record can have multiple items purchased using…
31 votes -
Add ability to group itypes into categories in the new patron checkout limit table
With the new patron checkout limit table, we lost the ability to group itypes into a category if we want to use the other limits like library location. We need to be able to either group itypes in the new patron checkout limit table, or use a combination of the old table and the new. We really need the new library location limiter in the new table so that our ptype 30 can only checkout items at our offsite kiosk and no other library, but we now lose the ability to still group our itypes into categories. Our itypes are…
31 votes -
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.
31 votesThis will be implemented in Sierra in 2027.
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Multiple Notice Preferences
Allow patrons to choose one or more notice preferences. A patron would receive the same notice through any and all channels they want, allowing the library to better serve a variety of needs and lifestyles.
30 votes
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