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260 results found

  1. 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…

    28 votes

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  2. 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…

    28 votes

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  3. I recently wanted to run a search for all records that matched certain criteria and did not have an 856 field. However, Create Lists does not currently have a "lacks field" option. It would be very helpful to be able to search for records that do not have certain fields.

    28 votes

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  4. Customers want to know what titles they've checked out even if the library no longer has it. It would be ideal if Sierra (and subsequent discovery layers can pull the info) could save the title and author in the record metadata so that even if the bib record is deleted, the customer can see it.

    28 votes

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  5. We have shelves for new materials, and item location codes for these ("new mysteries," "new fiction," "new DVDs," and lots more). Moving items from the new shelves to the regular shelves is a chore, both in handling materials and in knowing (and selecting) what location to change them to. It would be great if you could just get into a function in Sierra that would change the current item location (the "new" one in my example) to the permanent item location (a new field that would be added with this idea, which would catalogers would populate when the item was…

    27 votes

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  6. 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…

    27 votes

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  7. 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:…

    27 votes

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  8. Our library uses the icode1 field as a statistical category code. We'd like to be able to define our icode1 values, with codes and labels stored in Sierra and visible to staff. Currently we keep a list of codes and their meanings stored in a shared drive and have to share it with our cataloguers. Staff can see the "stat category" field in item records, but there's no translation anywhere in Sierra and the userdefinedicode1_myuser SQL view is blank.

    27 votes

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  9. When checking in an item over Sierra, it would be helpful to have an extra column added for item status. e.g. Available, In Transit or On Holdshelf. This would add more transparency when processing items (especially if we are interrupted mid-scan), allow for double checking items are placed in the right pile, and help with training new staff who may want to have more visibility around the different journeys an item can take once returned. Added bonus: If it can show the additional sorting groups available in IMMS, this will assist staff even more.

    26 votes

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  10. 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…

    26 votes

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  11. 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.

    26 votes

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  12. We complete many repetitive tasks in cataloging and patron record management each day. This entails using Create Lists to generate the list, and then using Global Update to perform the same set of edits each time. We need Scheduler to be able to connect into Global Update to perform those tasks automatically.

    This may require enhancement of Global Update to save the Command Input, or it might mean adding the Command Input choices to Scheduler.

    Example:
    Scheduler runs an updated Create List using a saved search query to identify items that need their suppression code updated.
    It then uses a…

    26 votes

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  13. 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…

    25 votes

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  14. The Time to Holdshelf feature in Sierra is useful in keeping patrons from showing up too early to pick up their holds. As seen in the attachment "Discovery Layer View" – which in our case happens to be BiblioCore – the availability status correctly reflects that the recently checked-in item "Easter Mice!" is not ready for pickup because the item is en route to the pickup location (which in this case is a set of freestanding pickup lockers in a remote area of the county).

    However, the holds status as displayed in the SDA incorrectly reports the item as being…

    25 votes

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  15. 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 "Millennium Green" as an homage to the Millennium database?

    25 votes

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  16. We occasionally have issues with staff abusing their ability to waive fines or deleting items inappropriately or accessing patron accounts outside of acceptable library operations. We would like to have a way to view these actions within a log file associated with each Sierra login (or filterable by login) so that these activities could be periodically audited by managerial staff and retroactively be reviewed when inappropriate system activities are believed to have taken place.

    25 votes

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  17. After spending over an hour adding new print templates to every login for a new library, I am once again reminded of the inefficiency of the current methodology for assigning print templates to logins.

    Idea: Print Templates can be assigned like Permissions for Sierra. They would have their own sidebar, and logins could be added to each print template. That way, it only takes a couple of clicks to add print templates in mass to several logins, rather than clicking into the login, then settings, then print templates, then scrolling to find each print template and set the prompt. This…

    24 votes

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  18. 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…

    24 votes

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  19. Sierra 6.5 saw the move of the process for restarting terminal sessions from our text-based management tool to the Sierra Admin App. While I'm chuffed enough about that to be writing this enhancement idea on Thanksgiving Day (and to be using the word chuffed), I'm hoping further development can make it even better & restore some of the functionality from the admin app that isn't available in this updated interface.

    Specifically, I'd like to be able to restart a range of terminals (for example, all staff sessions), mirroring the Restart Multiple Terminals option in text-based. Yes, we can check a…

    24 votes

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  20. 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…

    24 votes

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