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  1. It is currently an option to be able to set the default view of an item record across Sierra. However, it would be nice to be able to have a different default view set for the different functions in Sierra.

    For example:
    When in the Circulation function - I'd prefer the default view to be Hold.
    When in the Cataloging function - I'd prefer the default view to be Item.
    When in the Acquisitions function - I'd prefer the default view to be Order.

    I understand that I could just have multiple windows open and set the default view differently…

    21 votes

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  2. The current "Frozen Holds" function in WebPAC does not allow for patrons to select a date at which they want their holds to be "unfrozen". Staff have the ability to set a "Not Wanted Before" date on behalf of the patron, but there is currently have no way to modify the date of a frozen hold on behalf of a patron in the Sierra Desktop App. SDA should have the option to change that date once frozen by the patron, in the event the patron cannot unfreeze it themselves.

    Staff feedback: "We've had a lot of patron confusion around freeze…

    21 votes

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  3. In Sierra - SDA and Web - you can sort review files in Create Lists by the column header, i.e., file #, current records, max records, type, status, login and created.

    In the Admin App (BACK END MANAGEMENT > Review Files), the only columns displaying are file # (which doesn't appear to match the file # in the SDA/Sierra Web), number of records (= max records), current and name. Sorting by column is not an option.

    The display, labeling and function for managing review files should be consistent.

    Idea Value
    When managing review files in the admin app, particularly when…

    21 votes

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  4. When you checkout an item whose item status is not '-' (AVAILABLE), the system takes special action depending on the item's STATUS value. For those item statuses that generate a system prompt, the library would like the option to determine whether there is a prompt. This would have a significant positive impact on checkout workflows.

    [I could place another "idea" for check-in prompts as well]

    Idea Value
    Our library assigns item statuses to items that generate a system prompt to clear the item's status at checkout (eg. missing, in processing, trace, and unavailable").

    I appreciate that libraries may have different…

    21 votes

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  5. 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…

    20 votes

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  6. 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:…

    20 votes

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  7. 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…

    20 votes

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  8. 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…

    20 votes

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  9. 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.

    20 votes

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  10. 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.

    19 votes

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  11. I was asked recently to create a list of items added to the database based on a fund code. I don't believe that I can do that in Create Lists. This is because order records and item records have no common field to link them.

    I also cannot use Create Lists to pivot item records to their attached order records or vice versa.

    We need to be able to do this because 1 bibliographic records may have items attached that were purchased from different funds. Example. 1 Fiction title may have items purchased from an ARP (automatice release program), and…

    19 votes

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  12. Description
    Sierra will enter the FTP login information automatically when downloading vendor status reports when that information is saved in the system.

    Value
    Makes it easier to retrieve files quickly and easily.

    19 votes

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  13. by Kathy Setter Although we can sort by columns. in the saved notice jobs there is no way to rearrange them into a preferred order without being creative in naming the jobs (numbering, adding letters, etc). I would like to be able to move the lines to arrange them in the order most useful for staff. In other places you can right click and move up or move down, and that's what I would like to do here.

    19 votes

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  14. As it's recommended to regularly delete old files after printing to FTS File Save, it would help to know who the owner is of the files that need to be deleted, much like you know the login/owner of old Statistics result files and Create List review files. While the system administrator may have an idea of who owns what files, staff may ignore naming conventions, etc., making it difficult to determine whether it's okay to delete an old file or if it it's something that should be kept for record keeping purposes. If this could be expanded to all files…

    19 votes

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  15. 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.

    18 votes

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  16. As the system administrator overseeing a 54-member library consortium, managing Offline File Processing is a routine responsibility. However, we often encounter delays in processing files because libraries don't consistently notify us when they upload offline files. This results in files remaining unprocessed until the next library contacts us, potentially causing unnecessary checkout delays. If we process the files too many days after uploading, additional errors may occur, making it challenging to track items adequately.

    An email notification for Offline File Processing would ensure timely handling of uploaded files. We could proactively monitor file uploads, swiftly process them, and promptly address…

    18 votes

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  17. Someone at CHPL is suffering from Polaris envy & suggested Sierra offer a comparable record to copy/duplicate patron records. They're hoping for a way to speed up the record creation process for families of 5 or 6 that visit the library together & all need to register for cards, which is apparently not an uncommon scenario. The ability to quickly replicate certain fields (address, home library, maybe phone, e-mail, etc.) from one record for x more should facilitate that.

    18 votes

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  18. 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…

    18 votes

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  19. The first request we got after releasing emailed Due Slips was for the option to generate both an email and a print slip. Some people like the physical reminder in the form of a printed slip (that doubles as a bookmark!) and an electronic version that they can use as a reminder or a fallback.

    18 votes

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  20. When you retrieve a patron record, the system displays information from that record in the top half of the window. See https://csdirect.iii.com/sierrahelp/Default.php#sril/sril_disp_patron.html for details.

    This height of this area of the patron record display is quite short.
    While you can make adjustments with WHAT is displayed, the number of columns used in each display is not configurable. (I.e., the Custom Display option always displays the specified record fields in a single column.).

    Yes, to view more fields in the patron’s record, you can hover your cursor over the i icon (which no one pays attention to/misses completely), and an expanded…

    18 votes

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