248 results found
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Create an API endpoint that delivers language translations to Vega
We maintain English and Te Reo Māori names for library branches and item locations in the Sierra branches table. Making these available through an API would allow Vega to display the correct names automatically, and provide a consistent bilingual experience. This would also remove the need to manage translations separately in Vega Admin.
4 votes -
PIN limitations in Sierra: PIN_ALPHA_NUM should accept special characters
PINALPHANUM does not accept special characters.
If Vega Discover continues to be limited by wwwoptions for PIN creation, this option should accept special characters.
PIN Best Practice: The strongest defense combines a long length (12+ characters) with a true random mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Length vs. Complexity: Recent security guidelines emphasize that making a password longer (like using a multi-word passphrase) is often more effective than adding a single symbol to a short word. That said, library users do use special characters and want them included in their library PIN.
Adding symbols increases the character set…
12 votes -
Make Additional PCODEs Available
Libraries are increasingly looking at ways to gather metrics on patrons without identifying them. Data on age, gender, race, or all manner of characteristics might be collected, depending on the library.
I'd like to see Sierra be more accommodating in what it can collect & store on a patron's record, with the introduction of one or more additional PCODEs that can be used to store a significant amount of fixed field codes.
For example, we partner with schools in our service area & offer not only educator cards, but do an upload of student data. Having schools within our service…
10 votes -
Add ability to query empty review files to the reviewFiles API
This idea is a bit of an addendum to Bob Gaydos' idea to create an endpoint that allows writing to review files (https://ideas.iii.com/forums/951745-ils-sierra/suggestions/50308716).
The current API cannot provide a list of empty files. That information would be incredibly helpful in conjunction with the other idea so that you may programmatically identify an available review file of sufficient size for your needs. Beyond that, it may be useful to use the API to write an alert mechanism for when your system may be running low on available files.
It is possible to explore this information via SQL, but the…
9 votes -
Create expanded RestAPI endpoint for patrons/validate that exposes a limited set of patron fields
We have many vendors who have a need to check data in a few patron record fields as part of their authentication process. Fields such a ptype, home library, the expiration date, etc...are necessary to confirm that a patron is affiliated with the institution subscribing to that vendor's resource and that their card remains in good standing are necessary to provide. However, doing so currently requires providing the patron read permission, which also exposes a variety of additional sensitive data that these vendors should not have access to for their needs (PII, checkouts, fines, reading history, etc.)
The lesser patron…
11 votes -
Allow users to freeze a hold even when an available item could be used to fill that hold.
If a library's circulation or OPAC rules allow a customer to place a bib or item hold, the customer should also be able to freeze that hold at any time. This functionality is available in Polaris, but not Sierra.
Currently, customers cannot freeze a bib-level hold if there is an available item that could fill the request. This prevents customers from managing their holds the way they want. In many cases, they do not know an appropriate "Not Needed Before" date, but they do know that they are not ready to receive the item immediately.
Allowing holds to be frozen…
19 votes -
Add Unique Control Numbers to Predefined Charges Table
Please add a unique, control number (ID) to predefined charges table in Sierra. This control number should be exported in the Fines Paid report. Currently, libraries waste significant administrative hours manually reconciling monthly, quarterly, and annual revenue because edited descriptions break automated data sorting (like Excel Pivot Tables).
The Problem:
To balance monthly revenue, libraries must sum payments by the type of predefined charge (e.g., photocopy charges, replacement cards, damaged books, donations).
Because Sierra lacks a dedicated, un-editable control number for predefined charges, we are forced to hardcode budget codes directly into the text description fields:
• 3323 Library Mug…3 votes -
REST API-compatible Time to Holdshelf/Time to Reshelve
Our library has deprecated the classic WebPAC in favor of a REST API-based custom discovery layer, but the Time to Holdshelf/Time to Reshelve temporary status message we've configured isn't included in the API response. It would reduce frustration for staff and patrons if we could implement a delay before items appear to be on the shelf when patrons check our website or mobile app.
Please add the temporary status to the REST API response.
7 votes -
Sierra Patron Address info updates
The Sierra Patron Record is able to be communicated to Vega Discover in such a way that differentiates the following fields:
Street Address Line 1
Street Address Line 2
City
State
Postal Code
Country
Discover does not parse Sierra addresses correctly.
1) New Discover registrations do not parse correctly in Sierra.
2) Existing registrations in Sierra do not parse correctly in Discover.This was the comment by Innovative Staff on this topic:
Discover does have difficulty with parsing Sierra patron addresses, and this is not changing in the July release. For libraries who do allow patrons to edit their own…5 votes -
Add index selector and pre-search limits to Check Out (Circulation Desk) Function
This idea is expanding on one originally proposed here by Catherine Kelso (https://ideas.iii.com/forums/951745/suggestions/47046682).
It would be helpful to more easily search on patron record indexes besides barcode when you need to (name, record number, e-mail, etc...) and for those sorts of searches it would be helpful to limit the search preemptively as you can in other search functions throughout Sierra. Say you want to search for the "Smith, John" with a teen ptype and a home library of anytown branch.
The current default search of entering a barcode should remain, it should just be simple to toggle to…
9 votes -
Generate Statement of Charges directly within patron record
It would be very helpful to be able to print or email a Statement of Charges directly from a patron record (and have it formatted for 8-1/2 x 11 paper and mail-ready).
Customers want a list of what they have out, and it looks very bad for the library to hand a customer a very, very long receipt when we are trying to save paper across the system.
10 votes -
check in claimed returned workflow - item location should reflect where item was made claimed returned
For libraries with floating collections, the branch where an item is marked Claimed Returned may not be reflected in the item record. This is because none of the three Claimed Returned options update the item's location.
Example
An item is checked out from Location A.
The patron reports returning it to Location B, and staff mark it Claimed Returned at Location B.
The item record still shows Location A.When marking an item Claimed Returned, staff have three options:
1.Add a Claimed Returned note to both the item and patron records.
2.Remove the checkout link between the patron and the…8 votes -
Allow Create Lists to sort and export the normalized best author and best title fields
These two fields can be incorporated into searches performed within create lists but are not available among the fields that can be exported or used for sorting. Best title normalized is particularly helpful for data brought into a spreadsheet as the removal of special characters and diacritics can greatly improving sorts and searching.
These fields are available via SQL, where I make frequent use of them, but for most of our users Create Lists is the only option for extracting data from the system.
7 votes -
Overlay matching should evaluate all repeatable subfields (e.g., every $a in the 019), not just the first occurrence
When a load table's overlay match point targets a repeatable field such as the 019 (OCLC number cross-reference), the load process only compares the first subfield occurrence against Sierra's index. Although Sierra correctly indexes every $a in the 019 individually, the overlay-match routine stops after the first $a. Any additional OCLC numbers stored in the second, third, or subsequent $a subfields are ignored when determining whether an incoming record should overlay an existing one.
As a result, records that should match an existing bib overlay as new duplicates instead, because the matching value lives in a $a other than the…
8 votes -
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.
28 votes -
Text/SMS Notice Preference
Please integrate text messaging/SMS as a notice delivery method just like print, phone, and email. Some patrons want texts and no other method. Even if patrons must complete a step outside Sierra, staff should be able to see and choose text as a preference. This would make things more consistent and easy for both patrons and frontline staff.
We had planned to switch to Vega Interact SMS but discovered that it is intrinsically linked to email notices, limiting its ability. We would love to have SMS as a real notice option in Sierra.
13 votes -
Set a maximum price allowed for the item price field
I'm blatantly copying this idea from a suggestion by Wes Osborn in the Polaris Idea Exchange (https://ideas.iii.com/forums/951742-ils-polaris/suggestions/46833076).
While creating item records, generally while following prompts in an item template, it is easy for staff to scan a value such as a barcode or ISBN into the price field by mistake, resulting in items that can incur bills in the billions of dollars if the issues are not caught. Additionally, it's easy to miss entering a decimal point and still wind up with charges exponentially higher than intended.
This could be mitigated by setting a maximum allow value for…
6 votes -
Access to SAML logs
When using the LDAP authentication option, it was useful to be able to see the authentication logs to diagnose login issues. After switching to SAML authentication, access to the SAML logs is only available to Innovative support.
I propose granting customers access to the CAS Apereo application logs so that we can see SAML authentication issues. These logs may not be as detailed as the LDAP ones since the authentication is happening at the IdP but they might provide clues to further investigate authentication issues.
1 vote -
Re-Page Item Level Holds
Our library would like to have pages for item-level holds repeat until they are filled. Currently, the only way to achieve this is by checking the "Do Not Clear" checkbox when running the item paging list each day. However, staff have to remember to toggle this setting every time they run the list, and if they forget, all previous pages will be lost and can't be restored the next time they run the list.
We'd like a way to have item pages persist by default.
14 votes -
Create user permissions/roles for limiting SierraDNA access
We have had a number of instances recently in which a vendor has requested SQL access in order for us to utilize there services. We are hesitant to allow for that (and have policies against it) due to the quantity of secure data that would also provide access to.
What we need is a way to provide lesser SQL access to particular users to allow them to tap into only the relevant tables (bibs & items for some. Circ_trans and patrons for others).
Beyond the vendor scenario it would also be fantastic to provide limited access to more of our…
17 votes
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