107 results found

1. Retain SDA Search Terms Within Patron Session

   Prior to Sierra 5.3, when placing a series of holds for a patron in the Sierra Desktop App, the search terms would be retained from one title to the next. For example, if a patron wants holds placed for all seasons of the TV show How I Met Your Mother, a staff member with the patron's record open will click Add Holds, type the search terms "how i met your mother" in the Browse dialog and click Search. A suitable title is located and a hold is placed on it. All good so far.

   The undesirable behavior is observed when the staff member attempts to place a hold on another season in the series: When the Browse dialog reopens, the search term "how i met your mother" is not retained and the staff member must retype the search terms; prior to Sierra 5.3 the search terms would have been retained, pre-populating the search field. I propose that retention of the search terms be opt-in behavior chosen in Settings or Options or even a Y/N field in Admin Corner.

   Idea Value
   The loss of search term retention has been a major pain point for my Public Services coworkers. My suggestion to use copy/paste as a workaround to reduce retyping of the search terms was met with a surprising degree of hostility. I took the matter to iii Support and this was the response:

   ---

   Yes, this behavior did change in Sierra 5.3. The reason this behavior was changed is that the "remembering" behavior applies not just when searching for holds but also in the Check Out tab, so it could potentially result in staff checking out items unintentionally. We didn't publish this in the fixes for 5.3 because the steps are a little bit involved, but the problem scenario went like this:Open a patron recordFrom the Holds tab, Add Holds and search for an item barcode
   (place a hold, or not, it doesn't matter)Close the search window and the patron recordOpen a patron recordIn the Checkout tab, hit the Enter key (bringing up the search window)
   The search would be pre-populated with the previously searched item barcode
   If staff hit Enter again (to perform the search), that item will be checked out. probably unintentionally.

   ---

   While this is a decent explanation of why the behavior was problematic, I don't see why the search terms can't be cleared when the current patron record is closed instead. As I mentioned above, it would be fine if the search terms are only retained on an opt-in basis; just give us a checkbox somewhere, please.

   After voting (thanks in advance), please see my other opt-in Idea Lab entry.

   Prior to Sierra 5.3, when placing a series of holds for a patron in the Sierra Desktop App, the search terms would be retained from one title to the next. For example, if a patron wants holds placed for all seasons of the TV show How I Met Your Mother, a staff member with the patron's record open will click Add Holds, type the search terms "how i met your mother" in the Browse dialog and click Search. A suitable title is located and a hold is placed on it. All good so far.

   The undesirable behavior is observed when… more

   18 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   0 comments  ·  Circulation, Access Services & Fulfillment  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →
   How important is this to you?

   Nice to Have You must login first! Important You must login first! Critical You must login first!

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Submit Rating
   UNDER REVIEW  ·  AdminMike Dicus (Product Manager, Innovative) responded

   
   

2. Manage Holds (view outstanding holds reports) should include INN-Reach items.

   Currently to find a list of all INN-Reach items located on a branches holdshelf, not just expired ones is a difficult task. The Received Too Long report only allows you to sort by Patron Home Library which may not correspond to their hold pickup location. A person would need to run this report and look up each INN-Reach item to see if they are actually at the patrons home library, or a different branch. For library systems with multiple branches this is a time consuming process.

   The Clear Expired Holds and Holdshelf Function only allows you to view expired INN-Reach items and not the INN-Reach items that are on the holdshelf, but not expired.

   Adding INN-Reach items to the Holdshelf option so staff could view everything on their holdshelf not just items owned by their system would be immensely helpful. This is esepcially needed when items are missing from the holdshelf to accurately know what should be there and is not.

   Idea Value
   To get a list of INN-Reach items on a branches holdshelf the Received Too Long report would need to be run for 1 day. After the report is run every item would need to be looked up as Home Library and Pickup Location do not always match. For larger library systems with multiple branches this is an extremely time consuming process.

   This alternately could require an Innovative help ticket to ask for the list to be created for a certain branch within the system. This causes wait time, and more work for Innovative support staff.

   Adding INN-Reach items to the View Holdshelf options would help when items go missing from the holdshelf along with saving both library staff and Innovative time/work.

   Currently to find a list of all INN-Reach items located on a branches holdshelf, not just expired ones is a difficult task. The Received Too Long report only allows you to sort by Patron Home Library which may not correspond to their hold pickup location. A person would need to run this report and look up each INN-Reach item to see if they are actually at the patrons home library, or a different branch. For library systems with multiple branches this is a time consuming process.

   The Clear Expired Holds and Holdshelf Function only allows you to view expired INN-Reach… more

   26 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   0 comments  ·  Circulation, Access Services & Fulfillment  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →
   How important is this to you?

   Nice to Have You must login first! Important You must login first! Critical You must login first!

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Submit Rating
   UNDER REVIEW  ·  AdminMike Dicus (Product Manager, Innovative) responded

   
   

3. FTS File Saving Printing - Include Login

   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 in Data Exchange, not just FTS Print, that would be even better.

   Idea Value
   Consistency/showing login (Create Lists, Statistics, Data Exchange)

   Cut down on staff accidentally deleting a needed file

   Make it easy for sys admin staff to keep old files to a minimum

   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… more

   19 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   0 comments  ·  Circulation, Access Services & Fulfillment  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →
   How important is this to you?

   Nice to Have You must login first! Important You must login first! Critical You must login first!

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Submit Rating
   UNDER REVIEW  ·  AdminMike Dicus (Product Manager, Innovative) responded

   
   

4. Let patrons enter a thaw date for frozen holds

   Customers have the ability to freeze holds currently, but after the time has elapsed from them to be frozen, there is no message or alert, or automatic way for the holds to be "unfrozen".

   Make a way for the holds to automatically unfreeze, or at the least for the customer to get a notice that the time has expired, so that they can unfreeze the hold themselves.

   Idea Value
   Our staff look at holds and how they are progressing as an indicator for purchasing additional items. the frozen holds show up in this list as well, and it is challenging to find the items that really need some help. Customers forget they have frozen holds, and the holds just hang out there. This would be a good way to get a better handle on holds maintenance.

   Customers have the ability to freeze holds currently, but after the time has elapsed from them to be frozen, there is no message or alert, or automatic way for the holds to be "unfrozen".

   Make a way for the holds to automatically unfreeze, or at the least for the customer to get a notice that the time has expired, so that they can unfreeze the hold themselves.

   Idea Value
   Our staff look at holds and how they are progressing as an indicator for purchasing additional items. the frozen holds show up in this list as well, and it is challenging… more

   55 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   3 comments  ·  Circulation, Access Services & Fulfillment  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →
   How important is this to you?

   Nice to Have You must login first! Important You must login first! Critical You must login first!

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Submit Rating
   UNDER REVIEW  ·  AdminMike Dicus (Product Manager, Innovative) responded

   
   

5. Expose more fields via circ_loan_rule table

   In Sierra 5.5 the circloanrule view was added to SierraDNA, providing SQL access to an abridged form of the loan rule table. A few of the fields missing from this view are particularly notable and their addition would greatly expand on the opportunities to utilize this view in queries:nameis_bookablemax number of auto renewalsamount of fine

   Idea Value
   SQL access to this fields would enable the construction of more detailed loan rule based queries. In particular being able to look at fine rates and their impact on checkouts would be of great value.

   26 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   3 comments  ·  Circulation, Access Services & Fulfillment  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →
   How important is this to you?

   Nice to Have You must login first! Important You must login first! Critical You must login first!

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Submit Rating
   UNDER REVIEW  ·  AdminMike Dicus (Product Manager, Innovative) responded

   
   

6. Globally Update Loan Rules

   When there is a change to Loan Rules such as an increase to number of renewals, etc., it would be beneficial to globally update the field instead of changing each independently.

   During Covid we increased the renewals and then decreased them a year later. I was told there was not a way to globally update the field and had to go into each Loan Rule to make the change.

   Idea Value
   This would save staff time and possible errors. Freeing staff to be more productive in other areas.

   56 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   8 comments  ·  Circulation, Access Services & Fulfillment  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →
   How important is this to you?

   Nice to Have You must login first! Important You must login first! Critical You must login first!

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Submit Rating
   UNDER REVIEW  ·  AdminMike Dicus (Product Manager, Innovative) responded

   
   

7. prompt to clear item status at CHECKOUT : option for libraries to determine these statuses

   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 checkout workflows surrounding items with an item status that is not "-" (Available), so could libraries have the option to determine which item statuses generate a pop-up do not?

   We want to reduce repetitive strain. If we have a specific item status that has no staff action at checkout (and the item should just be checked out to the customer) we want to remove that barrier for staff.

   Our self-checkouts have the option to include/exclude item statuses. The workflow for checking out some of these item statuses is easier on the self-checkout than at the staff station (it is not consistent).

   I understand that some item statuses require a pop-up. But even removing 1 item status from the list of those that cause a pop-up would help us reduce the time it takes to check out an item.

   For new staff, pop-ups require training. Removing pop-ups simplifies our training.

   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… more

   21 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   1 comment  ·  Circulation, Access Services & Fulfillment  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →
   How important is this to you?

   Nice to Have You must login first! Important You must login first! Critical You must login first!

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Submit Rating
   UNDER REVIEW  ·  AdminMike Dicus (Product Manager, Innovative) responded