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ILS - Sierra

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  1. Sierra 6.6 includes an upgrade to PostgreSQL 16. Innovative should be more specific and tell us that we are upgrading to PostgreSQL 16.10. PostGres 16.14 was the last version in this cycle.

    Does Innovative upgrade PostgreSQL with each Sierra upgrade? Will they patch between upgrades with any security fixes?

    Libraries need to know Innovative's plans PostgreSQL development, and I am unsure if they are always included in the upgrade notes.

    1 vote

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  2. We've updated many of our data fields to have long names that make sense to front end staff who see patron and item records, however Create list sees the long name values when creating a list search, but the export of the data exports the system name. For example PCODE3 is called "Local Library" for our system, but a create list export defaults back to PCODE3. It would be nice to be able to export using the contexual long name so admins and create list users don't have to have a cheat sheet or remember what the system code is…

    1 vote

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  3. Scheduler is a powerful tool. Libraries would like to use that tool to schedule SQL scripts. I understand that libraries use 3rd party tools to create SQL statements and then schedule/export/send the results to other 3rd party tools. It would help a lot of libraries that don't have the resources to do this extra setup if a query could be added to scheduler and that query be emailed to one or more individuals in a csv file.

    Why do libraries have use SQL? SQL allows us to query/export/link fields that cannot be queried in create lists. Querying the database is…

    1 vote

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  4. Our library uses automated lockers to lend laptops to patrons for in-house use. We'd like to block patrons whose cards have expired from borrowing until they come to the desk and renew, while still allowing borrowing for patrons blocked for overdues since these items won't be leaving the library. Our vendor is able to accommodate this for other customers because their ILS sends the patron expiration date in the BW field in the 24 response. Sierra's response only indicates the block in the first position of the patron status element, which includes blocks for all reasons, not just account expiration.…

    5 votes

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  5. We periodically have customers that have two first names, but not a last name. When hold slips are printed, Sierra interprets the second name as their last name, but this is not the case. We would like to just have their two first names show up on the holds slip, if possible. We have done a workaround for now to ensure that the name they use is the second name listed so that their holds slips show the first name they use, but it would be better to have both names printed.

    1 vote

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  6. With the new Patron Checkout Limits table, we have lost the ability to group patron types (ptypes) into a category when configuring checkout limits that also use criteria such as Library Location or Item Location.

    Currently, a separate row must be created for every individual ptype, which significantly increases setup and maintenance effort. In environments with many patron types that share the same checkout limits, this results in a large number of duplicate entries.

    We would like the ability to define and use Patron Type Categories/Groups within the new Patron Checkout Limits table, similar to the functionality available in previous…

    18 votes

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  7. Currently, when a record is deleted in Sierra, the system captures the date via the deletiondategmt, but it doesn't track the exact time, the specific Sierra user, or the process used to delete it. We would like to see this metadata enhanced to include the Sierra user, a timestamp, and the function or process used (Delete Records, API, etc.), with the date.

    Tracking these details is critical for consortium management, system auditing, and data integrity. Having this information readily available would significantly improve our ability to handle targeted staff training when records are deleted in error, investigate the…

    8 votes

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  8. Many libraries offer mail delivery services for patrons who are unable to visit in person. Currently, when items become available, these patrons receive a standard "ready for pickup" notification, even though their materials will be mailed to them. This creates unnecessary confusion and may lead patrons to believe they need to come to the library.

    Providing the option to customize or opt out of specific notifications, such as "Ready for Pickup" alerts for patrons enrolled in mail delivery, would greatly improve clarity and enhance the user experience.

    5 votes

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  9. The log files in the system currently have no way of tracking a given checkout to either a specific computer terminal OR to an individual sierra login. We occasionally have reason to need to confirm certain actions by staff members, but the log does not allow us to confirm what staff member performed a given circulation transaction except by stat code.

    4 votes

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  10. The SAML login page with the option to choose SAML or Library login is very basic and does not convey information to patrons concerning the choice. In addition, the customization have limited options and are only available to Innovative support.

    The proposed idea is to provide more customization options for this page and open these customizations to customers through a self-service feature. In addition to the current options available to Innovative such as logo changes and colors, the SAML login page should have options to add a block of text for instructions using HTML so that links could be included.…

    1 vote

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  11. Ability to find the most checked out item in a year

    Please add a simple way in Sierra to report the most checked out item for a selected year, including the option to show the top five checked out items.

    Currently, this is very difficult or impossible to do directly in Sierra because checkout totals are not stored in a way that allows staff to easily rank items by circulation count for a specific year. Create Lists can find items based on fixed fields, item data, and limited transaction-related criteria, but it cannot easily produce a yearly “most checked out”…

    6 votes

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  12. It would be helpful if LX Starter allowed for patrons to receive checkout receipts via email. Sierra currently supports customizable checkout receipt emails using Due Slip print templates, but these are difficult to work with.

    51 votes

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  13. It would be useful to have CAS Apero enhanced to either:

    1. re-ingest the metadata automatically once the validUntil date is reached or

    2. have a setting to ignore the vaildUntil date.

    We are currently implementing OpenAthens which has a daily metadata refresh meaning the validUntil parameter is also changing daily.

    As Sierra cannot currently auto re-ingest metadata or be configured to ignore the validUntil parameter, we are currently hosting an edited metadata file on our web server (with a really long validUntil date) as a work around.

    1 vote

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  14. The vendor payment address should be accessible at invoice payment function. Currently, the invoicing function needs to be closed & address information accessed at order record, vendor, etc.

    2 votes

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  15. I know its shocking when the subject of pop-ups in Sierra comes up that anyone would want "MORE!," but our Acquisitions staff would like to see a warning of fund spending over limit at invoicing in addition to ordering.

    Their rationale is that shipping & Mylar costs usually cannot be pre-determined. Once posting happens, the fund goes negative. Since there is no going back, like when you're about to go down the chute at the end of a log flume ride, there should be a warning.

    3 votes

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  16. During the Circulation Forum at this week's IUG, a few libraries brought up their continued interest in going fine free, but also shared how they still faced challenges within their respective institutions from those who felt materials would not come back.

    This is a realistic concern, especially for libraries that couple going fine free with the protracted loan periods made possible by autorenewals. It can sometimes be challenging to get customers to return things, so we appreciate the availability of patron blocks that will prevent checkouts, renewals, etc., but not penalize a customer financially, like the ability to suspend borrowing…

    10 votes

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  17. From time to time we'll see support tickets where, because of some glitch in the discovery layer, a patron has managed to place upwards of 60 bib level holds on a title.

    The holds need to be cancelled in Sierra, so you select 'All.' However, doing so, you still have to address each item individually with a series of additional pop-ups. Over & over again.

    This is just one example where I'd like to see selecting 'All' allow for making a single, batch change on the selected records.

    4 votes

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  18. In the Patron View/Edit Record window the group of fields at the top cannot be arranged in any way but the default. It would be nice to be able to arrange these fields in a way that meets the needs and use of our staff. For example, I would like to be able to put all the editable fields in the first 1-2 columns, such as exp date, language, notice preference, patron type. Then all the uneditable fields (total checkouts, total renewals, circ active...) to the right of these columns. It would be nice to have a sort of drag…

    2 votes

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  19. As a consortium, we schedule several monthly jobs/tasks for all 78 library locations. Scheduler does not allow you to copy an existing job/task and apply it to another library. We had to manually add each job, even though the majority of the parameters were the same. (78 lib * 5 tasks each is a lot of manual work.) And/or we should be able to create a template to reuse.

    1 vote

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  20. The Transfer Paged Items function in Sierra will display one of two statuses when the report is run - Eligible or Ineligible. You then check or batch select the requests you want to transfer. But the results might mix eligible items wit ineligible items & there's no way to group them together to make the selection & transfer process easier.

    Adding the ability to sort by the Status column would allow us to select the entire batch of items eligible for transfer much more easily.

    1 vote

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