Information Technology

The Cataloging, Process, Policy and Training Committee and the Discovery Services Management Working Group have approved the following new material types to be added to bibliographic records and the public-facing library catalog :

Code	Image	Description
u		E-Book
v		Online Journal
l		Research Database
b		OSU E-Thesis
w		Online Video
y		Online Audio Music
x		Online Audio Non-Music
q		Other Online Resource
h		Microform

These new material types align with those recently added to the OhioLINK Central Catalog and will better sync both catalogs.

To ensure accuracy, the new material types will be added incrementally.  Online Video, Online Audio Music and Online Audio Non-Music are now available, and the remaining  types will be added soon.

Example from library catalog:

Please contact Michelle Henley if you have any questions.

The upgrade to Sierra 2.2 on May 5 added a new feature for Create Lists features: the ability to import record numbers into a review file.  This feature can be useful in a number of ways.

For example, if working on an inventory  project where you wish to verify that all available items in a collection are on the shelf.

• Create a review file using a query that will gather the desired collection.
• Export a list of item records,  titles, authors and call numbers.
• After marking any items that were not found, save the item record numbers of missing titles to a text file.
• The text file is then imported into a review file.
• Using the Global Update function, you could then change the status and add any staff notes, if so desired.

Text File Contents

• Valid record numbers must begin with the record type tag, such as ‘b’ for bibliographic records.
• Create Lists recognizes record numbers with a character-length equal to the smallest record number on the system up to the largest record number on the system.
• NOTE: The check digit must be removed. To remove the check digit:
  • In Excel, if for example the record number is in cell A1 enter the formula =LEFT(A1,LEN(A1)-1) in an empty cell
  • Copy the formula for the entire list of record numbers
  • Copy only the now shortened list column into a text file and save.

To import record numbers from a text file:

1. Select Create Lists from the Function list.
2. On the Review Files tab, select an empty review file by clicking its row or select a file to overwrite.
3. Click Import Records. If you choose a review file that is not empty, the system warns that you will overwrite the existing file:
   1. Click Yes to open the Import Records dialog box and overwrite the file.
   2. Click No to return to the list of review files.
4. Enter a name for the review file. The maximum length is 150 characters.
5. From the Store Record Type drop-down list, select a record type to store.
6. Click Choose File to open the Select File dialog box and specify the text file containing the record numbers you want to import. The record numbers from the text file appear in the multiline text box.
7. Click Import to create the review file or click Cancel to close the dialog box without creating a review file.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this new feature!

The Plan: Upgrade to Sierra 2.2

• Thursday, May 5, 2016 starting at 5:00pm
• Sierra & library catalog will be unavailable for approximately 2 hours

Issues Resolved after Upgrade

• Users cannot selected specific subfields in Create Lists (CAT-1198)
• In the catalog, limiting by year in Advanced Search only searches after start date and before end date (CAT-1207)
• Wrong date/time stamp on patron checkin receipts (CAT-2017)
• Unable to FTP to foreign vendor (ADS-215)

NEW! Sierra Web

Innovative is incrementally offering Sierra functions from a browser-based application as an alternative to the installed application.

Important things to know about this beta release of Sierra Web:

1. There is a limit of 5 concurrent logins in this first release of Sierra Web. At this point that limit is managed but the system. An attempted 6th login will be blocked.
2. A specific suite of modes will be available via Sierra Web (outlined below). If a user has permission for those modes when they login they will be able to use them. A user who logs in will be restricted per their set permissions.

Functions available in Sierra Web:

• Search/Holds Mode
• Count Use Mode(s)
• Renew No Patron Mode
• Checkin No Patron Mode
• Check Out (Circulation Desk)
• Clear Expired Holds and Holdshelf
• Count Use – Portable Reader
• Course Reserves
• Delete Records
• Fines Paid
• Held Items Delivery
• High-Demand Holds
• Manage Items In-Transit
• Merge Duplicate Patron Records
• Notices
• Offline File Processing
• Overdues Report
• Transfer Paged Items
• View Outstanding Holds

Enhancements after Upgrade

API

New and Improved Patron API Endpoints:

• Request to renew a checkout
• Validate patron PIN against valid PIN business rules
• Update patron’s PIN
• Get patron record by barcode
• Get number of renewals for a patron
• Get notes and queue length for holds

New Bibs API Endpoint:

• Reading MARC fields from attached holdings records
• Generate a MARC data file of bibs

Cataloging

• When using the Verify Headings function on the 7xx field and expanding the author entry, the entry displays as “null”. This is occurring in Compact Browse.
• In Data Exchange, 00-00-00 shows instead of an actual date when the records were deleted.
• Searching indexed fields in the SDA with an ampersand produces no results, even though that is what is represented in the catalog.

Circulation

• The border surrounding the “hold note” element when placing holds in SDA is missing. Actual functionality with the “hold note” element does not appear to be affected and this appears to be a display issue only.

Create Lists

• The Foreign Currency function does not display any information when entering a review file to search. The function works as normal when a record range is specified instead.
• The architecture of Sierra has been leveraged to permit users to execute advanced JSON searches to create lists. These searches allow more sophisticated groupings and facilitate sharing your searches with other libraries. As simple as a cut and paste to the Sierra Listserv. Specifically there are two new methods of building a Create Lists query:
  • an “Enhanced” query builder that displays query conditions in a more intuitive manner and supports associating multiple terms with a target, as well as a new “IN” operator
  • a “JSON” query builder that represents the query in JSON. These JSON-formatted queries can be saved to, and loaded from, the user’s local filesystem.

Desktop App

•  Quoted keyword search strings that include Boolean operators failing to return results in SDA.

Statistics

• Refactored to better access the Sierra architecture providing end users with an optimized experience running statistics in Sierra.

Please report any issues following the upgrade to Hub.

On December 17, 2015, we upgraded to Sierra 2.0 Service Pack 3. With that upgrade, we have been able to resolve some outstanding issues, as well as add some new features.

One of the most useful added features is the ability to search in Create Lists using relative dates. So, for example, say you want to periodically query for a list of new titles by subject matter or call number that were added in the last month.  Before, while you could save the query and use it again and again, you would have to manually change the date range each time. Now you don’t have to do that–because the relative date will automatically search by the range you define. Nifty.

Here is are the new relative date options and the keyboard shortcut that accompanies each one:

T (equals today)

• Retrieves records whose specified DATE field is equal to the day on which the search is run.

Y (equals yesterday)

• Retrieves records whose specified DATE field is equal to the day before the search is run.

V (within last week)

• Retrieves records whose specified DATE field falls within the previous calendar week (Sunday – Saturday).

M (within last month)

• Retrieves records whose specified DATE field falls within the previous calendar month.

A (is this many days ago)

• Retrieves records whose specified DATE field is equal to the specified number of days before the date on which the search is run.

B (is this many weeks ago)

• Retrieves records whose specified DATE field is equal to the specified number of weeks before the date on which the search is run.

C (is this many months ago)

• Retrieves records whose specified DATE field is equal to the specified number of months before the date on which the search is run.

Many libray staff were asked to vote from a list of suggested enhancements to improve the Sierra integrated library system. I appreciate everyone’s input on this important process. Our votes were added to the votes of all members of the Innovative  Users Groups, and the winning ballots are below.

These winning ballots are submitted to Innovative and play a key role in providing feedback so that Sierra can better function for all of us.  I am very pleased that many of the items that OSUL staff chose were winning ballot items.

Continue reading

Sierra offers two options for browsing through results: Expanded and Compact Browse.  Which do you prefer?

Expanded Browse provides a preview of information about each title: the format, selected fields from the bibliographic record, and a summary of attached records (i.e., item, order, checkin). If the user hovers the mouse over the information icon, even more detail displays:

Compact Browse is beneficial for those who want to want to view more results on the screen without having to continually scroll down to locate the desired record. The Compact Browse view might be selected when inputing a broad query that will likely result in a long list of records.  Similar results are grouped together and will display when the user clicks the plus sign next to each result:

Choosing how to Browse

To change the way search results display:

1. Click Admin from the top menu bar.
2. Choose Settings
3. From the Setting window, click on the Display tab
4. Under the heading Browse Options, check or uncheck the box for Compact Browse
5. Click OK to close the window
6. Log out and back in to Sierra to view the new browse option at work.