September 13, 2018

 Our contract with SirsiDynix is up in March 2019. The 2 ILS systems being considered are SirsiDynix and Evergreen. Evergreen is an open source model and is web based. If you can get onto the Internet, you can access Evergreen. However, Sirsi will be also switch to become web based so it will look different in the future. Either way, everyone will need to learn something new.

Evergreen is put out by a company called Equinox. There will be support and training if it is voted for us to move to Evergreen. A hopeful date to go live with Evergreen would be April 1, 2019. You can find a video on Evergreen’s presentation here:

https://recordings.join.me/JnRreUGqgkiK1Cuqv-9cNg

Allison also recommended doing searches in Sirsi and Evergreen. You can find a sheet with search terms to try here

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xaHcxOMAj0E-vdD-ejee8r9BF4-WI127kb2gfdi3zU4/edit?usp=sharing

Allison suggests all libraries should start to clean up their collections and the data in Sirsi. Please contact her if you need a specific report such as items with no price, users that have a number for their name, etc.

PLDA will be voting next week on how to proceed with the ILS systems.

 Checked out items should no longer be showing up on the Clean Holds Reports. If you are still finding them on your reports, please let Melanie know.

 Renewals have changed. When an item is renewed, it renews from the original due date, NOT the day of the renewal.

Patrons cannot renew their own materials until it is 3 days before the due date. Staff ARE able to renew items in Workflows, regardless of how close it is to the due date, as long as they click the item as “SEEN” when renewing.

13 libraries have opted in to have automatic renewals for their patrons. This means patrons at those libraries will have their items automatically renewed 3 days before their due date. The patron will then be notified via email  the renewal has occurred. They will also receive an email notification when items are not eligible for renewal as long as there is an email address on the record. It does not matter if the patron’s preference is to be notified via phone. The system will still send an email.

Renewal policies are the same. Express items and items with holds on them will not renew and items renew only once. If a patron’s card is about to expire, they will not get the full renewal period. Books will also not be due on a day where the library is closed.

 Did you know? Anyone who lives in New York state can obtain a New York Public Library library card. It’s true! Check out their website.  https://www.nypl.org/library-card

 There was hope that with a Sirsi upgrade, we would be able to limit the amount of media a patron was allowed to borrow. Since there are too many different iTypes for media, it’s not possible. Therefore, there is no change.

 Allison will be creating a template on BlueCloud where you can check if damaged or lost items were paid for at another library.

Allison’s Report

 Please check your stash of non-resident library card application forms: Do they have the WLS address at 570 Taxter Road? If you need updated copies please click here.

https://www.westchesterlibraries.org/wp-content/files/pdfs/WLS_Non-Resident_Card_Application.pdf

 Please check the list of Circulation contacts and make any updates as necessary here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qfk4FDMflsEBtaX_T5x9cIdCPapYFqTFV8zd2Br4EsU/edit?usp=sharing

 Allison wanted to know if any libraries use the ADULT-NEW, TEEN-NEW and JUV-NEW profiles when creating cards.

 Coming in 2019, Allison wants to have a TechXpert Program. This would be a person at each library who can assist in answering tech questions. It would be a Badging program to certify staff in different skill categories, eg. Hardware, Windows, ILS Circulation, ILS Tech Services, Public Catalog Interfaces (desktop/mobile app), eResources by vendor, etc. It would be a good self-assessment tool while also helping others. Look for more information in the new year.

 There are 2 workshops coming up.

The first is on Tuesday, September 18 from 10-11:30AM Web Literacy: Google Drive For Collaboration at Bronxville Public Library
Learn to streamline your work and work with others by using Drive and Shared Docs, Sheets, and Calendars. Practice hands-on – uploads, downloads, and sharing – and get all of the information that you need to lead formal and informal patron training. Requires basic Windows navigation, browser, mouse and keyboard skills.

Workflows Catalog Search Refresher
Wednesday, October 3, 2018, 9:30 AM-11:00 AM
Ossining Public Library Conference Room, 53 Croton Avenue, Ossining, NY
Update your skills with best practices, learn ins and outs of searching, and get tips and tricks for ferreting out those difficult to find titles! If you’re a new user or haven’t stopped to see what’s new recently, this opportunity is for you.

Please register for these workshops at http://evanced.westchesterlibraries.org

Sharing Session

 Scarsdale is undergoing a major renovation so they will be closed for 2 years. They are in a temporary space and they have a small circulating collection.

 Chappaqua received a bond to remodel. There is no time table yet but they anticipate having to close a section of the library for 6-8 weeks.

 New Rochelle received a NY State Construction Grant to remodel their Circulation area. The remodel will start in December. They will also have self-checkout.

 Angela wanted to share that Enterprise shows little icons for the different types of media in the “Format” field. It’s a helpful tip for patrons who may want a CD audiobook and not a playaway.

 Rye Free Reading Room is using receipts that stick to materials. These receipts could damage materials.

 There was a discussion of how long libraries keep their books in “New” and if libraries still have “Express” DVDs.

 Please unlock media cases when sending items to other libraries.

 Please use the map on WLS’s website to determine which library a patron should receive a card from.

 Bullet Aid is a great resource for funding museum passes which can be expensive.

The next meeting is on November 8 and Chappaqua will take minutes.

Submitted by
Marie Trapasso
OSS