Circulation Committee Meeting May 9, 2023

Updates/Demos

  • Patron block and override troubleshooting
    • STAFF_CHR : This means that a staff member has manually put a block on a patron’s account.
    • Hold ratio exceeded – This item is not renewable because there are holds on it. You can right-click on the title (not the barcode) and look at the holds on an item to verify if there are actually holds
  • 3.10 Upgrade Highlights There is a preview scheduled on May 18th, on the evanced calendar
  • Staff Portal
    • The Evergreen 3.10 home screen is customizable. Our test server has a customized display, including links to the transit lists, cash report, simple reports, item and record buckets, submit a helpdesk ticket, and Evergreen documentation, along with the usual check out and check in links. The intent is to surface the things that we use often that are otherwise buried.
      Allison suggested that she will send us a poll to see what links we might find useful here. Linking to lost notices might be a good choice
  • Staff Catalog (Traditional) no longer available
    Staff should bookmark the new WLS catalog with the Aspen interface to see the patron view. With 3.10 our OPAC skin is no longer supported so only the “stock” OPAC would be available, so we are using the Aspen interface.     https://opac.westchesterlibraries.org/
  • Circulation (Experimental)
    This is a work in progress. Currently not all menu items are available.  Angular programming gives it a new look (like the cataloging screens that were updated last time). There is some color banding to make things easier to read, both on the patron screen and the screen for registering a new patron. Standard circulation module is still available.
  • Simple Reports
    Allison provided a brief demo of Simple reports. It starts empty, but you can build a report using the drop-down menu items to select data to be displayed and filters to be applied. There will be training offered after the upgrade.
  • Multi-language options
    Lindsay also told us that 3.10 has language specifications and will be able to produce notices in Spanish, either as a separate notice or inline translation. Notices will be HTML.  (testing is ongoing)

Reminders

  • Replacing a patron barcode? Unless the username has been changed by the patron to something unique, update the barcode in the username field to match the new barcode. Patron account will not work properly if there are two different barcodes in those fields
  • Send summer hours or other changes to the helpdesk just prior to any change so they can change the open hours in the OPAC.

Discussion/Q&A

Greenburgh Lockers are at about 50-60 percent capacity. Most people pick up well before the hold expiration. A few glitches but running pretty smoothly.

Some libraries are experiencing trouble with Edge settings not “sticking” and having to be reset each day (headers and footers, size of print on screen, etc.  This has happened as libraries switched from Chrome to Edge. Allison suggested helpdesk tickets whenever you see odd behavior, and to use the tickets as more of a communication tool, not only for solving acute problems.

BDH is having issues with computers slowing down as the day progresses (Notify helpdesk)

YCR is still having issues with not enough virtual desktops being available (around 8:30am), despite staggering staff logins. This should also be reported to the helpdesk.

LEW is still having issues with the browser crashing daily, sometimes multiple times

Allison says that  Edge settings are saved locally, but transactions happen at the server.

Check the spreadsheet to make sure your library’s contact information is up to date.

Next meeting date – September 12, 2023, 9:30-11am (Nora should be taking minutes after switching with Marie)

There is discussion about in-person/hybrid meetings in the fall

We’ll talk about signing into the helpdesk site.

Laura Burk

Greenburgh Library

5/11/2023