LINKcat News

New! Faster! Previous Patron (item#) report.

We have created a  different version of the Previous Patron report that searches by item number (instead of item barcode) in order to resolve the reported issues with slow generation and timing out.   The statistics tables that we use for this report records item data by the item number not the item barcode.  The search had to go outside the statistics table to connect the item number with the item barcode and then generate the report, which is why those searches were either taking a long time to generate or timing out.

The new report instructions require staff to search for the item number first, then use that number to run the report.  You will only be able to access the item number for items that your library owns.  If you need to access Previous Patron information for an item that your library does not own, you can still use the Previous Patron (barcode) report.

The instructions for Previous Patron (item #) have been posted to the Crystal Reports web page.  Thanks to everyone who provided information and details that helped narrow down the problem.  We are still working on the Previous Patron (barcode) report and will send it out for testing when we get a faster response time.

Changing default LINKcat search to Library Catalog

On October 1, the default search on the main page of the LINKcat PAC will change from Title to Library Catalog.

Library Catalog is an all-keyword search, so you can search the title, author, subject, etc. or a combination. You can still choose a specific index from the drop-down (Title, Author, etc.) if you wish to do so. (This selection is retained after the search is performed.) The ILS PAC Subcommittee approved this change at its September meeting. The change will be announced to patrons via a LINKcat slide.

ILS Collection Development Policies

We have collected and posted all of the ILS Collection Development Policies together in one place. These policies have not changed recently, but some were still posted on the old Dynix Automation web site. We have moved them to the Policies section of the ILS web site.

The ILS Collection Development Policies are:

• Member Purchasing Responsibility
• SCID (South Central In Demand)
• Shared Collections

LSTA 2014 Technology Grants

In the past two months we have solicited ideas for the 2014 LSTA Technology grants via Technology and ILS Committee cluster reps. The ideas were discussed at the committee and then evaluated by the SCLS ILS and Technology staffs. Below are the grant projects that we submitted. 

1)      RFID Tags. 9 of the 43 SCLS libraries in the shared ILS (LINKcat) are using RFID technologies. LINKcat libraries benefit from an open resource sharing policy.  When items from non-RFID libraries are received at RFID libraries to fill patron requests, it is beneficial to tag the item for the ease of patron self-checkout. Patrons will benefit from a standard self checkout process at the RFID libraries. Non-RFID libraries would benefit by having their items tagged should they someday implement RFID as well.

2)      Integrating LINKcat with 3^rd party databases.  LINKcat is the shared ILS using LibLime Koha for 43 of the SCLS member libraries.  Since Koha is an open source ILS, SCLS has developed the searching interface to be a modern and highly functioning retrieval tool for materials held in libraries.  We also load bibliographic records for electronic resources such as Wisconsin’s Digital Library (OverDrive).  However, these records are not integrated and patrons cannot see current status, etc.  Some third party databases such as OverDrive and Ebscohost have developed APIs that allow the ILS to integrate more completely.  The goal of this project is to pursue development for LibLime Koha so that patrons will be able to search electronic resources databases such Wisconsin’s Digital Library and Ebscohost (via BadgerLink) and to see real-time statuses where appropriate.  All patrons using LINKcat will benefit from this project.  By incorporating electronic resources searching into LINKcat, the opportunities for finding appropriate resources expands greatly.  This is particularly true for patrons in rural areas who may not be as close to their library as in more urban communities.

3)      Increasing bandwidth in libraries. The majority of the libraries using the SCLS managed network do not have enough bandwidth to meet the ever increasing demands of their patrons.  Access to wireless is becoming even more critical as more patrons bring their own wireless devices into the library.  SCLS has been working for several years to find ways to increase bandwidth.  We have created a plan to increase bandwidth based on critical need to moderate need.  We are moving forward, but with increased bandwidth come increased hardware costs as a large number of the network routers will need to be upgraded in order to accommodate increased bandwidth.  Increasing bandwidth will meet the needs of all types of patrons using both wired computers and their own wireless devices in the library, including those seeking jobs, students doing homework, those doing research on the internet, foreign workers attempting to stay connected with their relatives and friends back home, those downloading electronic resources and those who are using the internet for recreational use. 

4)      Joining the SCLS Shared ILS. SCLS has 10 libraries that have not joined the shared ILS. Many of these are very small, rural libraries. For them it is often difficult to come up with the costs necessary to join the system, such as the ILS vendor software setup fee.  Larger libraries tend to have higher startup costs as they often pay migration fees in addition to a setup fee.  SCLS would like to assist libraries with startup fees and migration costs by allocating a portion of the LSTA grant to them. Libraries that have not joined the shared ILS will benefit from this service as they will be able to access the resources of all LINKcat member libraries. 

Voting for LibLime Koha Improvements

The SCLS ILS team has been developing a new way for libraries to help us prioritize improvements to LibLime Koha. We will be using a voting software called UserVoice. We have entered known development requests and bugs into the software. Libraries will be using the software to vote to help identify what we should work on after development in progress is finished. Directors or their appointees will be voting.  Each library will receive 20 votes. Libraries may use up to 3 votes on any one entry in the database.  Due to the nature of the software, we are not able to weight votes by library.  The voting is meant to be a guide, not an absolute list of what we will do next as there are many other factors that go into developing LibLime Koha.  For now the GetIt Acquistions software is not included in the voting as it is on a separate development path.

In order to prepare libraries to evaluate the projects in the database and directors to do the actual voting, we will do the following:

• Update the in progress and planned development projects list
• Provide a PDF version of all of the projects in the voting software database to print and route to library staff
• Provide documentation on how to use the software
• Conduct webinars for directors on how to use the software

The timeline is as follows:

9/16/13 Post documentation, PDF of projects in database and updated development list
9/19/13 & 9/24/13 Webinars
10/1/13 Open voting
10/31/13 Close voting

Top projects will be reviewed at the November 21 All Director's Meeting.

 

News Summary for 8/1/2013 through 8/31/2013

News

For the most current news, see the ILS Support Main page.

• 8/29/13 The August minutes from the ILS Committee Meeting are available online.
• 8/27/2013 In order to correct a problem with entering certain BSEs, we have had to add a new field to the BSE form: the LEADER, tag 000. Please review the LINK 2.0 Koha blog post regarding this field. The Linking Manual BSE sections have been updated. Please begin using this field immediately when entering your records.
• 8/13/2013 The monthly LINKcat.info and LINKcat Mobile reports are posted.
• 8/9/2013 Jumping cursor bug fix requires staff to keep a closer eye on the Check in screen. Please read the LINK 2.0 Koha blog post for more details.
• 8/5/2013 Corrections and updates are posted for the current list of authorized collection codes and shelving locations, along with more detailed information on item statuses. View the files on the Codes page.
• 8/2/2013 The July minutes from the PAC Meeting are available online.

Known Problems:Recently Added & Updated

• 8/26/2013 Fixed. Internal Server Errors when saving new BSE records. This problem was fixed by the additional of the Leader field to the BSE forms. In order to use this mandatory field, please click in the field. It will automatically populate with information necessary to index the record. There is no need to edit the field further, and doing so may cause problems with the record. (SCLS Support Ticket 45672)
• 8/22/2013 Fixed. Extra fields displaying in BSE and GEN cataloging forms. The extra fields have been removed. (SCLS Support Ticket 45749)
• 8/15/2013 Patron Search Results are no longer strictly alphabetical. When staff search for patron names using a single last name or partial elements of both the first and surname [WAL CAM or SMITH ROB or ROBERTS], the system no longer displays the search results in alphabetical order. This has been reported to LibLime. (SCLS Support ticket 45608) (bug in 4.16)
• 8/15/2013 List of session checkouts does not display in strict reverse order after checking out more than 15 items to the patron. A request to require the list to display in strict reverse order, regardless of the number of items checked out, has been submitted to LibLime. (SCLS Support ticket 45651)
• 8/14/2013 New. GetIt Edit Invoice Charge box hangs after clicking Save. The changes to the Invoice Charges go through, but the the pop-up box does not disappear from the screen. It hangs there until you x out of it to close it. (SCLS Support Ticket 45706)
• 8/7/2013 Fixed. Ignore button still a partial problem: When the Ignore button is clicked, the patron's hold does go back into the hold queue but the item is listed as In Transit to the "next" library (the pickup location of the hold put back in the queue) and the Current Library is listed as the "next" library, not the check in library. (4.16.6 point release). 7/25/2013. Partial Fix. Circulation/Check In. Ignore button problem. Still not working for Defect reported items. (SCLS Support ticket 40636) (Partial Fix 4.10; one situation where Ignore button still does not respond.) (4.16 upgrade)

 

News Summary for 6/1/2013 through 7/31/2013

News

For the most current news, see the ILS Support Main page.

• 7/31/2013 The July minutes from the CMC Meeting are available online.
• 7/31/2013 The July minutes from the CSC Meeting are available online.
• 7/29/2013 28560 withdrawn items and 4444 bib records with only withdrawn items attached were deleted in the monthly batch process. This included items marked withdrawn as part of the Annual Batch Deletion process, documented in the LINK 2.0 Koha blog. Items with a status of Lost+Charge were not deleted.
• 7/22/2013 The 4.16 upgrade to LibLime Koha has been re-scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, July 24 starting at 9pm. The system will not be fully available between 9pm on July 24 and 7am on July 25. Read the 4.16 Release notes for more information.  
• 7/17/2013 An on-demand report has been created that allows staff to see up to 3 Previous Patron Checkouts. For further details please read the blog post.
• 7/16/2013 The 4.16 upgrade to LibLime Koha has been scheduled for the evening of Monday, July 22, 2013 starting at 9pm. The system will not be fully available between 9pm on July 22 and 7am on July 23. Read the 4.16 Release notes for more information.  
• 7/15/2013 Authority Control - Step Two is underway. Please read the LINK 2.0 Koha blog post for more details.
• 7/11/2013 The monthly LINKcat.info and LINKcat Mobile reports are posted.
• 7/10/2013 Updates to six sections of the Linking Manual have been posted. See the LINK 2.0 Koha blog post and the Linking Manual index page for details.
• 7/9/2013 GetIt Acquisitions has been upgraded. Please see the Release notes for details on the upgrade.
• 7/3/2013 Read the revised "Fines/Financial - standard rules" policy on the Circulation Policies page of the ILS Support website.
• 7/2/2013 13056 withdrawn items and 1931 bib records with only withdrawn items attached were deleted in the monthly batch process, run on June 28th.
• 6/26/2013 A new blog post regarding advance reader copies (ARCs) is available on the LINK 2.0 Koha blog.
• 6/19/2013 The minutes from the June ILS Meeting are available online.
• 6/18/2013 Announcing One Help Desk for Koha and Technology support.
• 6/10/2013 The sandbox database is now available.
• 6/6/2013 The sandbox database is down for updates. We will post when it is available again for use.
• 6/6/2013 The monthly LINKcat.info and LINKcat Mobile reports are posted.
• 6/5/2013 The June 2013 ILS Report is available.
• 6/5/2013 We have posted three cleanup reports to the Reports Calendar on 6/4/2013: Empty Collection Codes, Empty Shelving Locations, and Empty ITYPEs. We will publish these reports quarterly on the first Tuesday of the month. Please see the LINK 2.0 Koha blog post for more information.
• 6/4/2013 The PACC Committee Minutes from the May Meeting are available online.
• 6/4/2013 The CMC Committee Minutes from the May Meeting are available online
• 6/3/2013 Access to the Crystal Reports dashboard is now available for general use. Please read the email sent out or the LINK 2.0 Koha blog post for more details.

Known Problems:Recently Added & Updated

• 7/25/2013 New. Serials. Libraries can view/edit all subscriptions on periodical record. When receiving a magazine issue, all subscription record links for libraries that subscribe to the title are displaying on the Record of Issues page. Libraries should only be able to view their own subscriptions. (SCLS Support Ticket 45568) (bug in 4.16)
• 7/25/2013 Fixed. PAC/Searching. Authority Links. Some authority links (particularly subjects) don't always work from the bib record. (5/13/11) (SCLS Support Ticket 39916) (4.16 Upgrade, sponsored by SCLS)
• 7/25/2013. Fixed. Self Check. Items with diacritics characters in their title are causing terminations of some Self Check sessions. LibLime has fixed this by enabling characters above ASCII 255 (0xFF). Libraries using ITG will also need to check a setting in their software and turn it OFF if necessary: Configuration area, Communication Details, SIP tab, un-check the “CheckSum On” box. The corresponding setting in the Liber8 selfcheck.ini file should be reviewed and modified if necessary(2/22/13) (SCLS Support ticket 44266) (4.16 upgrade)
• 7/25/2013. Fixed but requires additional testing in production. Holds/Notices. Closed Days sometimes ignored in email and print notices, correct in patron record. The problem seems to be that when the Hold Available for Pickup notice is generated, the system reports the Hold Expiration date as exactly 8 days from the check-in date and does not account for closed days.  However, in the patron's actual record, the system does account for the Closed days and extends the hold expiration date accordingly.  This problem has been reported to LibLime. (11/26/12) (SCLS Support ticket 42608) (4.16 upgrade)
• 7/25/2013. Fixed. Circulation/Check Out. List of items checked out. Return the list of items checked out (without hyper links) for a session to the checkout screen. List the items in order from most recently checked out to last (6/2/11) (SCLS Support Ticket 40165) (4.16 upgrade, sponsored by the Colorado Library Consortium)
• 7/25/13. Fixed. Holds/Display. Display of Expired/Canceled Unfilled Holds. In the staff client there is a bug that is preventing the title information from displaying for epired/canceled unfilled holds. The title information DOES display in the patron's PAC account so patrons will have no problems replacing the holds, if they choose to do so. (1/3/13) (SCLS Support ticket 43868) (4.16 upgrade)
• 7/25/2013. Fixed. PAC/Placing Holds. Patrons incorrectly blocked from placing holds while in library: Patrons are incorrectly blocked if they try to place a hold while they are in the library and one item on the bib was checked out at that library and another item on the bib is either in transit to the library or waiting on the hold shelf at that library. This has been reported to LibLime. (3/7/12) (SCLS Support Ticket 41788 4.10) (4.16 upgrade)
• 7/25/2013. Fixed. PAC/Other. RSS feed button does not work. When you click on it, you eventually get a message that the connection has timed out because the server at 10.79.29.166 is taking too long to respond. (9/20/11) (SCLS Support Ticket 41022 / 4.8) (4.16 upgrade)
• 7/25/2013. Fixed. PAC/Placing Holds. Patrons with more than 75 holds: Note 7/25: in testing 4.16 we discovered that this was also a problem when selecting multiple entries from the search results list. This is fixed as well. If a patron has not yet reached the max. hold limit of 75 holds, they will be able to place more than 75 holds using the Cart or the Lists feature in the PAC. Neither the Cart or the Lists features have the ability enforce the hold limit mid-list. For example, if a patron already has 70 holds and creates a list of 10 more titles and selects them as a list, the system allows all 10 holds to be placed. If the patron has 75 holds and attempts to place one hold or 10 holds, they will be blocked. We can't prevent this from happening without turning off either feature. There have been only three reports of this problem occurring (so far).  We can now run a report to keep an eye on those patrons that happen to go over 75 holds and then let each library know who they are so they can deal with this on a case by case basis.  Patrons may not realize that they are doing this.  If you point out to the patron that they have gone over the limit and they continue to choose to do so, you may have to suspend their record until you can get them to agree to the limit voluntarily. (10/11/2011) (SCLS Support Ticket 41121) (4.16 upgrade)
• 7/25/2013. Fixed. PAC/Display. Series Entries. Koha is not displaying all series entries from the BIB records. (8/22/11) (SCLS Support Ticket 30747) (Sponsored by the Pioneer Consortium) (4.16 Upgrade)
• 7/25/2013 Fixed. PAC/Searching. Fuzzy matching in subject keyword searches: Fuzzy matching (near-spellings) is being applied to the subject keyword index. We have reported examples (bees retrieves beer) to LibLime and asked for exact matches. (11/13/12) (SCLS Support Ticket 43471) (4.16 upgrade)
• 7/25/2013 Fixed. PAC/Searching. Suppressing item suppresses entire bib from PAC: If you suppress an item record, then the entire bib record, including all attached items, is suppressed from the PAC. Please do not suppress any items. This problem has been reported to LibLime. (5/26/11) (SCLS Support Ticket 39816) (4.16 upgrade)
• 7/25/2013. Fixed. Staff Client. Series links from the "Normal" view of the bib record do not work in the staff client. The Series links in the PAC are working. (SCLS Support Ticket 44380) (4.16 upgrade)
• 7/18/2013 New. GetIt The invoice lines on printed invoices shift the decimal point two spaces to the right. For example, $29.99 becomes $2999.00. The overall total on the printedinvoice is correct. (7/18/13) (SCLS Support Ticket 45518)
• 7/16/2013 New. GetIt problems with searching using the "from search" option for purchase orders. The title and keyword searches are not working. The author search only works if you use the last name only. The ISBN search is working. (7/16/13) (SCLS Support Ticket 45486)
• 7/11/2013 Fixed. GetIt Cannot print invoices. Clicking the print button on an invoice gives you a blank tab instead of a printable invoice. (7/9/13) (SCLS Support Ticket 45430)
• 7/9/2013 Fixed. GetIt Cannot download Fund hierarchy to Excel. The file that is downloaded has header information but no fund accounts. (1/3/13) (SCLS Support Ticket 44007)
• 6/25/2013 New. Unresponsive script errors when searching in staff client. Staff continue to report intermittent "Unresponsive script" errors when searching in the staff client. (SCLS Support Ticket 45340)

New Reports Webpage on ILS Support Website

We've reformatted our Reports page on the ILS Website to make it easier to use.

The new page implements a two-column format that matches much of our website, and it also reduces the amount of scrolling needed to reach information that was at the bottom of the previous version of the page.

All of the information that was on the old Reports main page is still present on the new page. We've moved the documentation for resolving certain types of reports to its own Reports Workflows section. Also, the documentation has been updated where appropriate.

The Custom Report Request Forms are also right at the top of the page for your use as you work on collection and patron management projects.

If you have any questions, please contact ILS staff.