?

Are you out there?

RSS - and Still I am so Confused

I have 'verified' that I did, indeed subscribe to some feeds. PHEW! I have no idea what happened, but many thanks to b.c. for at least showing me where to look to see if anything took.

I have no idea what is going on with this assignment anymore, but continue along as if I do. As a teacher, it worries me that I am trying to build upon a faulty base, and will have to continue to do so to finish this program. I really hope this is not a layer on top of layer approach - if it is, I am dead in the water.

Hopefully, Flickr will be easier that RSS in terms of making sense... I

This would be noticed....

Image of The library mobile. P\'s ex-girlfriend drives one of these around L\'ville. We think it\'s hysterical. - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Adding an image to your post

Several people have asked about adding an image or graphics to the blog. Adding an image to your post is pretty easy. After you do it once, it will be a snap from then on.


First, go to the "Compose" screen and click on the next-to-the-last icon on the toolbar, just to the left of the eraser. (When you roll your mouse over it, you'll see an "Add Image" text message). This will open a new window that walks you through the steps to upload your image.


You can select an image from your computer, or link to an image that is already on the web .



From here, there are 3 steps to adding your image:

1. Click the "Browse" button to locate images on your hard drive (or network), or, enter the URL of an image on the web.
2. Clicking the "Layout" button allows you to select the way your images will appear in your post: the left, center and right options will determine how the text of your post flows around the pictures (the "left" option was selected here).
3. The "Size" option lets you scale the pictures to different sizes in the posting area. I used the default selection "Medium" for this image. (You also might want to uncheck the box labeled "Use this layout every time?").

All that's left is to click the "Upload Image" link and you're done. (This first time you upload an image you'll also have to first "Agree" to the "Terms of Service").

You can upload images in JPG, GIF, PNG, TIF or BMP format. When you upload an image through Blogger, it gets stored on Picasa Web Albums. Picasa is a free image-hosting website provided by Google that anyone can upload photos to. You can choose to make your images public or private. If you don't already have an account with Picasa, it will be created for you when you upload a photo to the blog. To access the photo on Picassa, go to http://picasaweb.google.com/home and click on the link "Picassa Web Albums". Log on with the same logon and password you use to access the blog.

You can add the text of your message either before you upload your image, or afterwards.

Give it a try.

Printing At Branch Circ Desks

It is very awkward to switch between two font sizes in Workflows. The following is a solution to that problem. Thank you to Poulsbo for coming up with this great solution for our printing problem.

Receipt Printer and Branch Accounts

Each day before your branch opens:

On circulation desk terminals only; bring up two Workflow Accounts using your branch login and password.

• Double click on the work flows Icon on your desktop.
• Enter your branch login and password.
• Set the Theme Color to your branch Theme and a 10 point font for the account where you will do everything in Workflows with the exception of processing/checking in holds.
  

Minimize Workflows and go back to your desktop.

• Double click on the work flows Icon on your desktop.
• Enter your branch login and password.
• Set the Theme Color to Primary Red, and an 18 point font for the account where you will be processing/checking in holds.

To change the Theme (color):

• Click on Preference
• Click on Desktop
• Click on Desktop Setup
• Click on Themes
• Select the Color & Click OK

To set the receipt printer to print Patron Check Out receipts in a 10 point or 18 point font size:

• Click on ‘Preference’ in the Standard Toolbar
• Click on ‘Peripherals’
• Click on ‘Receipt Printer’Click on Attributes
• To change Font size click on the gadget.

Set receipt printer to 10 Verdana to get a 10 point font on the check out receipt. Printer will printer faster in this setting.

When processing shipment HOLDS and on terminals in branch workrooms set receipt printer to 18 Verdana to get an 18 point font to make reading and filing available holds easier.

Printing HOLDS 18 Verdana

Printing Check Out List 10 Verdana

Setting the font size to a 10 point font puts the due date on one line on checkout receipts. This makes for a shorter receipt to hand out.

Always set the 18 point font account in RED, RED will be the color for accounts processing holds throughout the KRL system. Staff who work multiple branches will know which account they are in wherever they are working.

Thank you to everyone for helping to solve these problems.

discharging wizard

If you hadn't already noticed the discharge wizard now tells you what to do when an item is not charged. It catches holds and in-transits and you do'n have to go into check item status. Just putting in my two cents about a positive change from the upgrade. =)

Font size for HOLD SLIPS

The current recommendation for font size (as per the Trainer's Meeting June 20th) is:
18 Verdana for HOLD SLIPS
11 Verdana for PATRON RECEIPTS
Depending on the branch set-up, this could mean resetting the font size
while processing the shipment holds.
Checking in materials during the day, at a terminal that is also used for
PATRON CHECKOUTS, will result HOLD SLIPS printed in 11 Verdana.
In YP at BI we currently have this situation.
Presently, we just turn the 11 Verdana slips 90 degrees left and write the
first 3 letters of the last name (we always do this anyway). The slips are a little
short, but the full name usually shows. These slips do not seem that bad to me.
I'd be interested to know other points of view!
Susan B. @ BIYP

Where Am I on the Hold List?

I was able to find this information by a rather cumbersome method. What is the quickest way?

"Freezing" windows

We've had some problems with certain windows locking up here at MA (graying-out options or not allowing us to enter information into any input fields), and up until now I've found a way around it in the checkout and discharge windows. However, this morning we had the "display user" window stuck open; it could not be closed, no information could be entered into the user ID field, and we had to shut down the unicorn client and bring it back up to remedy the problem. The work-around (hitting alt-O and then accepting the error that pops up) didn't work at all, perhaps because it was not the fault of the scanner as the other window freezes are.

Is anyone else having this problem?

Font size for hold slips

A font size of 18 regular will print a hold slip on which the last name will always print to the left of the slip, with the exception of three-letter surnames. This should make uniformity easier when placing the hold slip in the book or media item, and easier reading on the holds shelves.

Changing default search type

Good news! We can change the default "Item Search" type at an individual terminal. Right now, all are set at the default "General" and "Keyword" search. If you prefer to set your terminal for a different default search such as "Title" and "Browse", here's how:
1. Right click on "Item Search" in the left hand menu.
2. Left click on Properties.
3. This brings up a screen where you can change the default setting to your own preference.

If you share the terminal with others, you should agree with them on what's the best default setting. This can be changed on a temporary basis; when you exit Workflows it will ask if you want to save the properties.

Modify User Record

What happened to the button in the User Display that said "Modify This User?" That was very useful. Now you have to click on Modify User on the side bar then click on the button with their user ID on it, or search again for your user. Is there anyway to get that button back in the User Display?

Sloooooow Printing

edewald said...
I am almost certain that printing using our receipt printers will linger as our greatest challenge to providing service to our customers if it is not investigated correctly.Mainly, the printing on these machines is too slow, detrimentally slow.

I believe from working with the options, the issue is not the font size or layout. I think it's a processing situation. Perhaps there are too many "pixels" being printed as opposed to the old workflows printing settings. For example, maybe instead of processing 100 pixels per millimeter of printing, it is processing 500 pixels per millimeter of printing. The 500 pixels would result in greater detail, but slower processing and printing, much like the resolution of a picture. I realize my numeric figures are wrong, but I'm just trying to illustrate.

I hope this issue remains a priority until it is made efficient. It is currently very difficult to share information with our patrons, because our printers are taking an embarressing amount of time to print.

I'm very OPTIMISTIC about everything else!
June 14, 2007 7:40 PM

Change Hold Location items on POSH

I just discovered this by accident: I had a DVD on my POSH that I couldn't find, so I marked it missing. Later on, purely by accident, I found the item on the holds shelf. I checked Item Status and, indeed, it was marked missing, but the hold was for the same person, different branch. There was no indication on the POSH that the item would be anywhere except DVD-Adult. So, if you can't find an item on the POSH and it's last discharge date (shown on POSH) is recent, check for the item on your hold shelf under the same name that the new hold is for. When you are ready to mark the item missing, after you enter the barcode and hit "Mark Item Missing" you will get an override message saying that the item is on hold for so-and-so. Before overriding, check your holds shelf to see if the item is there under the name of so-and-so. It just might be there.

Printing check item status and bib records

Today we were experimenting with printing hold slips, bill payments, and patron information.

However, we ran into a problem trying to print the "Check Item Status" screen and any part of a bib record. Printing wasn't an option for "Check Item Status" and the program froze if we hit F12. The program would also freeze when trying to print the bib record. This could potentially be a problem when it comes to snags.

Anybody have any tips for printing in these two areas? Or is it just because of the test server that we cannot print in these two areas?


~Silverdale Staff

Placing holds - current title

When you look up an item, then try to place it on hold for a patron, the item will not carry forward as the "current item" unless you have clicked on "detailed display." So, to place a hold:
1. Look up the item.
2. Click on "detailed display" - don't just highlight it in the list.
3. Click "Place hold" wizard, enter patron's card #.
4. The item should show up as the "current item" and you don't have to search for it again.

OneYearSuspendedHolds?

How much havoc will this create on green-dot rotation books?

Detailed Display

When in Item Search, why is the detailed display type so faint you can barely read it?

interface

Personally I found the user interface to be more intuitive than the one we’re using now (loved it in red). However, I know that I lack the experience of many of my co-workers since I work primarily as a page. So maybe I just haven’t had the chance to get used to the current interface — but from a standpoint of design I’d say there’s much improvement.

Now I should temper this by saying that I haven’t worked with it yet — out on the "frontline". That will be the real test.

Suspended Holds

The following question came to me through email, I am sharing my answer.

A year? Why would someone want to suspend their holds that long?

Good question. Most patrons would not suspend a hold for that long, it would count as one of their fifty holds. This is just an option we are offering to patrons as a way to manage their hold list. In Dynix days I would often place a new title on hold that I did not need until fall (pruning). When patrons are reading a series they could place the entire series on hold then activate them as they read them. No lists to keep or holds to keep replacing.

Thank you for asking, I am going to post this question on the Sirsi Blog where other staff might want to contribute a comment.

Great class, exceptional trainers!

This workship set high standards...it was nicely paced, the trainers well practiced, lot's of practical handouts, plenty of questions answered and the breaks were well timed...all the way around it was a great class and fun to attend. The trainers knew their stuff, were confident and helpful. As far as practice is concerned, well, we'll get plenty of that! Wally

Learning Blog

I am a new LA (Port Orchard) learning the Old Way as well as the New Way.

Today we are learning about the blog; hence this post.

Ann Marshall

Sirsi

Thank you to everyone who helped with the training. I think I'll like this new system. :)

hold slips

I am eagerly waiting for the hold slips to be in bigger print so all we have to do is underline the names and shelve them. finally yeah!!!!!!!!

class on sirsi

This should be easy to use with experience.

Interesting

Thanks to Susan and Deanna for today's training session. k

Oh gosh a title

This class is awesome! I finally have a blog page.

Be careful what you write!

Ghost Rider

Training was great! Practice blog back to you, Bob:)

Just completing my GL3 training, and our instructors Barbara Poe and Karen Jeyes were terrific -- thank you!
-Peggy Branaman

sirsi training

the training was good. the people who gave it knew what they were doing. i thought it seemed kind of dumb for us pages though. since i'm only a page, i can't appreciate the changes like the LAs, and i'll probably not use it much. but it looks nice. i had the old training about a month ago, so it was a nice refresher. it's pretty straight forward, so if i ever did need to play LA for a day, i could definitely figure things out. and now i have a blog account. yey.

Keyboard shortcuts

There is a Windows desktop setting affecting the ease of using shortcuts.

Minimize any programs, right click on desktop, select properties, go to appearance tab, select effects, uncheck the box for hide underlined letters for keyboard navigation until I press the Alt key, hit OK, hit Apply, hit OK.

After this, the next time you go into 3.1 (if open you have to close and re-log in) any hot keys that will work w/Alt in buttons etc. will SHOW all the time.

I’ve started to spread the word to a few people, but probably any machine using 3.1 should get this setting changed.
(I found this tidbit in amongst some keyboard shortcut info in Help)

sirsi training

Just finished training. Doesn't seem too different, though just finished training on the old one.

PL training

Sirsi/dynix training at Poulsbo Library, trainers were wonderful, computers not so wonderful, several problems arouse with connections and other what nots. Stress balls were wonderful idea!!

PL training

We had our class this morning. Very helpful and I learned a lot.

confusion factors

After our first training with the Bainbridge staff on Friday, I would love input from our "class" on what went wrong, right, or was confusing to you. We want to be better trainers and work on clarity and inspiration! What can we do differently, what needs more attention? Karen & Susan

More Practice Stations

I'd like to practice the updated SIRSI at the sit down PT reference desk prior to the go live date.

Chris

sirsi training

I enjoyed the training for our new system and thought it very informative. I had a little trouble seeing some of the smaller icons. They were a little blurry, but maybe I just need stronger glasses!

Abbreviating Searches and wildcards.

Do we still have any need for wildcards in searching? Is $ the wildcard?
It appears that the new system is designed for switching to browse instead of wildcards.

Haven't finished the training yet, but the changes so far look like an improvement--more user friendly.

Comments versus Notes

Haven't finished my training yet so this may become obvious but is there a difference here - will one show up on patron record screen and not the other?

Bridging Item ID from Holds to Item status

I am trying to figure out how I can find out the status of an item that is on my hold list, is unavailable, but has been on hold for a very long time without having to re-enter the item id number in check item status - any ideas????

training

I was concerned about the changes, but these all look like improvements.

A Kinder View

This is so much friendlier to the eyes! I won't miss the "excess" windows one tiny bit.

Searching Hint - Marc Record

When searching for items and a list is returned, double click an individual item to bring up the full marc record. A single click will bring up the general display. To get back to the general display from the Marc, click on return to search list.

Great new stuff!

I'm new to blogging, but I'm really enjoying the upgrade. It's so easy! Of course I was still farely new to the old one, but I'm happy. :)

check item staus

I've noticed with the old Sirsi and new GL3, the check item status feature allows you to transfer a floating item to the current library if it is on the shelf at a different branch. I've never understood why this would be something we need. Would it show up on the POSH if we chose the transfer option, or would it be virtually transferred (but not really)? Can you explain why this is an option? Thank you.

Order status

Checking the order status of a title is so much easier with the new Sirsi. You can now check how many copies and which branches are designated by bringing up the title, clicking on the Order tab and then clicking on the little red book (bibliographic data) in the top left-hand corner.

Paying Bills

With the current version of Workflows, we have been warned not to use the "Pay Bills Now" quicklink at the bottom of a window because this will not always print a receipt for the patron. Instead, we have a habit of opening a new "Pay Bills" window. Will this still be necessary with the upgrade?

HI

training was great, im new at blogging

Thanks

Thanks Bob, this will be very helpful!

KRL blogs...

are fun, useful, and informative!

What was a lot easier??

Inquiring minds want to know - what did you find a lot easier?

slee

training/system

new system is easy to navigate and very user friendly

Index of Tags/Labels

We've added an index of tags/labels that should help finding specific topics or comments. It is in the sidebar on the right side of the screen, just below the archives. Click on any of the tags listed and a new page will open with just those posts.

You can add tags or labels to your posts in the text box at the bottom of the screen where you compose your entry. You can add more than one tag/label to identify your topic or question.

Great Postings

The Blog is working, we have great questions and comments being posted.

Please continue to post your Java Workflows questions, observations, comments and discoveries here to be shared with all KRL staff.

I have tried to answer any questions that have been posted, you might find your answer here.

Titles/Tags and Searching the Blog

Two questions came up this afternoon that I wanted to follow-up on:

1) Can we continue to add things (questions, tips, comments) to the blog after the training is done?

Absolutely--as often as you'd like.

2) Is there be a way to search for specific topics or questions?

Yes.
There is a text entry box on the lower right part of the screen where you compose called "Labels for this post." Enter one or several terms that you think best describes the subject/topic of your comment or question. The labels or tags will be listed with your post. (I used "searching" "tags" and "topics" for this).

Beside the box where you enter the label is a link called "Show all". If you click this, it will display a list of all labels that have previously been used. Clicking on any of these will add it to your list.

When you are viewing entries, you can click any label (called tags on the entries) and it will display a page containing only posts with the same tag.

Screen options are nice

I really like being able to change the font size and style, and the purple, spring and winter color schemes are very cheerful and calming, in my opinion. I like the layout of the wizards much better than the old version, and I'm disappointed that it won't be launching till June.

Limited SIRSI available color schemes

I would appreciate a greater palette of available colors for my SIRSI display. Why wasn't CHARTREUSE available?!

copy holds

How do we place a hold on a single copy?

new system

The difference between the new system and the old are mainly in the interface and not in the content

GL3.1

It was informative and we finished early :0)

I found it alot easier.

I think I've got it down enough for now.

Sorting

Clicking on the column headings (Title, Author, Availability, Year Published, etc) when you have a list of patron checkouts/holds or when you are doing an item search will sort your items alphabetically or by year. That seems like it will be helpful if want to know what holds a patron has available, or if you come up with a big list in your item search, etc.

training

We had 3 wonderful trainers cram our brains with all this new information in one afternoon. However, I'm feeling a little (lot) dizzy , and excited at the same time that I want to get started and practice on my own or preferable with someone else.

GL3.1 Training

SI welcomes GL3.1!

Positives

Each day of usage makes it that much easier. It is just a matter of learning where things are located. I especially like the global edit changes. gc

Bookdrop/Discharge

What is the use of having two discharge buttons, one saying "Discharge" and the other "Bookdrop". Does the regular discharge button not allow you to assign the date of check-in? If so, why couldn't they be consolidated?

jl

kClean Holds & POSH Report

Will the kClean Holds &U Posh Reports be processed the same way. For example kClean Holds is processed in the Finish Reports will it be processed in the same location. And will the reports appear as the currently do, or will the appearance be different.

Pam

windows

why do we have to set the windows function every time we want to have more than one window open?

....notes screen

will we eventually get the notes screen to come up automatically? this would be especially helpful for snaggers!

notes screen

will we eventually get a notes screen to come up automatically? this would be especially helpful for snaggers!

Clarity of screen

I am finding it difficult to discern the various boxes I have up at one time.
Has anyone found an ideal screen color and font size that permits really
clear viewing?
smb

Practice Time

I hope we get plenty of time to practice; the change that concerns me is that I cannot open multiple windows and bounce between them (like Discharge and Check Item Status). Thank you to the trainers for their patience with me as I learn what it is like to be deprived of a mouse!
Sincerely, Elisabeth

Training goals

I hope that all goals where met in training the wonderful KRL staff the circulation aspects of GL3.1. If so cookies can be sent to Pam D. at SW. If not then a lump of coal (with chocolate chips in it...I'll pick them out of the coal).

Thanks
Pam

My hold is at the wrong branch

If a patrons hold is at the wrong branch and they decide they don't want it anymore, [after removing hold] do we call that branch? or will it show up on the "clean holds shelf" the next day? Thanks, dc

What ?

Will the new upgrade use "discard", "allocation", "repair" as we do now in Checkout? If not, what will we be using? gc

Mark item missing

When you mark item missing there is a button that says: Get Item Information. When you click on it, nothing comes up? So why can't I get the information? gc

Newbie

:) HEY this BLOG rocks!

Upgrade training day

This upgrade looks straightforward! No problems during training, but we'll see how it goes on the frontline! By the way, Luanne can't blog!

=]

Woo hoo! They are teaching us how to blog =]

Workflows UpgradeTraining

Remember to practice your new Workflow's skills the week before it is to go live. Questions, how to, did you know and other valuable gems will be posted in this Blog to help with your questions.

Thank you to all Staff who are participating in this training, you are great.

Paulette

What's a blog?

Many of you may be wondering, "what's a blog and why should I write something?" The word itself is a contraction of the terms "web" and "log". A blog is primarily a way for people with a common interest or passion to share their thoughts, experiences, questions and opinions and to comment or add to something someone else has said.

Training, such as the Sirsi training you are involved with now, is a great way to learn new information and skills. But much of what we learn about how to do our jobs day in and day out comes from asking questions, talking with our colleagues and our personal experiences. You all have a tremendous amount of wisdom to share with each other. A blog is just another way to begin turning our individual knowledge into public knowledge.

Writing something that will be shared in a public forum might be a bit intimidating at first, but a blog is meant to be both informal and collegial. I urge you to try it, play with it, post a thought or question you have and comment to a posting of a colleague. Most of all, have fun with it!