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!