CCS News
APRIL 2, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Part time operator position open – It is with regret that we will be saying goodbye to our Sunday night operator, Jim Kraft. Jim has served us well for over six years. We will be hiring a Sunday operator soon so if you are aware of someone with the background we need then please send the resume to lzaleski@ccs.nsls.lib.il.us. The position is for 5 hours per week and some fill-in work. A complete description can be found at
http://ccslib.org/attachments/JOB_DESCRIPTION_March2010_part_time.pdf
Sunday April 4 – the CCS computer room will be closed on Sunday April 4. We will be staffed during normal hours on Friday and Saturday.
SUBJECT HEADING CHANGES AND OTHER AUTHORITY NEWS:
LC has changed an important subject subdivision. So, for example, what was “English fiction – Film and video adaptations”, is now either “English fiction – Film adaptations” or “English fiction—Television adaptations”. Another good example, where you will find many of these type of changes is under a subject search for Shakespeare. There are now “Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Film adaptations” and also “Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Television adaptations.” Besides these mentioned, there are many more – mostly under types of literature or under an individual author.
In other authority news, CCS loaded two files recently that were sent from Marcive. One included 1397 updated authority records and the other included 451 new authority records, that were not available before. Hopefully next week, another batch of bibliographic records will be sent to Marcive for both authority processing and reading notes enrichment.
LEXILE NUMBER PROJECT UPDATE:
CCS’s project for adding reading notes (aka Lexile, Reading Counts, and Accelerated Reader) to all affected bibliographic records is in the final stages. The data has been added to all affected bibliographic records, and you can search under “Lexile” or “Accelerated reader” by doing a general keyword search. But please wait until after the Oracle rebuild later this month, for new indexes and search boxes that will allow you to fine tune those types of searches.
WINDOWS 7/WORKFLOWS HINT:
At CCS HQ, we’ve learned the hard way that it is necessary to handle the Workflows Client with care on a Windows 7 PC to avoid a series of error messages that files need updating; the client works after clicking on the messages, but Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may arrive a nanosecond sooner. Or not. Roger Anderson has documented the workaround Sirsi has shared with us (even though they don’t officially support Windows 7 yet):
To install Java WorkFlows on a Windows 7 machine
1. Close all software applications. Nothing should be running.
2. Go to Control Panel
3. Select User Accounts and Family Safety
4. Select User Accounts
5. Select Change User Account Control Settings
6. Change the slide bar to the lowest setting: “Never Notify” (ignore the “not recommended” message)
7. Click OK
8. You should be prompted to restart your machine. Restart.
9. Double click the Java WorkFlows icon to open it.
10. You might be prompted to update the client. Select Yes. Some installations may not give the prompt to update the client. (Mine did want me to update.)
11. Supply your login and password as usual.
12. WorkFlows should be updated with the files it needs. Set your configuration, desktop setup, defaults, etc. they way you like them.
13. Close WorkFlows
THE FOLLOWING STEPS ARE CRITICAL FOR SECURITY. BE SURE YOU FOLLOW THEM.
14. Go to Control Panel
15. Select User Accounts and Family Safety
16. Select User Accounts
17. Select Change User Account Control Settings
18. Reset the slide bar to the second highest “recommended” setting
19. Click OK
20. You should be prompted to restart your machine. Restart. Congratulations!
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 4/7, 9:30, NSLS: Catalogers
Thur., 4/8, 9:30, NSLS: ILL
Friday, March 26, 2010
MARCH 26, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Lexile Numbers – The Lexile, Accelerated Reader, and Reading Counts data fields from Marcive have been added to records. Our thanks to Joel for completing this work for us. We still have to build indexes to access these numbers and that will be done as part of the Oracle conversion.
Oracle Conversion – Beginning today libraries may use the test server under Oracle and see records that were loaded during the Bridge testing. We have been working hard to learn about this new database environment, and the impact it has on computer room operations and procedures.
SUBJECT HEADING CHANGES AND OTHER AUTHORITY NEWS:
The subject heading for "Literature, Comparative" is now "Comparative
literature".
LC also simplified certain headings, so "Widows-Legal status, laws, etc. (Hindu law)" is now "Widows (Hindu law)". This same simplification also occurred for subdivisions under the heading for "Women". So now, we have new headings of "Women (Islamic law)", "Women (Jewish law)", and "Women (Roman law)".
In other authority news, Marcive sent a file of 1397 updated authority records, which was loaded into our database. They also sent a file of 451 authority records that were needed, but not available before.
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 3/31, 10:00, NSLS: Governing Board
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Lexile Numbers – The Lexile, Accelerated Reader, and Reading Counts data fields from Marcive have been added to records. Our thanks to Joel for completing this work for us. We still have to build indexes to access these numbers and that will be done as part of the Oracle conversion.
Oracle Conversion – Beginning today libraries may use the test server under Oracle and see records that were loaded during the Bridge testing. We have been working hard to learn about this new database environment, and the impact it has on computer room operations and procedures.
SUBJECT HEADING CHANGES AND OTHER AUTHORITY NEWS:
The subject heading for "Literature, Comparative" is now "Comparative
literature".
LC also simplified certain headings, so "Widows-Legal status, laws, etc. (Hindu law)" is now "Widows (Hindu law)". This same simplification also occurred for subdivisions under the heading for "Women". So now, we have new headings of "Women (Islamic law)", "Women (Jewish law)", and "Women (Roman law)".
In other authority news, Marcive sent a file of 1397 updated authority records, which was loaded into our database. They also sent a file of 451 authority records that were needed, but not available before.
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 3/31, 10:00, NSLS: Governing Board
Thursday, March 18, 2010
CCS NEWS
March 19, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM
Symphony conversion and bridge – the Symphony Conversion testing is progressing
Previous ID – at the request of Circulation Technical Group we have made a little change in workflows. When an inactive ID is scanned the system now says “User Not Found” like it did prior to our latest release.
Directors Station – as of this writing we are (finally) seeing data in the directors station. It appears that there are a few more bugs to work out – but this is significant to those of us waiting to get back to crunching data.
EPAY – to help with the problem when the patron has many fines to pay (more than 200 characters), Epay is now including a message in reports that indicates as transaction was too long - the message in the report is LINE ITEM TOO LONG.
Lexile Project progress report:
Over the next few days, bibliographic records that have been enriched with Lexile and other reading notes will be dribbling into our database. Even though you will see these enriched records in our database, you will have to wait until after the system upgrade next month to be able to search for the data itself. Stay tuned for new indexes and Power Search options that will assist you with this.
There are no meetings scheduled for the week of March 22.
March 19, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM
Symphony conversion and bridge – the Symphony Conversion testing is progressing
Previous ID – at the request of Circulation Technical Group we have made a little change in workflows. When an inactive ID is scanned the system now says “User Not Found” like it did prior to our latest release.
Directors Station – as of this writing we are (finally) seeing data in the directors station. It appears that there are a few more bugs to work out – but this is significant to those of us waiting to get back to crunching data.
EPAY – to help with the problem when the patron has many fines to pay (more than 200 characters), Epay is now including a message in reports that indicates as transaction was too long - the message in the report is LINE ITEM TOO LONG.
Lexile Project progress report:
Over the next few days, bibliographic records that have been enriched with Lexile and other reading notes will be dribbling into our database. Even though you will see these enriched records in our database, you will have to wait until after the system upgrade next month to be able to search for the data itself. Stay tuned for new indexes and Power Search options that will assist you with this.
There are no meetings scheduled for the week of March 22.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
CCS News
MARCH 12, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Oracle/Unicode and Symphny Bridge – You should all have the week of April 19 on your calendar as the week we will be converting the database and using the bridge. For those interested we have run the test dataload and then restored the database (twice) and ran the load again. Practice makes perfect. During the course of our test we found some steps that had to be added to the process or corrected, but now our tests are looking good. We will still need to rerun a test bibliographic conversion and another index rebuild, and test key reports.
Email Server – We are in the process of replacing our email server. The hardware has been installed and work will soon commence to transfer the system to the new hardware. We will keep you posted as we cut over to the new server, but we do not anticipate any significant interruption to emails and email notices.
DIRECTOR’S STATION STATUS:
It has now been two weeks since we had accurate data to support Director’s Station. Sirsi tells us that we have a unique problem whereby the data only updates a month at a time, and has assigned this to Engineering. We have seen assurances of activity but no apparent progress, and have requested both daily updates and a pro-rated refund of our annual subscription. We share your frustration about an unacceptable situation and apologize for the disruption of service.
REMINDER ABOUT MAINTENANCE COORDINATORS’ MEETING NEXT TUESDAY: YOU CAN GO VIRTUAL!
The Maintenance Coordinators meeting on Tuesday, March 16 will be both in person at NSLS and virtual via GoToMeeting. If you need the link, please contact Frank Correa at CCS.
LEXILE NUMBER STATUS:
We have our Lexile Number and related data back from Marcive (approximately an 8% hit rate). The next step is to test the script that Roger Anderson and Joel Hahn have developed, then load the data into our existing bib records during a window in the testing and preparation for the Oracle/Unicode transition the week of April 19. When the data is loaded, it will be viewable but not yet searchable; that will come when we re-index the database as part of the Oracle/Unicode project. Joel Hahn has developed a nice Lexile Number search tool as part of the iBistro PowerSearch screen.
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Mon., 3/15, 1:30, CCS: SILLRAP
Tues., 9:30, NSLS (and virtual; see above): Maintenance Coordinators
Wed., 3/17, 9:30, CCS: SCRAP
MARCH 12, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Oracle/Unicode and Symphny Bridge – You should all have the week of April 19 on your calendar as the week we will be converting the database and using the bridge. For those interested we have run the test dataload and then restored the database (twice) and ran the load again. Practice makes perfect. During the course of our test we found some steps that had to be added to the process or corrected, but now our tests are looking good. We will still need to rerun a test bibliographic conversion and another index rebuild, and test key reports.
Email Server – We are in the process of replacing our email server. The hardware has been installed and work will soon commence to transfer the system to the new hardware. We will keep you posted as we cut over to the new server, but we do not anticipate any significant interruption to emails and email notices.
DIRECTOR’S STATION STATUS:
It has now been two weeks since we had accurate data to support Director’s Station. Sirsi tells us that we have a unique problem whereby the data only updates a month at a time, and has assigned this to Engineering. We have seen assurances of activity but no apparent progress, and have requested both daily updates and a pro-rated refund of our annual subscription. We share your frustration about an unacceptable situation and apologize for the disruption of service.
REMINDER ABOUT MAINTENANCE COORDINATORS’ MEETING NEXT TUESDAY: YOU CAN GO VIRTUAL!
The Maintenance Coordinators meeting on Tuesday, March 16 will be both in person at NSLS and virtual via GoToMeeting. If you need the link, please contact Frank Correa at CCS.
LEXILE NUMBER STATUS:
We have our Lexile Number and related data back from Marcive (approximately an 8% hit rate). The next step is to test the script that Roger Anderson and Joel Hahn have developed, then load the data into our existing bib records during a window in the testing and preparation for the Oracle/Unicode transition the week of April 19. When the data is loaded, it will be viewable but not yet searchable; that will come when we re-index the database as part of the Oracle/Unicode project. Joel Hahn has developed a nice Lexile Number search tool as part of the iBistro PowerSearch screen.
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Mon., 3/15, 1:30, CCS: SILLRAP
Tues., 9:30, NSLS (and virtual; see above): Maintenance Coordinators
Wed., 3/17, 9:30, CCS: SCRAP
Thursday, February 25, 2010
CCS News
FEBRUARY 26, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Oracle Unicorn conversion and Symphony Bridge – the first sets of results are in and we are diagnosing several problems that were uncovered as a result of the tests. Thanks to all of you who worked hard to create test data.
Email/Web Server – we received our new email/web server this week and will be setting it up over the course of the next several weeks.
COSUGI – Bob and Linda will be away Tuesday through Friday for the COSUGI (SirsiDynix User Group) conference (along with Richard and Roger).
Update your WonderDesk incidents – Remember to create WonderDesk incidents for all your needs, even telecommunications changes, and keep the information up to date.
News on ICN – Robin Woodsome (ICN Regional Manager/Network Engineer) will be joining the Maintenance Coordinators Technical Group for their March 16 meeting via a virtual link to discuss what happens when you drop your ICN lines, viability of ICN in the future and their plan for fiber. Since we are all interested in cost effective bandwidth (and lots of it) you will want to be sure your library does not miss this meeting.
AUTHORITIES NEWS:
Last week, 1428 authority records were updated from a file that Marcive sent. Marcive also sent 462 new authority records that were not available before.
There will also be a CCS Cataloger’s workshop next Wednesday, March 3rd at NSLS at 9:30 a.m. Kellie Green & Virginia Seward will be discussing the often complex subject of series.
CCS BUDGET STATUS:
By this time every year, we get queries about when CCS budget figures will be available. You should see the complete budget packet on March 4 when the Executive Committee packet is distributed; final approval will come at the March 31 Governing Board meeting. This time the midyear adjustment is downward (as usual) and the FY 2010-11 budget is down an average of around $3,000 per library from the original FY 2009-10 budget. More specifics including the usual charts and worksheet are in the packet.
There will be NO CCS NEWS NEXT WEEK because of the staff absences for COSUGI.
CCS MEETINGS THE NEXT TWO WEEKS:
Wed., 3/3, 9:30, NSLS: Catalogers (workshop) (see Authorities News above)
Wed., 3/10, 10, CCS: Executive Committee
Thur., 3/11, 9:30, Niles: PAS
Fri., 3/12, 9:30, Fremont: Circulation
FEBRUARY 26, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Oracle Unicorn conversion and Symphony Bridge – the first sets of results are in and we are diagnosing several problems that were uncovered as a result of the tests. Thanks to all of you who worked hard to create test data.
Email/Web Server – we received our new email/web server this week and will be setting it up over the course of the next several weeks.
COSUGI – Bob and Linda will be away Tuesday through Friday for the COSUGI (SirsiDynix User Group) conference (along with Richard and Roger).
Update your WonderDesk incidents – Remember to create WonderDesk incidents for all your needs, even telecommunications changes, and keep the information up to date.
News on ICN – Robin Woodsome (ICN Regional Manager/Network Engineer) will be joining the Maintenance Coordinators Technical Group for their March 16 meeting via a virtual link to discuss what happens when you drop your ICN lines, viability of ICN in the future and their plan for fiber. Since we are all interested in cost effective bandwidth (and lots of it) you will want to be sure your library does not miss this meeting.
AUTHORITIES NEWS:
Last week, 1428 authority records were updated from a file that Marcive sent. Marcive also sent 462 new authority records that were not available before.
There will also be a CCS Cataloger’s workshop next Wednesday, March 3rd at NSLS at 9:30 a.m. Kellie Green & Virginia Seward will be discussing the often complex subject of series.
CCS BUDGET STATUS:
By this time every year, we get queries about when CCS budget figures will be available. You should see the complete budget packet on March 4 when the Executive Committee packet is distributed; final approval will come at the March 31 Governing Board meeting. This time the midyear adjustment is downward (as usual) and the FY 2010-11 budget is down an average of around $3,000 per library from the original FY 2009-10 budget. More specifics including the usual charts and worksheet are in the packet.
There will be NO CCS NEWS NEXT WEEK because of the staff absences for COSUGI.
CCS MEETINGS THE NEXT TWO WEEKS:
Wed., 3/3, 9:30, NSLS: Catalogers (workshop) (see Authorities News above)
Wed., 3/10, 10, CCS: Executive Committee
Thur., 3/11, 9:30, Niles: PAS
Fri., 3/12, 9:30, Fremont: Circulation
Thursday, February 18, 2010
CCS News
FEBRUARY 19, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Unicode Oracle Conversion – the computer room has been quite focused on testing and planning for the Unicode Oracle conversion.
1. Date for Conversion is the week of April 19 - – Have you heard? We plan to do the Unicode conversion during the week of April 19. We will tell you more about the exact schedule based on the results of timing tests that we are conducting on the test servers.
2. Testing – many libraries have been participating in the task to create test data. Thank you for your diligence in this task.
3. Reporting – when reporting problems or questions, it is good to copy others in the computer room or post your question through the Wonderdesk.
SUBJECT HEADING CHANGES AND OTHER AUTHORITIES NEWS:
on Feb. 17, over 500 bib. records were changed to reflect the subject heading change of “Lions” to “Lion”. This change occurred because LC finally decided to conform with their own rule, that headings for animals that are only one species should be established in singular form, whereas headings for animals covering more than one species are established in plural form. [Editor’s note: we thought there were multiple species of lions.]
Last week, over 100 bib. records were changed to reflect another change from “Enemies (Persons)” to just “Enemies”.
Last week, CCS also sent 4936 bibliographic records to Marcive for authorities processing. We received back 1738 updated bibliographic records, and 2782 new authority records. All records were reloaded into our database. Marcive also started enriching some records with reading notes (Lexile, Accelerated Reader, or Reading Counts).
LEXILE NUMBER/READING NOTES PROJECT:
Last week, when CCS sent the approx. 4900 bibliographical records to Marcive for Overnight Authorities Processing, they also began enriching some bib. records with Reading notes. Marcive enriched some of our records with Lexile, Accelerated Reader, and Reading Counts notes.
Lexile numbers appear in a 521 note
For example : 490|bLexile or AD 560|bLexile.
Accelerated Reader appears in the 526 field
For example: Accelerated Reader/Renaissance Learning|bMG|c5.7|d2 )
Reading Counts also appears in the 526 field
For example: Reading Counts RC|bHigh School|c8.1|d25|zQuiz: 14149|zGuided reading level: NR.
This week, CCS sent Marcive a copy of our database. Over the next week or so, Marcive will retrospectively add these 3 notes to any of our affected bibliographic records.
THERE WILL BE NO CATALOGING DOWN TIME. When Marcive sends back to us changed records, Roger will use Cataloging Merge to add those new fields to our bibliographic records that are already residing in our database.
Now and when this is finished, searching for these notes can be done using a keyword search or a field specific search. For example, to bring up Reading Counts records, do a keyword general search on “Reading Counts {526}”. During the Oracle move in April, all headings will be re-indexed, and searches indexes will be added so that a patron or staff can search for Lexile or other reading notes.
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Tues., 2/23, 9:30, CCS: Budget & Finance Committee
Wed., 2/24, 9:30, CCS: Acquisitions Discussion Group
FEBRUARY 19, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Unicode Oracle Conversion – the computer room has been quite focused on testing and planning for the Unicode Oracle conversion.
1. Date for Conversion is the week of April 19 - – Have you heard? We plan to do the Unicode conversion during the week of April 19. We will tell you more about the exact schedule based on the results of timing tests that we are conducting on the test servers.
2. Testing – many libraries have been participating in the task to create test data. Thank you for your diligence in this task.
3. Reporting – when reporting problems or questions, it is good to copy others in the computer room or post your question through the Wonderdesk.
SUBJECT HEADING CHANGES AND OTHER AUTHORITIES NEWS:
on Feb. 17, over 500 bib. records were changed to reflect the subject heading change of “Lions” to “Lion”. This change occurred because LC finally decided to conform with their own rule, that headings for animals that are only one species should be established in singular form, whereas headings for animals covering more than one species are established in plural form. [Editor’s note: we thought there were multiple species of lions.]
Last week, over 100 bib. records were changed to reflect another change from “Enemies (Persons)” to just “Enemies”.
Last week, CCS also sent 4936 bibliographic records to Marcive for authorities processing. We received back 1738 updated bibliographic records, and 2782 new authority records. All records were reloaded into our database. Marcive also started enriching some records with reading notes (Lexile, Accelerated Reader, or Reading Counts).
LEXILE NUMBER/READING NOTES PROJECT:
Last week, when CCS sent the approx. 4900 bibliographical records to Marcive for Overnight Authorities Processing, they also began enriching some bib. records with Reading notes. Marcive enriched some of our records with Lexile, Accelerated Reader, and Reading Counts notes.
Lexile numbers appear in a 521 note
For example : 490|bLexile or AD 560|bLexile.
Accelerated Reader appears in the 526 field
For example: Accelerated Reader/Renaissance Learning|bMG|c5.7|d2 )
Reading Counts also appears in the 526 field
For example: Reading Counts RC|bHigh School|c8.1|d25|zQuiz: 14149|zGuided reading level: NR.
This week, CCS sent Marcive a copy of our database. Over the next week or so, Marcive will retrospectively add these 3 notes to any of our affected bibliographic records.
THERE WILL BE NO CATALOGING DOWN TIME. When Marcive sends back to us changed records, Roger will use Cataloging Merge to add those new fields to our bibliographic records that are already residing in our database.
Now and when this is finished, searching for these notes can be done using a keyword search or a field specific search. For example, to bring up Reading Counts records, do a keyword general search on “Reading Counts {526}”. During the Oracle move in April, all headings will be re-indexed, and searches indexes will be added so that a patron or staff can search for Lexile or other reading notes.
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Tues., 2/23, 9:30, CCS: Budget & Finance Committee
Wed., 2/24, 9:30, CCS: Acquisitions Discussion Group
Thursday, February 11, 2010
CCS News
FEBRUARY 12, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
PROJECTS - The Computer Room continues to focus on a number of upcoming conversion projects in addition to the normal incidents that we receive from you. This week we have been looking at data converted in test to the Unicode format. Next week we will commence Phase 2 testing of the Symphony Bridge (Oracle/Unicode Conversion). We also expect delivery of our email server on Feb 19 and during the week of February 15 we will be shipping off data in preparation for the enhancement of the database with Lexile numbers.
This bulletin is short and sweet this week, but the Editor wishes to add commendations for the high attendance at our meetings despite the weather; thanks to all, and we send our understanding to those who couldn’t make it to Prospect Heights or Crystal Lake.
CCS MEETING NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 2/17, 9:30, CCS: SCRAP
FEBRUARY 12, 2010
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
PROJECTS - The Computer Room continues to focus on a number of upcoming conversion projects in addition to the normal incidents that we receive from you. This week we have been looking at data converted in test to the Unicode format. Next week we will commence Phase 2 testing of the Symphony Bridge (Oracle/Unicode Conversion). We also expect delivery of our email server on Feb 19 and during the week of February 15 we will be shipping off data in preparation for the enhancement of the database with Lexile numbers.
This bulletin is short and sweet this week, but the Editor wishes to add commendations for the high attendance at our meetings despite the weather; thanks to all, and we send our understanding to those who couldn’t make it to Prospect Heights or Crystal Lake.
CCS MEETING NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 2/17, 9:30, CCS: SCRAP
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