CCS News
AUGUST 17, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
BookMyne Plus – The following libraries are participating in the BookMyne Plus trail for six months: LFK, LVK, MUK, PHK, WLK, and HPK . We have submitted responses for those libraries to SirsiDynix and learned that no additional libraries can be added once we submit to the App store. So if you want to be in the trial, please contact Linda (847-342-5303) in the computer room as soon as you read this message. We will tell SirsiDynix to submit on Monday (8/20) night if we don’t hear from anyone.
Not much else to report this week. We’re planning some workshops, preparing for the vendor demos, will have a tip sheet on installing the new OCLC Connexion software, etc.
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
None! (Hey, maybe there still IS a slight Summer Lull!)
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
CCS News August 10, 2012
CCS News
AUGUST 10, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Wireless - Many libraries have asked about our wireless policy document lately. You can find it on the CCS web site at ccs.lib under the FAQ section, as the fourth FAQ.
BookMyne Plus – A handful of libraries have responded with their configuration choices. Look for more on this in early September.
3.4.1 – We are waiting for the SirsiDynix announcement that Release 3.4.1 Service Pack 2 is ready for testing. This should occur approximately before the end of the month. At that time we will load the new release on the test server and we will let you know about testing. We have reserved the evening of October 23 for our upgrade.
Strategic Partner Program (SPP) – We participate in SirsiDynix’s Strategic Partner Program for a number of new products. We will be participating in the strategic initiative for Analytics Station – which will “one-day” take the place of Directors Station. Members of CCS have learned a lot through working with Directors Station and we hope to corral that knowledge, pass it on to SD and help to make improvements.
BOOKMYNE PLUS AND SOCIAL LIBRARY TRIALS:
We are hoping to be ready around Labor Day to launch the trials of SirsiDynix’s BookMyne Plus and Social Library. If you are interested in BookMyne Plus, please send the Computer Room staff the requested configuration information ASAP. (See the second “From The Computer Room” item.)
SEPTEMBER VENDOR PRESENTATIONS:
Early next week we will send out an e-mail asking people to register for the September ILS vendor presentations, with a list of our questions and stipulations to the vendors. These presentations will start at 9:30 and go till mid-afternoon, with a ninety minute lunch break. Each vendor will do a one day session with a repeat on the second day. They will be structured, it’s not a “walk in whenever and play on a PC” situation.
CCS MEETING NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 8/15, 9:30, CCS: SCRAP
AUGUST 10, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Wireless - Many libraries have asked about our wireless policy document lately. You can find it on the CCS web site at ccs.lib under the FAQ section, as the fourth FAQ.
BookMyne Plus – A handful of libraries have responded with their configuration choices. Look for more on this in early September.
3.4.1 – We are waiting for the SirsiDynix announcement that Release 3.4.1 Service Pack 2 is ready for testing. This should occur approximately before the end of the month. At that time we will load the new release on the test server and we will let you know about testing. We have reserved the evening of October 23 for our upgrade.
Strategic Partner Program (SPP) – We participate in SirsiDynix’s Strategic Partner Program for a number of new products. We will be participating in the strategic initiative for Analytics Station – which will “one-day” take the place of Directors Station. Members of CCS have learned a lot through working with Directors Station and we hope to corral that knowledge, pass it on to SD and help to make improvements.
BOOKMYNE PLUS AND SOCIAL LIBRARY TRIALS:
We are hoping to be ready around Labor Day to launch the trials of SirsiDynix’s BookMyne Plus and Social Library. If you are interested in BookMyne Plus, please send the Computer Room staff the requested configuration information ASAP. (See the second “From The Computer Room” item.)
SEPTEMBER VENDOR PRESENTATIONS:
Early next week we will send out an e-mail asking people to register for the September ILS vendor presentations, with a list of our questions and stipulations to the vendors. These presentations will start at 9:30 and go till mid-afternoon, with a ninety minute lunch break. Each vendor will do a one day session with a repeat on the second day. They will be structured, it’s not a “walk in whenever and play on a PC” situation.
CCS MEETING NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 8/15, 9:30, CCS: SCRAP
Thursday, August 2, 2012
CCS News August 3, 2012
CCS News
AUGUST 3, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
BiblioCommons – the error message that was popping up referring to a Stack Overflow error was patched by BiblioCommons – we have no reports of re-occurrences.
Get Ready for 3.4.1 – Our new planned date for installing 3.4.1 is Tuesday, October 23 in the evening. This means that libraries will be on the new release on Wednesday October 24. Our date has been planned so that we can take advantage of the release of Service Pack 2 – which will contain code to assist client downloads. We will be installing 3.4.1 with SP2 on the test server shortly after August 20 – so please set aside time for testing in late August and September.
AUTHORITIES NEWS:
Over the next few weeks, Marcive will be sending files of updated authority records for me to load into the CCS database. These updated authority records are the first step in a series of phases, that will make the Library of Congress’ authority file (and CCS’ too) be compliant with the new cataloging rules formulated by RDA. No headings will be affected in this initial phase. This week 2437 updated authority records were loaded, and more records will be loaded next week.
AUGUST 3, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
BiblioCommons – the error message that was popping up referring to a Stack Overflow error was patched by BiblioCommons – we have no reports of re-occurrences.
Get Ready for 3.4.1 – Our new planned date for installing 3.4.1 is Tuesday, October 23 in the evening. This means that libraries will be on the new release on Wednesday October 24. Our date has been planned so that we can take advantage of the release of Service Pack 2 – which will contain code to assist client downloads. We will be installing 3.4.1 with SP2 on the test server shortly after August 20 – so please set aside time for testing in late August and September.
AUTHORITIES NEWS:
Over the next few weeks, Marcive will be sending files of updated authority records for me to load into the CCS database. These updated authority records are the first step in a series of phases, that will make the Library of Congress’ authority file (and CCS’ too) be compliant with the new cataloging rules formulated by RDA. No headings will be affected in this initial phase. This week 2437 updated authority records were loaded, and more records will be loaded next week.
Virginia Seward
CCS Authorities Librarian
A FEW STATISTICS:
Here are a few statistics for FY11-12 (July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012) as a preview of the CCS Narrative Annual Report:
1,125,691 MARC records (up 50,593 or 4.74%)
5,460,502 item records (up 340,702 or 6.65%)
639,730 user records (up 32,770 or 5.46%)
15,591,114 checkouts and renewals (a new record, up 210,722 or 1.37%)
holds placed online: 1,782,200 (up 233,738 or 15.09%; 447,036 were placed in Workflows, 1,243,748 in Bibliocommons)
ILL items sent by CCS libraries: 581,857 (down 11,418 or -1.93%)
We’ve been busy... and that’s with less than two months of Highland Park activity.
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 8/8/, 9:30, Algonguin: Catalogers
Thur., 8/9, 9:30, Lake Villa: ILL
(Reminder: the August 8 Executive Committee meeting is canceled!)
5,460,502 item records (up 340,702 or 6.65%)
639,730 user records (up 32,770 or 5.46%)
15,591,114 checkouts and renewals (a new record, up 210,722 or 1.37%)
holds placed online: 1,782,200 (up 233,738 or 15.09%; 447,036 were placed in Workflows, 1,243,748 in Bibliocommons)
ILL items sent by CCS libraries: 581,857 (down 11,418 or -1.93%)
We’ve been busy... and that’s with less than two months of Highland Park activity.
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 8/8/, 9:30, Algonguin: Catalogers
Thur., 8/9, 9:30, Lake Villa: ILL
(Reminder: the August 8 Executive Committee meeting is canceled!)
Thursday, July 26, 2012
CCS News July 27, 2012
CCS News
JULY 27, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Wireless and Workflows – We have had some inquiries about (1) outreach and Workflows and (2) Workflows using wireless technology. If you contemplate moving to either of these scenarios in the future – please see the link under ““4. WorkFlows in a Wireless Environment policy.” It is in the FAQs on the Members Only page of the CCS Web site. The direct link is
http://www.ccslib.org/attachments/File/LibraryStaff/WrkFlwsinWrlessEnvmt.pdf
AUTHORITIES NEWS:
There is lots of subject heading news to report on. For those that have major legal collections, the subject heading of “Business law” was combined with the subject heading of “Commercial law”. All affected bibs. have changed. The other major changes does not affect the headings themselves, but their see-also references. This affects “legendary character” headings like “Bunyan, Paul (Legendary character)” and “Hua, Mulan (Legendary character)”. Their new see-also references include the term “legends” and in Paul’s case, his see-also reference is now “Legends – United States” (it used to be “Tales”).
This week, I also loaded two more files into the CCS system that were obtained from Marcive. One contained 2255 updated authority records and the other contained 344 new authority records. The updated authority records contain heading changes, new death dates, and other information that will keep our database as up to date as possible. The 344 (or “the new matches”) were authority records that were needed in our database, but were not available before this time.
Virginia Seward
CCS Authorities Librarian
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Thur., 8/2, noon, Jameson’s: Technical Group Chairs Lunch
Fri., 8/3, 9:30, CCS: Continuing Education Steering Committee
JULY 27, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Wireless and Workflows – We have had some inquiries about (1) outreach and Workflows and (2) Workflows using wireless technology. If you contemplate moving to either of these scenarios in the future – please see the link under ““4. WorkFlows in a Wireless Environment policy.” It is in the FAQs on the Members Only page of the CCS Web site. The direct link is
http://www.ccslib.org/attachments/File/LibraryStaff/WrkFlwsinWrlessEnvmt.pdf
AUTHORITIES NEWS:
There is lots of subject heading news to report on. For those that have major legal collections, the subject heading of “Business law” was combined with the subject heading of “Commercial law”. All affected bibs. have changed. The other major changes does not affect the headings themselves, but their see-also references. This affects “legendary character” headings like “Bunyan, Paul (Legendary character)” and “Hua, Mulan (Legendary character)”. Their new see-also references include the term “legends” and in Paul’s case, his see-also reference is now “Legends – United States” (it used to be “Tales”).
This week, I also loaded two more files into the CCS system that were obtained from Marcive. One contained 2255 updated authority records and the other contained 344 new authority records. The updated authority records contain heading changes, new death dates, and other information that will keep our database as up to date as possible. The 344 (or “the new matches”) were authority records that were needed in our database, but were not available before this time.
Virginia Seward
CCS Authorities Librarian
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Thur., 8/2, noon, Jameson’s: Technical Group Chairs Lunch
Fri., 8/3, 9:30, CCS: Continuing Education Steering Committee
Thursday, July 19, 2012
CCS News July 20, 2012
CCS News
JULY 20, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
New Patron Field:A new field called ‘SECURITY’ is being added to the patron ‘Extended Information’ tab. It is a free form text field, not governed by a policy-driven list of values. It is intended to contain a security question and answer which could be used when the patron forgets his/her card. At this time the contents of this field will not be visible in, or used by, any patron-facing interface. This field is visible to the staff clients only. Therefore entering the question and answer is the responsibility of the staff. Your use of this field is strictly optional. It will be both visible and editable in the User Registration wizard and the Modify User wizard and visible in the Display User wizard as well. This field will be available as of Tuesday 7/24. The suggested format of the field is Q:{followed by the question} A:{followed by the answer}
NEW LINK TO STATEWIDE BAR CODE PREFIX LIST:
The statewide list of libraries’ automated bar code prefixes, long maintained by CCS, has been transferred over to the L2 web site. The new URL is:
http://www.librarylearning.info/libraries/advanced_search_resources.aspx.
This is in transition, so now all this does is allow the user to input a bar code prefix and search for the associated library. We expect that it will soon become less cryptic.
CCS MEETING NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 7/25, 10:00, Zion-Benton: Governing Board
JULY 20, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
New Patron Field:A new field called ‘SECURITY’ is being added to the patron ‘Extended Information’ tab. It is a free form text field, not governed by a policy-driven list of values. It is intended to contain a security question and answer which could be used when the patron forgets his/her card. At this time the contents of this field will not be visible in, or used by, any patron-facing interface. This field is visible to the staff clients only. Therefore entering the question and answer is the responsibility of the staff. Your use of this field is strictly optional. It will be both visible and editable in the User Registration wizard and the Modify User wizard and visible in the Display User wizard as well. This field will be available as of Tuesday 7/24. The suggested format of the field is Q:{followed by the question} A:{followed by the answer}
NEW LINK TO STATEWIDE BAR CODE PREFIX LIST:
The statewide list of libraries’ automated bar code prefixes, long maintained by CCS, has been transferred over to the L2 web site. The new URL is:
http://www.librarylearning.info/libraries/advanced_search_resources.aspx.
This is in transition, so now all this does is allow the user to input a bar code prefix and search for the associated library. We expect that it will soon become less cryptic.
CCS MEETING NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 7/25, 10:00, Zion-Benton: Governing Board
Thursday, July 12, 2012
CCS News July 13, 2012
CCS News
JULY 13, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Test server – During the summer months when temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, we take our test server down to conserve heat. During the next several weeks we will be loading the new Symphony release 3.4.1 on the test server as well so we will keep you posted on the progress and the availability of the machine should temperatures rise.
Index – We had a few problems with our bibliographic index during the last few weeks. For this reason we will be rebuilding the keyword index on Sunday morning July 15. Workflows will be down between 6 and 11am so that we can rebuild the index. BiblioCommons will be available during that time, but functions will be limited while Workflows is down. SVA will also be down while indexes are being rebuilt.
WHEN PAYING YOUR LIBRARY'S CCS BILLS:
Please include a copy of your invoice with the check. Thanks!
VENDOR PRESENTATION DATES AND LOCATIONS FINALIZED: Here are the dates and places for our three scheduled presentations from ILS vendors. Each presentation will cover the same ground each day; the second day is a repeat session to give attendees some schedule flexibility. More information will follow.
Thur.-Fri., Sept. 13-14: Innovative Interfaces
(Sierra), Northbrook (Auditorium)
Wed.-Thur., Sept. 19-20: Sirsidynix (Symphony), Des Plaines
Thur.-Fri., Sept. 27-28: Polaris, Glenview
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Thur., 7/19, 9:30, Wilmette: PAS
Fri., 7/20, 9:30, Cary: Circulation
JULY 13, 2012
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Test server – During the summer months when temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, we take our test server down to conserve heat. During the next several weeks we will be loading the new Symphony release 3.4.1 on the test server as well so we will keep you posted on the progress and the availability of the machine should temperatures rise.
Index – We had a few problems with our bibliographic index during the last few weeks. For this reason we will be rebuilding the keyword index on Sunday morning July 15. Workflows will be down between 6 and 11am so that we can rebuild the index. BiblioCommons will be available during that time, but functions will be limited while Workflows is down. SVA will also be down while indexes are being rebuilt.
WHEN PAYING YOUR LIBRARY'S CCS BILLS:
Please include a copy of your invoice with the check. Thanks!
VENDOR PRESENTATION DATES AND LOCATIONS FINALIZED: Here are the dates and places for our three scheduled presentations from ILS vendors. Each presentation will cover the same ground each day; the second day is a repeat session to give attendees some schedule flexibility. More information will follow.
Thur.-Fri., Sept. 13-14: Innovative Interfaces
(Sierra), Northbrook (Auditorium)
Wed.-Thur., Sept. 19-20: Sirsidynix (Symphony), Des Plaines
Thur.-Fri., Sept. 27-28: Polaris, Glenview
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Thur., 7/19, 9:30, Wilmette: PAS
Fri., 7/20, 9:30, Cary: Circulation
Thursday, July 5, 2012
CCS News July 6, 2012
CCS News
JULY 6, 2012
A COUPLE REMINDERS:
We have very little to share this week, but here are a couple reminders:
*Please sign and return your library’s OCLC/ILLINET contracts.
*We will be preparing soon for the trials of Sirsi’s Social Library (Facebook) and BookMyne Plus modules to commence August 1.
FILE SIZES:
As of July 1, the CCS database contained:
639,730 patron records
1,125,691 MARC records (post-de-dupe)
5,460,502 item records
1,050,044 holds
2,351,035 bills
762,109 authority records
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 7/11, 10:00, CCS: Executive Committee
JULY 6, 2012
A COUPLE REMINDERS:
We have very little to share this week, but here are a couple reminders:
*Please sign and return your library’s OCLC/ILLINET contracts.
*We will be preparing soon for the trials of Sirsi’s Social Library (Facebook) and BookMyne Plus modules to commence August 1.
FILE SIZES:
As of July 1, the CCS database contained:
639,730 patron records
1,125,691 MARC records (post-de-dupe)
5,460,502 item records
1,050,044 holds
2,351,035 bills
762,109 authority records
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 7/11, 10:00, CCS: Executive Committee
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