CCS News
DECEMBER 21-28, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Network work rescheduled – January 4 (Friday) is the date we have rescheduled installation of the new router from ICN. We will be interrupting the network for a few moments only between 7 and 8 am.
Patch Cluster 5D - Tentatively we are looking forward to Tuesday, January 9 for an early start in the computer room so that we can load Patch Cluster 5D to Workflows by the time you arrive on that Tuesday morning. We will keep you posted as our plans to install that patch firm up. Client upgrades will be involved!
Hours Dec 24 and 25 – The Computer Room will be staffed when libraries are open. This means that we will be here on December 24 from 8:00-1:00pm. Glencoe and Lincolnwood are open until 1pm. The normal overnight routines will run, but printed overdue notices may not be printed until we return to work on December 26. The Computer Room will not be staffed on December 25.
New Year Holiday - On New Year’s Eve the Computer Room will be staffed until 5PM to accommodate libraries that are open until that time. The Computer Room will be closed on New Year’s Day.
DID YOU KNOW that Ken is out sick today, so there is no DYK column?
NO ISSUE NEXT WEEK:
Due to the holiday break, there will be no issue of this essential reading next week.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL FROM THE CCS STAFF!
CCS MEETINGS THE NEXT TWO WEEKS:
Thur., Jan. 3, 10:00, CCS: Long Range Planning Committee
Thursday, December 13, 2007
CCS News
DECEMBER 14, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Directors Station – the Computer Room has been working with Sirsi to add the additional Fiscal Years to cover all the FY arrangements in our consortium.
Hours Dec 24 and 25 – The Computer Room will be staffed when libraries are open. This means that we will be here on December 24 from 8:00-1:00pm. After you close we will process your printed output before going home to family celebrations. The Computer Room will not be staffed on December 25.
MIDDAY OPEN HOLDS PICK LIST NOW AVAILABLE VIA WEB:
There is a new link on the CCS Reports Web Page that allows access to the Sirsi Finished Reports. This is in response to a request to have the Mid-Day Open Holds Pick List available via the web immediately upon completion. The link is labeled “Sirsi Finished Reports List” and appears just beneath the link to the archive. The link will serve up on the web what is currently available for your library via the Workflows ‘Finished Reports Wizard’.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that I’m currently scheduling people to attend the Java training sessions that will be provided by Sirsi at on January 27-30 and February 4-7, but less than half the CCS libraries have appointed a Java Implementation Coordinator to help organize training for their staff? This is becoming a problem because I don’t always know how to contact likely trainees at each library and need help from the library Coordinators. For example, there will be a two-day Serials training at Northbrook on January 30 and 31, 2008 (Part I & Part II will meet all day each day) but there isn’t a Serials Technical Group I can work with. Since I don’t know everyone responsible for processing serials at each library, I must depend upon the Java Implementation Coordinators to identify the people to be trained and officially pass the sign-up information along to me. If possible, I’d like to have all CCS libraries assign someone to act as the Java Implementation Coordinator by December 19, 2007. The sooner the Coordinators tell me who will attend each training session, the sooner I can finalize the calendar and verify everyone’s attendance schedule.
Note: In the message I sent Tuesday announcing the upcoming Sirsi training timetable, I wasn’t clear about how long each training session will be. All classes will be day-long events (not half day as could be inferred from my message), so trainees will be in Northbrook either one or two full days – depending on the session(s) in which they are participating. Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Mon., 12/17, 1:30, CCS: Federated Searching Task Force
Tues., 12/18, 9:30, NSLS: Maintenance
Coordinators
Wed., 12/19, 9:30, CCS: SCRAP
DECEMBER 14, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Directors Station – the Computer Room has been working with Sirsi to add the additional Fiscal Years to cover all the FY arrangements in our consortium.
Hours Dec 24 and 25 – The Computer Room will be staffed when libraries are open. This means that we will be here on December 24 from 8:00-1:00pm. After you close we will process your printed output before going home to family celebrations. The Computer Room will not be staffed on December 25.
MIDDAY OPEN HOLDS PICK LIST NOW AVAILABLE VIA WEB:
There is a new link on the CCS Reports Web Page that allows access to the Sirsi Finished Reports. This is in response to a request to have the Mid-Day Open Holds Pick List available via the web immediately upon completion. The link is labeled “Sirsi Finished Reports List” and appears just beneath the link to the archive. The link will serve up on the web what is currently available for your library via the Workflows ‘Finished Reports Wizard’.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that I’m currently scheduling people to attend the Java training sessions that will be provided by Sirsi at on January 27-30 and February 4-7, but less than half the CCS libraries have appointed a Java Implementation Coordinator to help organize training for their staff? This is becoming a problem because I don’t always know how to contact likely trainees at each library and need help from the library Coordinators. For example, there will be a two-day Serials training at Northbrook on January 30 and 31, 2008 (Part I & Part II will meet all day each day) but there isn’t a Serials Technical Group I can work with. Since I don’t know everyone responsible for processing serials at each library, I must depend upon the Java Implementation Coordinators to identify the people to be trained and officially pass the sign-up information along to me. If possible, I’d like to have all CCS libraries assign someone to act as the Java Implementation Coordinator by December 19, 2007. The sooner the Coordinators tell me who will attend each training session, the sooner I can finalize the calendar and verify everyone’s attendance schedule.
Note: In the message I sent Tuesday announcing the upcoming Sirsi training timetable, I wasn’t clear about how long each training session will be. All classes will be day-long events (not half day as could be inferred from my message), so trainees will be in Northbrook either one or two full days – depending on the session(s) in which they are participating. Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Mon., 12/17, 1:30, CCS: Federated Searching Task Force
Tues., 12/18, 9:30, NSLS: Maintenance
Coordinators
Wed., 12/19, 9:30, CCS: SCRAP
Thursday, December 6, 2007
CCS News
DECEMBER 7, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Router and Packetshaper – the router for ICN and our Packetshaper will be rebooted on Tuesday morning Dec 11 between 7:00 and 8:00 am. This means the network will be down for a few moments. You might want to reschedule your earlybirds for Tuesday morning.
Old monitors – we will be recycling old monitors and other peripherals soon. If anyone is interested in old computer junk please contact the computer room immediately. We have the usual old monitors, but we also have an old switch (patch panel), some old Cisco equipment, and our old Geac machine. They will be discarded on Dec 12 unless we have any takers.
Indexes – our indexes are now in good shape again after an unusually long 550 in a bib record imported from OCLC caused the indexes to go “nuts”. We rebuilt the indexes and everything is okay now.
Due Dates – be sure you have checked the web at the appropriate interval before any closures to be sure your closed dates have been entered.
Snow – in case of inclement weather we will put a computer room snow plan into effect. Depending on the time of the advisory, staff may not be in the computer room. Please be aware that our emergency number provided by our Webley service will be in effect in the event that no staff can make it into the computer room during normal library open hours. We also monitor the system from home in the event of an emergency. The Webley number is 866-537-2406 (it is also on our voice mail message). When the snow emergency occurs later at night notice printing will be suspended.
DIRECTOR’S STATION:
The Director’s Station should be accessible next week so that our libraries can:
*get a lot of reports instantly instead of waiting for us to generate them
*get prettier output (color charts, graphs, etc.)
*supplement the reports we already offer
*do a lot of customization
We will send out the login information by e-mail to our trainees. We will start with one login per library but can add more by request. Each login can save its own reports and links into a folder; that’s the chief virtue of having a specific one. When we’re rolling, please contact Glenn Galang with setup issues and Ken Victorson with procedural issues. We will also get out a tip sheet ASAP.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that I’ve been working with the Sirsi trainer to customize the Java classes she’ll deliver at Northbrook during the last week of January and the first week of February? To make sure that the curriculum is as effective as possible, I’m collecting a catalog of specific issues we’d like her to address in those sessions. My goal is to compile a list of as many concrete topics as possible for each type of training (Cataloging, Circulation, Serials, and Acquisitions) so that I can forward them to her and have them incorporated into the program. Typically, each Sirsi on-site training includes a large segment on Essential Skills and generally the sessions focus only on Java client operations. But for most of our sessions, we want the trainer to eliminate the Essential Skills segment and focus more on the issues that are unique to the CCS environment. We also want her to provide a detailed comparison of each operation, looking at the way it works in the C client vs. what we’ll see in the Java client.
Many CCS libraries are currently using Java and have already found (and sent to me) differences between the way wizards, properties, and operations act in the two clients. I’ll be sending all of these known issues to Sirsi for the trainer to cover, but if you or someone on your staff has questions about Java that haven’t yet been given to me, please pass them along as soon as possible so I can include them on the trainer’s to-do list. Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Tues., 12/11, 1:30, Northbrook: Federated
Searching Task Force
Thur., 12/13, 9:30, NSLS: ILL
(Note: The December 13 Executive Committee meeting is canceled!)
Fri., 12/14, 10:00, Northbrook: Federated
Searching Task Force
DECEMBER 7, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Router and Packetshaper – the router for ICN and our Packetshaper will be rebooted on Tuesday morning Dec 11 between 7:00 and 8:00 am. This means the network will be down for a few moments. You might want to reschedule your earlybirds for Tuesday morning.
Old monitors – we will be recycling old monitors and other peripherals soon. If anyone is interested in old computer junk please contact the computer room immediately. We have the usual old monitors, but we also have an old switch (patch panel), some old Cisco equipment, and our old Geac machine. They will be discarded on Dec 12 unless we have any takers.
Indexes – our indexes are now in good shape again after an unusually long 550 in a bib record imported from OCLC caused the indexes to go “nuts”. We rebuilt the indexes and everything is okay now.
Due Dates – be sure you have checked the web at the appropriate interval before any closures to be sure your closed dates have been entered.
Snow – in case of inclement weather we will put a computer room snow plan into effect. Depending on the time of the advisory, staff may not be in the computer room. Please be aware that our emergency number provided by our Webley service will be in effect in the event that no staff can make it into the computer room during normal library open hours. We also monitor the system from home in the event of an emergency. The Webley number is 866-537-2406 (it is also on our voice mail message). When the snow emergency occurs later at night notice printing will be suspended.
DIRECTOR’S STATION:
The Director’s Station should be accessible next week so that our libraries can:
*get a lot of reports instantly instead of waiting for us to generate them
*get prettier output (color charts, graphs, etc.)
*supplement the reports we already offer
*do a lot of customization
We will send out the login information by e-mail to our trainees. We will start with one login per library but can add more by request. Each login can save its own reports and links into a folder; that’s the chief virtue of having a specific one. When we’re rolling, please contact Glenn Galang with setup issues and Ken Victorson with procedural issues. We will also get out a tip sheet ASAP.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that I’ve been working with the Sirsi trainer to customize the Java classes she’ll deliver at Northbrook during the last week of January and the first week of February? To make sure that the curriculum is as effective as possible, I’m collecting a catalog of specific issues we’d like her to address in those sessions. My goal is to compile a list of as many concrete topics as possible for each type of training (Cataloging, Circulation, Serials, and Acquisitions) so that I can forward them to her and have them incorporated into the program. Typically, each Sirsi on-site training includes a large segment on Essential Skills and generally the sessions focus only on Java client operations. But for most of our sessions, we want the trainer to eliminate the Essential Skills segment and focus more on the issues that are unique to the CCS environment. We also want her to provide a detailed comparison of each operation, looking at the way it works in the C client vs. what we’ll see in the Java client.
Many CCS libraries are currently using Java and have already found (and sent to me) differences between the way wizards, properties, and operations act in the two clients. I’ll be sending all of these known issues to Sirsi for the trainer to cover, but if you or someone on your staff has questions about Java that haven’t yet been given to me, please pass them along as soon as possible so I can include them on the trainer’s to-do list. Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Tues., 12/11, 1:30, Northbrook: Federated
Searching Task Force
Thur., 12/13, 9:30, NSLS: ILL
(Note: The December 13 Executive Committee meeting is canceled!)
Fri., 12/14, 10:00, Northbrook: Federated
Searching Task Force
Thursday, November 29, 2007
CCS News
NOVEMBER 30, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Unfillable holds report – this new report is now available on your web reports
Dec 11, Tues – the morning of December 11, between 7:00 and 8:00 am we will be working on the network. During that time the system will be down momentarily for a restart. The purpose of this restart is to bring in a new router from ICN and to bring in a new configuration for our Packeteer. The system should be down only for a few minutes, but you might want to reschedule you early bird nevertheless. We will provide a reminder a few minutes before system shutdown that morning via shelp.
Closed dates for 2008 – thanks to all that have responded. We will alert you as we get these input.
AUTHORITY RECORDS PROCESSING UPDATE:
CCS sent approx. 4660 bibliographic records to Marcive on Wednesday, Nov. 28th for Overnight Authorities Processing. The records have been processed and were reloaded into our system, so full cataloging may resume. Of the 4667 bibliographic records, Marcive returned 1400 updated bibliographic records. Marcive also sent us 1802 new authority records. CCS will be sending groups of records for processing each month, so that our database will be kept up to date as much as possible. – Virginia Seward
UNIFORM USER DELINQUENCY THRESHOLDS TRIAL:
After an affirmative vote at the Nov. 28 Governing Board meeting, we have set the delinquency thresholds for all non-staff, non-inventory patrons to 20 overdues, $10.00 in bills and 75 active charges. This is a six month trial and will take effect on Friday, November 30. It will bring increased consistency to how patrons are treated from library to library, and database analysis shows that only a few people per library on average are affected.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that I have two important reminders I want to send out to the CCS community? The first is aimed at the two dozen people that will be participating in the Director’s Station training. I’ve scheduled two sessions to be delivered by Sirsi’s Educational Services group via Webex next Thursday, December 6th at the Northbrook library. Each session will be three hours long and (because of the time difference between here and Utah) will run from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, respectively. I’ll bring copies of the Sirsi Director’s Station End User Training Guide to the training room that day. I sent a message two weeks ago identifying who’s in each session, but (here’s the important part) if you’re a participant and aren’t sure whether you’re in the morning or afternoon session, please contact me soon and I’ll let you know when to attend (seating is extremely limited).
The second reminder concerns the Java Implementation Coordinators that are to be appointed by each CCS library. A library’s Coordinator will be my primary contact for matters related to their migration from the C client to the Java client, but I’ve only heard from about half of the libraries about who will be taking on this role. If your library has not yet selected someone to coordinate the Java client training and implementation project, please do so as soon as possible and forward their name, email address, and phone number to me. Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 12/5, 9:30, Niles: Catalogers
Thur., 12/6, 10 AM and 2 PM, Northbrook:
Director’s Station End User Training
(You must be registered!)
NOVEMBER 30, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Unfillable holds report – this new report is now available on your web reports
Dec 11, Tues – the morning of December 11, between 7:00 and 8:00 am we will be working on the network. During that time the system will be down momentarily for a restart. The purpose of this restart is to bring in a new router from ICN and to bring in a new configuration for our Packeteer. The system should be down only for a few minutes, but you might want to reschedule you early bird nevertheless. We will provide a reminder a few minutes before system shutdown that morning via shelp.
Closed dates for 2008 – thanks to all that have responded. We will alert you as we get these input.
AUTHORITY RECORDS PROCESSING UPDATE:
CCS sent approx. 4660 bibliographic records to Marcive on Wednesday, Nov. 28th for Overnight Authorities Processing. The records have been processed and were reloaded into our system, so full cataloging may resume. Of the 4667 bibliographic records, Marcive returned 1400 updated bibliographic records. Marcive also sent us 1802 new authority records. CCS will be sending groups of records for processing each month, so that our database will be kept up to date as much as possible. – Virginia Seward
UNIFORM USER DELINQUENCY THRESHOLDS TRIAL:
After an affirmative vote at the Nov. 28 Governing Board meeting, we have set the delinquency thresholds for all non-staff, non-inventory patrons to 20 overdues, $10.00 in bills and 75 active charges. This is a six month trial and will take effect on Friday, November 30. It will bring increased consistency to how patrons are treated from library to library, and database analysis shows that only a few people per library on average are affected.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that I have two important reminders I want to send out to the CCS community? The first is aimed at the two dozen people that will be participating in the Director’s Station training. I’ve scheduled two sessions to be delivered by Sirsi’s Educational Services group via Webex next Thursday, December 6th at the Northbrook library. Each session will be three hours long and (because of the time difference between here and Utah) will run from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, respectively. I’ll bring copies of the Sirsi Director’s Station End User Training Guide to the training room that day. I sent a message two weeks ago identifying who’s in each session, but (here’s the important part) if you’re a participant and aren’t sure whether you’re in the morning or afternoon session, please contact me soon and I’ll let you know when to attend (seating is extremely limited).
The second reminder concerns the Java Implementation Coordinators that are to be appointed by each CCS library. A library’s Coordinator will be my primary contact for matters related to their migration from the C client to the Java client, but I’ve only heard from about half of the libraries about who will be taking on this role. If your library has not yet selected someone to coordinate the Java client training and implementation project, please do so as soon as possible and forward their name, email address, and phone number to me. Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 12/5, 9:30, Niles: Catalogers
Thur., 12/6, 10 AM and 2 PM, Northbrook:
Director’s Station End User Training
(You must be registered!)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
CCS News NOVEMBER 16, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Workflows Test Server – the patch cluster 5D is now installed on the test server.
Email Overdues – we have put two libraries up using email overdues. Are you next?? If so open a WonderDesk Incident. We will send you the form and we will have you operational on this service soon thereafter.
Thanksgiving Hours – Most libraries are closing early on Wednesday, 11/21 but Evanston, Round Lake and Des Plaines will be open normal hours.
The Computer Room will also be staffed the evening of Wednesday 11/21 until the libraries close. The Computer Room will be closed Thanksgiving Day. That means the output customarily transferred in the van will be delayed until the delivery on Monday. Naturally you can get all reports on the Web. We are open for support during our normal hours the Friday after Thanksgiving.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that in addition to the Circulation, Cataloging, and Serials classes that will be presented by a Sirsi trainer in association with our migration to the Java client, we’ve also arranged for an Acquisitions training session? The two-day training will be held in conjunction with the other sessions during the last week of January and first week of February, 2008. (Specific dates for all classes will be announced soon.)
Although the earlier, C client-based Acquisitions module was flawed and isn’t being used much by CCS libraries, the new Java-based version is very popular with current users. Because their experience has been so positive, I strongly encourage libraries who are able to participate in Phase I of Java training & implementation to enroll a representative in the Jan/Feb Acquisitions training session (I’ve reserved spaces in the class for all libraries that expressed an interest in the Acquisitions Usage survey I sent out in July, but there are several seats still available). This training will provide a good opportunity for libraries to learn how well Acquisitions works in Java and find out about the potential advantages of using it in the future. There will be participants in the class from CCS libraries that are successfully using Acquisitions now and you’ll discover that they’ve done a lot of the preliminary work needed to implement this module at your library. For example, they’ve already created patterns for well-designed Order ID codes, Fund codes, and Holding codes; have written procedures and cheat-sheets; and have worked out alternative ways of structuring the daily work flow so it will accommodate local needs. Please contact me by phone or email if you want to participate in the upcoming Acquisitions training. Ken Victorson
There will be no CCS News next week due to holiday absences. Happy Thanksgiving to all; we at CCS are thankful for all the good people we serve and the support we get.
CCS MEETINGS THE NEXT TWO WEEKS:
Wed., 11/21, 9:30, CCS: SCRAP
Wed., 11/28, 9:30, CCS: Acquisitions
Technical Group
Wed., 11/28, 10:00, NSLS: Governing Board
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Workflows Test Server – the patch cluster 5D is now installed on the test server.
Email Overdues – we have put two libraries up using email overdues. Are you next?? If so open a WonderDesk Incident. We will send you the form and we will have you operational on this service soon thereafter.
Thanksgiving Hours – Most libraries are closing early on Wednesday, 11/21 but Evanston, Round Lake and Des Plaines will be open normal hours.
The Computer Room will also be staffed the evening of Wednesday 11/21 until the libraries close. The Computer Room will be closed Thanksgiving Day. That means the output customarily transferred in the van will be delayed until the delivery on Monday. Naturally you can get all reports on the Web. We are open for support during our normal hours the Friday after Thanksgiving.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that in addition to the Circulation, Cataloging, and Serials classes that will be presented by a Sirsi trainer in association with our migration to the Java client, we’ve also arranged for an Acquisitions training session? The two-day training will be held in conjunction with the other sessions during the last week of January and first week of February, 2008. (Specific dates for all classes will be announced soon.)
Although the earlier, C client-based Acquisitions module was flawed and isn’t being used much by CCS libraries, the new Java-based version is very popular with current users. Because their experience has been so positive, I strongly encourage libraries who are able to participate in Phase I of Java training & implementation to enroll a representative in the Jan/Feb Acquisitions training session (I’ve reserved spaces in the class for all libraries that expressed an interest in the Acquisitions Usage survey I sent out in July, but there are several seats still available). This training will provide a good opportunity for libraries to learn how well Acquisitions works in Java and find out about the potential advantages of using it in the future. There will be participants in the class from CCS libraries that are successfully using Acquisitions now and you’ll discover that they’ve done a lot of the preliminary work needed to implement this module at your library. For example, they’ve already created patterns for well-designed Order ID codes, Fund codes, and Holding codes; have written procedures and cheat-sheets; and have worked out alternative ways of structuring the daily work flow so it will accommodate local needs. Please contact me by phone or email if you want to participate in the upcoming Acquisitions training. Ken Victorson
There will be no CCS News next week due to holiday absences. Happy Thanksgiving to all; we at CCS are thankful for all the good people we serve and the support we get.
CCS MEETINGS THE NEXT TWO WEEKS:
Wed., 11/21, 9:30, CCS: SCRAP
Wed., 11/28, 9:30, CCS: Acquisitions
Technical Group
Wed., 11/28, 10:00, NSLS: Governing Board
Thursday, November 8, 2007
CCS News
NOVEMBER 9, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Closed dates – We have begun the cleanup of the old closed dates. Dates for 2006 are being removed and this will be completed by the end of next week. When you are ready to send new dates for 2008 send the list in mm/dd/yyyy format separated by commas without spaces.
Thanksgiving – it is not too early to remind you that the Computer Room will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. All of our regular jobs will run on schedule, with the customary delay in printed notices and bills due to the van delivery schedule.
Don’t forget to use the WonderDesk – This is a good time to remind you that we love to get your emails but we can track your special requests so much better if you open an incident in the Wonderdesk.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that a heavily edited version of the Release Notes for Patch Cluster 5A-D is now available on the CCS web page? I’ve distilled the 154 page document from Sirsi down to a manageable 21 pages that can be used for our Patch Cluster testing project. (This was the topic of last week’s Did You Know item.) The document is sorted by topics/areas to be tested and they include: General corrections, Staff Client corrections & enhancements, Item Search & Display enhancements, Acquisitions corrections & enhancements, Cataloging corrections & enhancements, Circulation corrections & enhancements, e-Library (iBistro) corrections & enhancements, Serials Control corrections & enhancements, SIP2 corrections & enhancements, and Standalone/Offline enhancements.
If you missed last week’s CCS News item, I asked for volunteers familiar with Java to help test the new patch cluster on the test server. In addition to sending materials directly to each tester I’m also posting documents related to this project on the CCS web page. During the next week or so, you’ll also find documents explaining how to access the test server, and how to upgrade the Java client on the CCS web page. You can find the document titled “Patch Cluster 5A-D Release Notes” on the CCS web page, in the Sirsi Resources link, under the General Bulletins heading. Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Tues., 11/13, 10:00, CCS: Executive Comm.
Wed., 11/14, 9:30, Schaumburg: ILUUG
Annual Program Meeting (you must be registered!)
Thur., 11/15, 9:30, Zion-Benton: PAS
NOVEMBER 9, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Closed dates – We have begun the cleanup of the old closed dates. Dates for 2006 are being removed and this will be completed by the end of next week. When you are ready to send new dates for 2008 send the list in mm/dd/yyyy format separated by commas without spaces.
Thanksgiving – it is not too early to remind you that the Computer Room will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. All of our regular jobs will run on schedule, with the customary delay in printed notices and bills due to the van delivery schedule.
Don’t forget to use the WonderDesk – This is a good time to remind you that we love to get your emails but we can track your special requests so much better if you open an incident in the Wonderdesk.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that a heavily edited version of the Release Notes for Patch Cluster 5A-D is now available on the CCS web page? I’ve distilled the 154 page document from Sirsi down to a manageable 21 pages that can be used for our Patch Cluster testing project. (This was the topic of last week’s Did You Know item.) The document is sorted by topics/areas to be tested and they include: General corrections, Staff Client corrections & enhancements, Item Search & Display enhancements, Acquisitions corrections & enhancements, Cataloging corrections & enhancements, Circulation corrections & enhancements, e-Library (iBistro) corrections & enhancements, Serials Control corrections & enhancements, SIP2 corrections & enhancements, and Standalone/Offline enhancements.
If you missed last week’s CCS News item, I asked for volunteers familiar with Java to help test the new patch cluster on the test server. In addition to sending materials directly to each tester I’m also posting documents related to this project on the CCS web page. During the next week or so, you’ll also find documents explaining how to access the test server, and how to upgrade the Java client on the CCS web page. You can find the document titled “Patch Cluster 5A-D Release Notes” on the CCS web page, in the Sirsi Resources link, under the General Bulletins heading. Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Tues., 11/13, 10:00, CCS: Executive Comm.
Wed., 11/14, 9:30, Schaumburg: ILUUG
Annual Program Meeting (you must be registered!)
Thur., 11/15, 9:30, Zion-Benton: PAS
Thursday, November 1, 2007
CCS News
NOVEMBER 2, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Reports – we have stopped printing all reports during the month of October. Beginning tonight we will instruct the operators to no longer print the monthly reports. All reports are available electronically now.
Test server – Patch Cluster 5D is being loaded to the test server as we speak. If you use Workflows on the test server and Java, you will be asked if you wish to load a new Java client. You should reply NO to this question if you do not want the new Java client. Contact us in the computer room if you have questions.
ANOTHER FAREWELL AT SIRSI:
We wish the best to Project Manager Muriel Lynne Bartholomae, who did much to bring CCS, Evanston and Glenview online on schedule. We always knew we had an advocate as well as a co-ordinator when Muriel Lynne was part of any project. She is leaving to join Alabama’s state library agency as of November 14 but will always have a place of honor in CCS history and our ancestral memory.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that by the time you read this the Computer Room gang will have installed Unicorn Patch Cluster 5D on the test server? Given the number of issues that arose when we installed previous versions of this patch (5A, 5B, and 5C), and the number of enhancements and fixes included with this patch, we will need to test it thoroughly before we move it over to the production server. Therefore I’m asking for a few members of each CCS library to volunteer to test Patch Cluster 5D.
Whenever there’s a significant change to the WorkFlows application, it’s important that we have representatives from each library (preferably from each functional group within each library) participate in the testing effort for several reasons. In this particular case, (1) Sirsi strongly recommends that consortia thoroughly test this patch because it contains many frequently requested enhancements and fixes. (2) Since each consortia environment is unique, we must screen the patch for issues that may affect only our particular WorkFlows configuration. (3) It benefits all CCS libraries to have at least one person on staff that’s had hands-on experience with this patch before we install it on the production server. (4) Testing is most effective when the person doing it has solid day-to-day experience with the module/functions they’re examining. A circulation expert may not spot a subtle cataloging issue that a cataloger would easily recognize (and vice versa), so its best that we have both circulation experts and catalogers participate in testing - not to mention people from Acquisitions, Serials, and PAS.
Almost all changes included with this patch are for the Java client, so I would prefer testers that are currently working with the Java client on at least a part-time basis. As with previous major testing efforts, I will send out a packet of information to everyone involved that will contain relevant test scripts, instructions for accessing the WorkFlows test server, instructions for accessing the iBistro test server, and instructions for upgrading the Java client.
I strongly encourage all CCS libraries to ask for volunteer testers from their staff and have them contact me as soon as possible for instructions and tests scripts. They can call me on 847-666-3204 or email me at kenv@ccs.nsls.lib.il.us. Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 11/7, 9:30, NSLS: Catalogers
(Workshop)
Wed., 11/7, 1:30 P.M., CCS: Federated
Searching Task Force
Fri.,11/9, 9:30, Niles: Circulation
NOVEMBER 2, 2007
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Reports – we have stopped printing all reports during the month of October. Beginning tonight we will instruct the operators to no longer print the monthly reports. All reports are available electronically now.
Test server – Patch Cluster 5D is being loaded to the test server as we speak. If you use Workflows on the test server and Java, you will be asked if you wish to load a new Java client. You should reply NO to this question if you do not want the new Java client. Contact us in the computer room if you have questions.
ANOTHER FAREWELL AT SIRSI:
We wish the best to Project Manager Muriel Lynne Bartholomae, who did much to bring CCS, Evanston and Glenview online on schedule. We always knew we had an advocate as well as a co-ordinator when Muriel Lynne was part of any project. She is leaving to join Alabama’s state library agency as of November 14 but will always have a place of honor in CCS history and our ancestral memory.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that by the time you read this the Computer Room gang will have installed Unicorn Patch Cluster 5D on the test server? Given the number of issues that arose when we installed previous versions of this patch (5A, 5B, and 5C), and the number of enhancements and fixes included with this patch, we will need to test it thoroughly before we move it over to the production server. Therefore I’m asking for a few members of each CCS library to volunteer to test Patch Cluster 5D.
Whenever there’s a significant change to the WorkFlows application, it’s important that we have representatives from each library (preferably from each functional group within each library) participate in the testing effort for several reasons. In this particular case, (1) Sirsi strongly recommends that consortia thoroughly test this patch because it contains many frequently requested enhancements and fixes. (2) Since each consortia environment is unique, we must screen the patch for issues that may affect only our particular WorkFlows configuration. (3) It benefits all CCS libraries to have at least one person on staff that’s had hands-on experience with this patch before we install it on the production server. (4) Testing is most effective when the person doing it has solid day-to-day experience with the module/functions they’re examining. A circulation expert may not spot a subtle cataloging issue that a cataloger would easily recognize (and vice versa), so its best that we have both circulation experts and catalogers participate in testing - not to mention people from Acquisitions, Serials, and PAS.
Almost all changes included with this patch are for the Java client, so I would prefer testers that are currently working with the Java client on at least a part-time basis. As with previous major testing efforts, I will send out a packet of information to everyone involved that will contain relevant test scripts, instructions for accessing the WorkFlows test server, instructions for accessing the iBistro test server, and instructions for upgrading the Java client.
I strongly encourage all CCS libraries to ask for volunteer testers from their staff and have them contact me as soon as possible for instructions and tests scripts. They can call me on 847-666-3204 or email me at kenv@ccs.nsls.lib.il.us. Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Wed., 11/7, 9:30, NSLS: Catalogers
(Workshop)
Wed., 11/7, 1:30 P.M., CCS: Federated
Searching Task Force
Fri.,11/9, 9:30, Niles: Circulation
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