I would like to start this week's message with an apology. There have been some contradictory messages about how you should handle new materials plus we have made a few mistakes in LMS. We have been able to send out many more items than I anticipated originally. For most of these items, it is no problem to check them in and put into circulation. However, most new AV and many new bestsellers are ordered for a generic floating location (JFLT). Since we have stopped floating until we go live in Symphony, the III system is putting those items "in-transit" rather than changing them to your location. Please store any items that are "in-transit to JFLT" and check them in again once we are live in Symphony after July 11. When they are checked in after July 11, the location will change to your library. If you checked some items in without noticing the "in-transit" message and placed them on your shelves, we will eventually clear that up once we are live in Sirsi. I appreciate the calls and emails we've received alerting us to this issue.
The Print Shop will be emailing a sign you can display on your service desk alerting customers that they MUST have their library card in order to check out items between July 3 – July 10.
From July 3 – July 10, the III catalog will still be available to search so you will know if we own a title and what the call number is. However, the information on whether a particular item is checked out or on the shelf will not be accurate since all of the circulation activity will happen offline in Sirsi. As a reminder, during this time, customers cannot place holds and we cannot pull and fill holds.
ILL will continue to send out items that come in from other libraries for our customers. As of tomorrow (June 29), customers will be unable to place any ILL requests. That function will resume once we are live on Sirsi.
A handout with screen shots illustrating procedures for offline circulation will be available shortly. Other offline circulation information:
· By Monday afternoon, each location should receive a supply of Computer Use Only cards to use only while we are offline. Do not create computer use only cards in the Offline system.
· Alert new users who register while we are offline that their PIN will not be issued until we are live in Symphony. Please ask them to return to the Library after July 11 to get this important information. Note: we will have a "forget your PIN?" link from the Enterprise online catalog but we do not know if it will be available by the time we go live.
We held our first Enterprise training session today. There are 2 more scheduled: July 1 from 11-12 in the Central 6th floor training room and July 10 from 10-11 in Central's Concourse meeting room. They last one hour and are intended to be "train the trainer" sessions. Please be sure that at least one person from each location attends this training so that they can share the information with others. The wonderful handout created by Thuy Vo is available on the Staff Training Portal.
The staff Intranet page now features a direct link to the Library Blog. It is worthwhile to take the time to read what is posted here. A number of customers have posted questions and you can read our responses. This can give you a good idea of what questions you will face from your in-person customers (although I am sure you know most of them already) as well as an appropriate response.
Please remember that SirsiDynix Circulation training is mandatory for all Central and NL staff. If you have not already signed up for a session, contact Circulation Administration ASAP.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we quickly approach our week of offline circulation.
This email has been approved by Meller Langford, Deputy Director of Customer Experience.
Thanks,
Syma
Syma Zerkow
Chief of Library Materials Services
Houston Public Library
832-393-1484
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