Questions from Sirsi training

I’ve (Fred) added the answers below in red. 

Let me know if anything else comes up with which I can be of assistance.
The following questions that came up in during the training:

1. How do we search for existing account when offline?
   We’re offline, so the Symphony system is not connected to a live server. I have sent another email including information on a workaround to search a stripped-down III database. 
2. What will the lag be between offline transaction and customers being able to see what is out on their account?
   Offline transactions stored on the hard drive of the computer on which they are performed. When we reconnect to the live server, the transactions will upload and Sirsi staff will run the report to process and post the offline transactions.
3. Will enterprise allow staff place a hold(s) on an item that is on check shelf status in the library?
   Syma is doing an Enterprise training for managers. Staff should attend to the catalog training that their managers/managers designee provides at the appropriate time. My understanding is that Enterprise will allow them to place holds on items on a shelf in the branch.
4.  Will application be changing to accommodate new fields/request for more information?
   We have not added any new info to the process. We have only added separate fields to accommodate information we already gather and have been recording fare less efficiently in other fields in III.
5.  What happens if we forget to uncheck routing? will it still allow us to save and close the record?
   The record can still be saved. Not sure what happens. Hopefully, folks will attend to the job at hand and make a determined effort to do what they have been instructed to do.
6. Is there a way to update a pre-made computer use card with the customer’s information?
   Why would we want to do this? They’re temporary and expire on 07/15. Adding names will be a waste of time.

Additional HPL SirsiDynix Symphony Circulation Training - ACTION REQUIRED!!!!

Greetings!

Please see below for additional SirsiDynix Symphony Circulation Training sessions in July.  All sessions will be held at the Central Library Computer Training Room on the Concourse Level.

Please be reminded that this training is MANDATORY for each staff member who will work in the SD Symphony Circulation system.  Please plan to attend one of these sessions prior to our Go Live date of July 11. 

Choose a session from the list that works best for you, and call the Circulation Administration Department at 832-393-2222 (option 3) to sign up.  The attendant who answers the phone will be able to confirm your seat for you or s/he will let you know that the session is full and ask you to choose another date.

Additional Sessions – CEN Computer Lab only

• 07/02 – 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• 07/05 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
• 07/08 – 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• 07/09 – 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• 07/10 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

For your convenience, I have included dates from the original list of training sessions that were sent by Fred Schumacher.  Feel free to attend one of these sessions if you prefer.  Register via the highlighted instructions listed above.

Original Dates/Locations

• June 21 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Central Library Computer Training Lab
• June 24 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library
• June 25 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Flores Neighborhood Library
• June 26 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Central Library Computer Training Lab
• June 26 – 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Park Place Neighborhood Library
• June 27 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm  - Stella Link Neighborhood Library
• June 27 – 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Central Library Computer Training Lab
• June 28 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Scenic Woods Neighborhood Library
• July 1 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Park Place Neighborhood Library
• July 3 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Johnson Neighborhood Library

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Circulation Administration Department at 832-393-2222 (option 3). 

Thanks,

Suzy Benton, MLIS
System-wide Training Coordinator

SirsiDynix Symphony (new circulation and catalog system) update #7

This coming week we will have some major changes.  On June 21, we will begin exporting our catalog records from the current III system so that they can be imported into the new Sirsi system.  Any changes we make to catalog records after that date will not be carried over to the new catalog.  Therefore,

June 20

• Last day to delete items from III.
• Last day to check-in periodicals in III.
• Last day to check-in NEW books and materials received in Delivery.  New materials will not start to reappear until mid-July.

June 21

• Any item on the fly must be linked to the new bibliographic record "Item on the Fly" rather than the actual title.
• Any periodical checked-in must be done using the Google Docs spreadsheet and barcode method.
• Floating is stopped. Items should go back in-transit to the location indicated by the system when they are checked in.

This past week, the catalog records for periodicals, microfilm, e-books and e-audiobooks were updated so that they will function properly in Enterprise. The information on how to search for them is posted on the main catalog page but we know that many customers use the search box from the main website so please be prepared to assist our customers when they are looking for these materials.

• To find magazines, go to Journals & Periodicals. 
• To find microfilm, add “microform” to your keyword search terms. 
• To find E-books and E-audiobooks, limit to the location HPL Electronic Resources.

Circulation training is now in full swing.  And the good news is that the Symphony Circulation Manual is now available on the Staff Training Portal:

https://sites.google.com/site/hplstafftraining/

I have asked each site to verify with the IT Helpdesk that all staff workstations can access Workflows.  Hopefully, any issues will be resolved quickly so you can practice what you are learning in the Circulation training on our test server.

if you have any questions, please contact me. 

Thanks,

Syma

SirsiDynix Symphony Circulation Training is Here!

Please discuss your availability with your supervisor and register as soon as possible.

Thank You

-Sarah

______________________________________________

Hello all!

SirsiDynix Symphony Circulation training begins this week!  The first three sessions of SD Symphony Circulation training are scheduled for this week at the Central Library Computer Training Room.  Staff members interested in getting in early are invited to contact the HPL Circulation Administration Department at 832-393-2222 (option 3) to sign up.   The following are the dates and times currently offered:

Wednesday – 06/05/13 – 9:00 am until 1:00 pm

Thursday – 06/06/13 - 9:00 am until 1:00 pm

Friday – 06/07/13 - 9:00 am until 1:00 pm

Each of the above sessions is limited to 20 participants, and seats are available on a first come, first served basis.  Please get permission to attend the session you choose before you reserve the seat. 

Training times and locations for other sessions offered in the month of June will be sent later in this week.

Fred Schumacher

Circulation Administration Manager

We link people to the world

Questioning Questions

5 Letters to a Young Librarian by Jessica Olin /


Source

Lately, I've been thinking about how to capture statistics in the library, and though that might seem a simple topic, it's actually left me asking more questions than answering them. For instance, here's a question I never thought I'd ask: "what is a reference question?" I always thought this was such a simple thing, after all I took multiple semesters of reference and advanced reference classes during my first graduate program. However, despite my recent efforts, I've yet to be able to define "reference question" to my own satisfaction. Turns out, it's not so straightforward after all.
Here are my thoughts so far:

• Spelling, grammar, and citation questions are not reference questions. Even if I get all pedagogical on the patron and show him/her instead of just telling him/her how to format the citation, even if I end up spending 10 minutes in the process, these are too basic to count as reference questions. 
• Purely directional questions are also not reference questions. This isn't contentious when it comes to "Where's the bathroom?" type questions, but I know some people would disagree with me when I insist that something like "Where do I find 809.93372 Man?" doesn't count as a reference question, either. 
• Questions about the library can go either way. "When is the next Microsoft Word workshop?" isn't a reference question, but "Who were the first librarians at this college?" is. 
• Directional questions can be reference questions in disguise. An example from my own experience is the time "Where do you keep the New York Times?" turned out to be an in-depth quest for reviews of horror movies from the late 1950s and early 1960s. 

So I'm sure we can all agree that "Where is the public meeting room?" isn't a reference question. I'm also sure we can all agree that "I need information about Great Britain during Shakespeare's lifetime." is. Between those is a bit fuzzier.

So what do you all think?

SirsiDynix Symphony (new circulation and catalog system) update #4

Everyone should have the SirsiDynix Workflows icon on your staff workstation.  If you don't, please contact the IT Helpdesk.  The test database will be available for you to use starting Tuesday.  To access this site:

• Double-click the WF icon
  A Configuration box will appear and should have:
      o IP address: halantest.sirsi.net
      o Port: 7014
      (If necessary, change the IP address and port to match the information above)
• Log in with:
  User ID: CIRC
  PIN: CIRC
  WorkFlows will open to the Circulation Tab.  If you experience problems with any of this, please contact the IT Helpdesk.

 You can now begin to explore the interface.  Since this is a test database, you will see some functions that we will not be using and some things that have not been configured quite the way we expect to have them in our live version.  And the full database is not yet there.  Nevertheless, there is enough for you to use to become familiar with the system.  You will see that Sirsi has all the same functionality that we are used to but in some cases, the terminology is different.  I've put together a short table of some of the most obvious vocabulary changes:

There's a link to Help on the left menu and one along the top.  If you use the link on the top menu, be sure to select "context" and it will bring up information relevant to the screen you are on.  The link on the left menu automatically brings up the context specific help information.  Symphony's Help screens are excellent so it is a good idea to get used to using them.

"Train the Trainer" sessions have begun and continue through next week.  General training will begin the following week.  As always, if you have any questions, please contact me or use Contact Us on the HALAN ILS Migration News site on the Intranet.  Have a great Memorial Day Weekend.

Thanks,

Syma

Telephone Doctor Pilot Program

Greetings!

  The Telephone Doctor Pilot Program will come to an end on June 1, 2013.  If you have not completed your assigned courses yet, please do so prior to this date.  For those that need an extension on due dates, please send an email to HPL Training at hpltraining@houstontx.gov and a member of the Training Team will extend the date for you.

  I plan to send out an official end of program survey to all participants. It will be the same survey I sent at the midpoint of the program.  It is imperative that ALL participants complete this survey.  The results of the survey will be a significant deciding factor in the purchase of any additional licenses.

  I do hope that you have enjoyed this training.  I appreciate all your hard work and truly thank you all for participating!

Best regards,

Suzy Benton, MLIS

System-wide Training Coordinator