[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Custom See Also

[Scott Thomas]

Hi,
   We have been on Evergreen since March, and this is the first time this came 
up. How would one add a custom See Also reference? There does not seem to be a 
way to do this under Manage Authorities. We are in a consortium so I will 
likely not do it, but am curious nonetheless. This was possible in our old ILS.

Thank you,
Scott




Scott  Thomas, MLS
Head of Information Technologies and Technical Services
Scranton Public Library
Lackawanna County Library System
2006 N. Main Ave.
Scranton, PA 18508
Ph: 570-207-2379
Fx: 570-348-3020
Email: sc...@albright.org

Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] In-Process items, centralized cataloging, filling random holds, not in Best Hold Selection order

[Hardy, Elaine]

Josh,

 

While we don't do centralized cataloging for the entire consortium,
individual systems catalog at their headquarters and then send the items
to owning branches. The items are in process until they are received by
circulation at each branch. That is how in process was designed to
function originally. Some libraries run reports for items in process
longer than the expected transit time to see if material has gone astray .
Some libraries include an "invoice", based on a report,of the items
included in a delivery for branches to acknowledge receipt. So you can
send items still in process to locations and keep track of them; but you
would need to use reports to assist.

 

PINES libraries find that items rarely go astray - occasionally they might
not make it into the delivery or are sent to the wrong branch. The most
common problem is that they make it to the shelf at the correct location
without being checked in. Running reports and shelf checking for items
still in process should find most of the strayed items.

 

If you do want to continue checking the items in at central cataloging, it
may be best to set up workstations for the separate locations and check
each location in using that workstation login. 

 

Elaine

 

J. Elaine Hardy
PINES & Collaborative Projects Manager
Georgia Public Library Service
1800 Century Place, Ste 150
Atlanta, Ga. 30345-4304

 

404.235.7128
404.235.7201, fax
eha...@georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org/pines

 

From: Open-ils-general
[mailto:open-ils-general-boun...@list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of
Josh Stompro
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2015 3:15 PM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group
(open-ils-general@list.georgialibraries.org)
Subject: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] In-Process items, centralized cataloging,
filling random holds, not in Best Hold Selection order

 

Hello, I know I've heard mention of this issue, but I'm now trying to
figure out how to deal with it and I cannot find a good explanation.

 

We are a consolidated system and do centralized cataloging, and assign
initial owning and circ locations when the items are received based on
number of holds for each pickup location.

 

So our normal process is to assign those locations for the items and then
check in the items (at our Cataloging OU/workstation) so they will grab
the holds and fill them.  So the items are in "in processing" status and
then get checked in.

 

But the holds that are being grabbed seem to be somewhat random.  In the
latest test case, it is the hold with the largest hold ID number that is
getting assigned to a copy, which is the last hold that was placed.  So
our Best Hold Selection sort order for opportunistic holds is being
ignored, in many different ways.  It should be filling the oldest hold
first when all the proximities are the same, but it isn't.

 

I've tried the retarget local holds, but the holds are not local, so that
doesn't seem to do anything for us.  I've tried setting a new Best Hold
Selection sort order based on hprox (Home proximity) on the cataloging OU
so that the holds would be evaluated based on owning location -> pickup
location proximity, but that doesn't change the behavior at all.  The
first hold that gets selected is based on it having the highest hold ID.

 

It seems like it would work to just send the items to the correct owning
location, without checking them in, but that seems wrong, there would be
no record of the transit which would make it harder to find items that get
lost on the way.

 

Can someone point me to the correct way to deal with this, or where the
issue is discussed? 

Thanks

 

Lake Agassiz Regional Library - Moorhead MN larl.org

Josh Stompro | Office 218.233.3757 EXT-139

LARL IT Director | Cell 218.790.2110  

 

Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] In-Process items, centralized cataloging, filling random holds, not in Best Hold Selection order

[Josh Stompro]

Thanks Elaine,   I found out that the issue I was having with the specific 
title that seemed to fill the wrong hold was because our migrated holds all had 
a selection_depth of 1, and holds placed post migration have a selection depth 
of 0.  We had the selection depth included in our Best Hold Selection Sort 
order, which was sorting the holds based on that, which was prioritizing the 
holds with a depth of 0.  So the system was working exactly like it should, it 
just took me a while to figure it why.

I think the problem with checking in as a workstation for each location is that 
then the items would immediately fill holds and go onto the holdshelf.  
Notifying the patron that the item is ready, when it is really in transit.  
Maybe the capture local holds as transits checking mod would help with that.

I wish there was a checkin mod like the Suppress Holds and Transit that was 
just suppresses holds, which would just place the items in transit back to 
their circ lib.

We will try just sending the items without a transit, and see how that works 
out.  Thanks for the info.

Josh Stompro - LARL IT Director

From: Open-ils-general 
[mailto:open-ils-general-boun...@list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of Hardy, 
Elaine
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2015 10:37 AM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group
Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] In-Process items, centralized cataloging, 
filling random holds, not in Best Hold Selection order

Josh,

While we don't do centralized cataloging for the entire consortium, individual 
systems catalog at their headquarters and then send the items to owning 
branches. The items are in process until they are received by circulation at 
each branch. That is how in process was designed to function originally. Some 
libraries run reports for items in process longer than the expected transit 
time to see if material has gone astray . Some libraries include an "invoice", 
based on a report,of the items included in a delivery for branches to 
acknowledge receipt. So you can send items still in process to locations and 
keep track of them; but you would need to use reports to assist.

PINES libraries find that items rarely go astray - occasionally they might not 
make it into the delivery or are sent to the wrong branch. The most common 
problem is that they make it to the shelf at the correct location without being 
checked in. Running reports and shelf checking for items still in process 
should find most of the strayed items.

If you do want to continue checking the items in at central cataloging, it may 
be best to set up workstations for the separate locations and check each 
location in using that workstation login.

Elaine

J. Elaine Hardy
PINES & Collaborative Projects Manager
Georgia Public Library Service
1800 Century Place, Ste 150
Atlanta, Ga. 30345-4304

404.235.7128
404.235.7201, fax
eha...@georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org/pines

From: Open-ils-general 
[mailto:open-ils-general-boun...@list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of Josh 
Stompro
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2015 3:15 PM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group 
(open-ils-general@list.georgialibraries.org)
Subject: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] In-Process items, centralized cataloging, filling 
random holds, not in Best Hold Selection order

Hello, I know I've heard mention of this issue, but I'm now trying to figure 
out how to deal with it and I cannot find a good explanation.

We are a consolidated system and do centralized cataloging, and assign initial 
owning and circ locations when the items are received based on number of holds 
for each pickup location.

So our normal process is to assign those locations for the items and then check 
in the items (at our Cataloging OU/workstation) so they will grab the holds and 
fill them.  So the items are in "in processing" status and then get checked in.

But the holds that are being grabbed seem to be somewhat random.  In the latest 
test case, it is the hold with the largest hold ID number that is getting 
assigned to a copy, which is the last hold that was placed.  So our Best Hold 
Selection sort order for opportunistic holds is being ignored, in many 
different ways.  It should be filling the oldest hold first when all the 
proximities are the same, but it isn't.

I've tried the retarget local holds, but the holds are not local, so that 
doesn't seem to do anything for us.  I've tried setting a new Best Hold 
Selection sort order based on hprox (Home proximity) on the cataloging OU so 
that the holds would be evaluated based on owning location -> pickup location 
proximity, but that doesn't change the behavior at all.  The first hold that 
gets selected is based on it having the highest hold ID.

It seems like it would work to just send the items to the correct owning 
location, without checking 

[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] FW: Evergreen Acquistions vs some other method

[Sharon Douglas]

We've been struggling to get Evergreen Acquistions set up and working, and are 
gaining ground.
But it's time for us to evaluate the pro/con of even using an acquisition 
module, vs. using some other method.

I've got 3 questions for everyone...


1)  Do you use Evergreen Acqisitions and if yes, do you use it all or only 
some portion of it.



2)  If you do not use Evergreen Acquistions, do you use some other 
Acquistion software and if yes, what is it.



3)  If you do not use any Acquisition software, what method do you use to 
keep track of funds/ encumbrances/ect.?

I'm posting this same question to the Cataloging group.


Sharon Douglas  -  Automation Coordinator - Lake Agassiz Regional Library
118 5th St S  - Moorhead MN 56561  -  218-233-3757 ext 138  -  
www.larl.org
The mission of LARL is to enrich lives and strengthen communities
LARL values intellectual freedom, equal access to information, respect,
tolerance, fun and welcoming atmosphere, excellent customer service,
and a current community driven collection.

Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] In-Process items, centralized cataloging, filling random holds, not in Best Hold Selection order

[Josh Stompro]

Elaine, We just tried to work though how it would work to send items out 
without checking them in and I don't think we can make it work.  There is 
nothing on the items themselves that say which branch they go to, so we cannot 
simple look at the item to know where to send it.  We float everything so we 
don't need that info on the item.

So someone would need to look up the info on each item and manually add/create 
a routing slip at that point, which is quite a bit more work than just checking 
stuff in and printing a slip.

What I think might work for us is that when our Collections Dev librarian 
decides where the copies are initially allocated based on the holds, she can 
select the first X number of holds (where X = number of copies) for the 
locations where the items are going to be assigned, and use top of queue/cut in 
line to set those holds to be filled first.  Then when the items are checked in 
, they will fill those holds first and go to the correct locations.  It might 
make the catalog look a little strange, since there is no guarantee that 
location A's item will be filling location A's holds, unless we are really good 
about checking in the items in the right order.

Now I'm wondering if we can use floating to skip the volume creation step for 
each owning location?  Is there a downside to having all the items at one 
owning location with all the copies having different circulation library 
locations?

Josh Stompro - LARL IT Director

From: Open-ils-general 
[mailto:open-ils-general-boun...@list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of Josh 
Stompro
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2015 2:03 PM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group
Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] In-Process items, centralized cataloging, 
filling random holds, not in Best Hold Selection order

Thanks Elaine,   I found out that the issue I was having with the specific 
title that seemed to fill the wrong hold was because our migrated holds all had 
a selection_depth of 1, and holds placed post migration have a selection depth 
of 0.  We had the selection depth included in our Best Hold Selection Sort 
order, which was sorting the holds based on that, which was prioritizing the 
holds with a depth of 0.  So the system was working exactly like it should, it 
just took me a while to figure it why.

I think the problem with checking in as a workstation for each location is that 
then the items would immediately fill holds and go onto the holdshelf.  
Notifying the patron that the item is ready, when it is really in transit.  
Maybe the capture local holds as transits checking mod would help with that.

I wish there was a checkin mod like the Suppress Holds and Transit that was 
just suppresses holds, which would just place the items in transit back to 
their circ lib.

We will try just sending the items without a transit, and see how that works 
out.  Thanks for the info.

Josh Stompro - LARL IT Director

From: Open-ils-general 
[mailto:open-ils-general-boun...@list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of Hardy, 
Elaine
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2015 10:37 AM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group
Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] In-Process items, centralized cataloging, 
filling random holds, not in Best Hold Selection order

Josh,

While we don't do centralized cataloging for the entire consortium, individual 
systems catalog at their headquarters and then send the items to owning 
branches. The items are in process until they are received by circulation at 
each branch. That is how in process was designed to function originally. Some 
libraries run reports for items in process longer than the expected transit 
time to see if material has gone astray . Some libraries include an "invoice", 
based on a report,of the items included in a delivery for branches to 
acknowledge receipt. So you can send items still in process to locations and 
keep track of them; but you would need to use reports to assist.

PINES libraries find that items rarely go astray - occasionally they might not 
make it into the delivery or are sent to the wrong branch. The most common 
problem is that they make it to the shelf at the correct location without being 
checked in. Running reports and shelf checking for items still in process 
should find most of the strayed items.

If you do want to continue checking the items in at central cataloging, it may 
be best to set up workstations for the separate locations and check each 
location in using that workstation login.

Elaine

J. Elaine Hardy
PINES & Collaborative Projects Manager
Georgia Public Library Service
1800 Century Place, Ste 150
Atlanta, Ga. 30345-4304

404.235.7128
404.235.7201, fax
eha...@georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org/pines

From: Open-ils-general 
[mailto:open-ils-general-boun...@list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of Josh 
Stompro
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2015 3:15 

Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] FW: Evergreen Acquistions vs some other method

[Elisabeth Keppler]

Forsyth County NC used to use the Evergreen acquisitions module, but
because the County would not allow us to track money that way (we are
required to use the County Finance Department's methods), it was much more
trouble than it was worth.  We were tracking in multiple places.  Now, once
the PO is activated, the money people track the funds and Tech Services
tracks the materials.  That's an over-simplification, of course, but it
means there's a lot less duplication of effort.

Best of luck!
Lise

On Thu, Nov 5, 2015 at 3:58 PM, St. John, Leslie <
lstj...@georgialibraries.org> wrote:

> Hi Sharon,
> We (I) empathize.  Sincerely.  It's not easy. We use all of it, or try.
> We've learned a lot and keep on learning.
>
> In our consortium we currently have three library systems using
> Acquisitions. The systems are different in size, budget, workflows and
> vendors. Each encounters different issues.  When we go into a library
> system that wants to use Acquisitions we ask about their goals and then
> later, after they have had some experience we go back and ask if the EG
> Acquisitions has or will meet their goals and they all have said yes.  They
> are most excited about fund tracking - that they know how their budgets
> stand in real time; second is they are happily relieved of most of their
> paper.  Although we tend to have very strict audit requirements that still
> require paper purchase orders and invoices their pre-order tracking,
> collating and receiving are almost paper free. One of our library systems
> that tried and rejected Acquisitions is now extremely interested - the
> person who rejected it is now in charge of the entire process of acquiring
> and cataloging for a large system. They now appreciate the advantages of a
> cohesive Acquisitions module over their cobbled together vendor website and
> internal spreadsheet system they have been using.
>
> I do not know of any of our library systems using any Acquisitions
> specific software. Most systems seem to use a combination of ordering
> through through their vendor websites and issuing paper purchase orders,
> keeping track of their funds though spreadsheets.  Some of our larger
> systems have constructed in-house databases to manage ordering but not fund
> tracking.
>
> I hope that helps you out some. Please feel free to contact me if you have
> further questions or if we can be of any help to you.
> Leslie
>
> Leslie St. John
> PINES Consultant
> Georgia Public Library Service
> A Unit of the University System of Georgia
> 1800 Century Place, Suite 150
> Atlanta, GA 30345-4304
> 404-235-7129
> lstj...@georgialibraries.org
> www.gapines.org
>
> --
> *From: *"Sharon Douglas" 
> *To: *open-ils-general@list.georgialibraries.org
> *Sent: *Thursday, November 5, 2015 1:01:19 PM
> *Subject: *[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] FW: Evergreen Acquistions vs some other
> method
>
>
>
>
> We’ve been struggling to get Evergreen Acquistions set up and working, and
> are gaining ground.
>
> But it’s time for us to evaluate the pro/con of even using an acquisition
> module, vs. using some other method.
>
>
>
> I’ve got 3 questions for everyone...
>
>
>
> 1)  Do you use Evergreen Acqisitions and if yes, do you use it all or
> only some portion of it.
>
>
>
> 2)  If you do not use Evergreen Acquistions, do you use some other
> Acquistion software and if yes, what is it.
>
>
>
> 3)  If you do not use any Acquisition software, what method do you
> use to keep track of funds/ encumbrances/ect.?
>
>
>
> I’m posting this same question to the Cataloging group.
>
>
>
>
>
> Sharon Douglas  -  Automation Coordinator - Lake Agassiz Regional Library
>
> 118 5th St S  - Moorhead MN 56561  -  218-233-3757 ext 138  -
> www.larl.org
>
> The mission of LARL is to enrich lives and strengthen communities
>
> LARL values intellectual freedom, equal access to information, respect,
>
> tolerance, fun and welcoming atmosphere, excellent customer service,
>
> and a current community driven collection.
>
>
>
>


-- 
Lise Keppler, Technical Services
Forsyth County Public Library
2851 Fairlawn Dr
Winston Salem NC  27106
336-703-3048

Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] FW: Evergreen Acquistions vs some other method

[St. John, Leslie]

Hi Sharon, 
We (I) empathize. Sincerely. It's not easy. We use all of it, or try. We've 
learned a lot and keep on learning. 

In our consortium we currently have three library systems using Acquisitions. 
The systems are different in size, budget, workflows and vendors. Each 
encounters different issues. When we go into a library system that wants to use 
Acquisitions we ask about their goals and then later, after they have had some 
experience we go back and ask if the EG Acquisitions has or will meet their 
goals and they all have said yes. They are most excited about fund tracking - 
that they know how their budgets stand in real time; second is they are happily 
relieved of most of their paper. Although we tend to have very strict audit 
requirements that still require paper purchase orders and invoices their 
pre-order tracking, collating and receiving are almost paper free. One of our 
library systems that tried and rejected Acquisitions is now extremely 
interested - the person who rejected it is now in charge of the entire process 
of acquiring and cataloging for a large system. They now appreciate the 
advantages of a cohesive Acquisitions module over their cobbled together vendor 
website and internal spreadsheet system they have been using. 

I do not know of any of our library systems using any Acquisitions specific 
software. Most systems seem to use a combination of ordering through through 
their vendor websites and issuing paper purchase orders, keeping track of their 
funds though spreadsheets. Some of our larger systems have constructed in-house 
databases to manage ordering but not fund tracking. 

I hope that helps you out some. Please feel free to contact me if you have 
further questions or if we can be of any help to you. 
Leslie 

Leslie St. John 
PINES Consultant 
Georgia Public Library Service 
A Unit of the University System of Georgia 
1800 Century Place, Suite 150 
Atlanta, GA 30345-4304 
404-235-7129 
lstj...@georgialibraries.org 
www.gapines.org 

- Original Message -

From: "Sharon Douglas"  
To: open-ils-general@list.georgialibraries.org 
Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2015 1:01:19 PM 
Subject: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] FW: Evergreen Acquistions vs some other method 





We’ve been struggling to get Evergreen Acquistions set up and working, and are 
gaining ground. 

But it’s time for us to evaluate the pro/con of even using an acquisition 
module, vs. using some other method. 



I’ve got 3 questions for everyone... 



1) Do you use Evergreen Acqisitions and if yes, do you use it all or only some 
portion of it. 



2) If you do not use Evergreen Acquistions, do you use some other Acquistion 
software and if yes, what is it. 



3) If you do not use any Acquisition software, what method do you use to keep 
track of funds/ encumbrances/ect.? 



I’m posting this same question to the Cataloging group. 





Sharon Douglas - Automation Coordinator - Lake Agassiz Regional Library 

118 5th St S - Moorhead MN 56561 - 218-233-3757 ext 138 - www.larl.org 


The mission of LARL is to enrich lives and strengthen communities 

LARL values intellectual freedom, equal access to information, respect, 

tolerance, fun and welcoming atmosphere, excellent customer service, 

and a current community driven collection. 

Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Custom See Also

[Yamil Suarez]

Scott,

I am not a cataloger, but I work a lot with authorities in EG. I am a
little confused by your questions. Again this may be because I am not
a cataloger.

If you are referring to be able to see a "see also" entries when using
"manage authorities," I think that cannot be currently done. If
catalogers add "see" (auth tag 4xx) or "see also" (auth tag 5xx), the
data will be stored, but it is not displayed in manage authority
search results. I started creating a proof of concept code for adding
this functionality, but I don't know enough to achieve this behavior
at this point. I have hopes to someday add this to EG, with the help
of others.

If you want patrons to see a see also reference, if you take the
correct steps it will be seen with patrons that use the "browse the
catalog" search feature. Some of the steps required for that include
running a recurring script to link bibs to authority records, and
another script to link authorities to each other. Of course you will
also need to have added the relevant 5xx tag info on the record in
question.

This is all simplified, but I am hoping to help you out a bit.

Good luck,
Yamil




On Thu, Nov 5, 2015 at 12:09 PM, Scott Thomas  wrote:
> Hi,
>
>We have been on Evergreen since March, and this is the first time this
> came up. How would one add a custom See Also reference? There does not seem
> to be a way to do this under Manage Authorities. We are in a consortium so I
> will likely not do it, but am curious nonetheless. This was possible in our
> old ILS.
>
>
> Thank you,
> Scott
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Scott  Thomas, MLS
>
> Head of Information Technologies and Technical Services
>
> Scranton Public Library
>
> Lackawanna County Library System
>
> 2006 N. Main Ave.
>
> Scranton, PA 18508
>
> Ph: 570-207-2379
>
> Fx: 570-348-3020
>
> Email: sc...@albright.org
>
>
>
>



-- 





Yamil Suarez, MCS
Library System Administrator/Developer

Stan Getz Library
Berklee College of Music
1140 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02215

ysua...@berklee.edu
617-747-2617

[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Linux VPS

[Bruce Willms]

We are just gearing up to set up an instance of Evergreen and are wondering
if anyone is running the system on a hosted VPS service like Linode.  It
seems like a reasonable solution in our case since we don't have IT staff to
support a server, etc.  I'm curious to know if others have done this and
what their experience has been - good, bad, or otherwise.  Or if this is a
recipe for disaster.

 

I'm new to this list and to Evergreen, and looking for some pointers from
experienced hands.

 

Bruce Willms

East Side Freedom Library

St. Paul, MN