This session is for new circulation supervisors or parameters administrators in need of a refresher. We will cover loan rules, circulation tables, and circulation system options.
When a new city-wide website was rolled out, the classic catalog DNS of library.mountainview.gov was requested to be the new library website URL. Learn how Sierra was updated to a new domain name, including updating 3rd-party software configurations, WebOptions, and numerous Sierra html files. Gain an understanding of the work that was completed inhouse and how Innovative contributed to the project. While we prepared and updated the links deemed necessary, there were surprises when the new website went live. Join me and learn how to successfully update your domain name.
Dive into SQL with Our Beginner’s Guide! Discover the essentials of SQL, explore the Sierra database structure, access key documentation, and learn a basic query.
Do you find yourself running the same reports for staff? Are you tired of running stats every month? Do you cringe every time you find an item with the wrong location code? Has the number of items marked missing gotten out of hand at your library? Many of these tasks can be automated on a regular schedule using Python, SQL and Task Scheduler. Emails with spreadsheets containing record data are sent to designated staff without you ever having to run another list again. Get ideas for scripts and timelines that can clean up errors, streamline your stats and accelerate your weeding.
This session is all about fiscal years and funds. From setting up your hierarchy to getting your reports. How to manage your funds and feel confident doing your fiscal year roll over.
As a new Sierra Integrated Library System (ILS) administrator, stepping into this role can be both exciting and overwhelming. There's a vast amount of information to absorb, a complex system to navigate, and the pressure to become proficient quickly. In this presentation, I'll share my experiences and practical strategies to help other new administrators not only manage but thrive in this role. The focus will be on how to approach learning Sierra, how to leverage personal strengths, and the importance of embracing mistakes as part of the learning journey.
1. Digesting and Applying the Vast Amount of Information on Sierra ILS: Sierra ILS is a powerful system with extensive functionalities, which can be daunting for new administrators. The sheer volume of material to learn, ranging from circulation and cataloging to reporting and system configuration, can easily feel overwhelming. In this section, I will outline strategies for breaking down and prioritizing the learning process. I'll share methods for identifying key areas to focus on first and how to use Sierra's documentation, community forums, and training resources efficiently. Attendees will walk away with practical tips for managing the learning curve without feeling overloaded.
2. Leveraging Your Strengths (Even if They're Not Specific to ILS Administration): One of the best ways to succeed as a new administrator is to harness the strengths you already possess. Whether you have a background in librarianship, project management, customer service, IT, or even something seemingly unrelated, these skills can be extremely valuable when applied to ILS administration. This section will discuss how to integrate your unique talents into your role as a Sierra administrator. For example, strong organizational skills can help manage system updates and documentation, while technical troubleshooting experience can accelerate problem-solving. I will offer examples of how different skill sets can be applied creatively to make managing Sierra more approachable and efficient.
3. Embracing Mistakes as a Learning Tool: Mistakes are inevitable when managing a complex system like Sierra, especially as a new administrator. In this part of the presentation, I'll talk about how making mistakes is not only expected but can be an invaluable learning tool. I'll share examples of mistakes I made early on and how they ultimately led to deeper understanding and improved system management. We'll explore how to create a mindset that views errors as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks, and I'll provide tips for bouncing back quickly after missteps. This section will also cover how to document lessons learned from mistakes to avoid repeating them and to help others on your team.
By the end of the presentation, participants will gain confidence in their ability to navigate the steep learning curve of Sierra ILS administration. They'll walk away with actionable strategies for managing the breadth of information, ways to leverage their strengths, and the mindset needed to turn mistakes into valuable learning experiences. Whether you're new to the role, training a new ILS administrator, or looking for ways to optimize your approach, this session will offer practical advice to help you succeed.
Marmot implemented PINs last year as a response to many network/data breaches reported worldwide in the last few years. This presentation will look at the implementation of PINs in the current security climate and the steps we took to ensure that PINs would be as secure as possible.
We are a consortium of 30 libraries on two Sierra servers. This makes managing Scheduler very difficult, particularly because of the limits of the Scheduler UI. This presentation will cover the processes I have developed to keep track of what is happening in Scheduler. I keep a full history of Scheduler activity in a spreadsheet, and I have calendars of what is happening when. This allows me to avoid problems in the future and do a better job of learning what happened if something goes wrong.
You know Sierra and have your API key: now what? Join Ray and Jeremy as they showcase real-world projects you can implement right away at your library. Learn how to harvest and export large data sets, perform batch updates that Global Update can't handle, and streamline your workflows. This session is beginner-friendly and will walk you step by step through tapping into Sierra's REST APIs with Python.
