Search Results for: patron records
Merging Patron Records
Before you begin the actual merge process, you will want to really review the records to determine which will be the Source record (the record that you will copy from) and which will be the Destination record (the record you will copy to). The Destination record will be the one record remaining.
The following considerations should be taken to determine the best Destination. The considerations are listed in the order of importance, with 1 being the most important.
- Are there active transactions on the record? If items are checked out, holds, fines, or linked patrons, the record is currently “in use” and is likely the best Destination record.
- Is the Circ Active date recent? This is an indicator that the card is being used in transactions, authentication, or has been logged into by the patron. This field is updated when the card is used by the patron.
- Is the record data more inclusive? If neither record has active transactions or a recent circ active date, then the completeness of the record can determine the Destination record.
Steps
- Select Merge Duplicate Patron Records from the Functions drop-down menu.
Sierra will open the Merge window, where you will identify the patrons you wish to merge.
- In the first field, enter the patron record number that you want to serve as the Source record (old or lesser record).
- In the second field, enter the patron record number that you want to serve as the Destination record (the record that will be kept).
- After you enter a record number in each field, Sierra enables the Merge Patrons button. To merge the patron records that you entered, select the Merge Patrons button. Sierra merges the patron records unless any of the following conditions is true:
- Conditions that Prevent the Merging of Patron Records — Problems & Descriptions:
- Busy records – Item records that are linked to the source record cannot be busy.
- Holdshelf – Source record cannot have a hold with an “on the holdshelf” status.
- Identical records – You cannot merge a single record.
- Length – Modified destination record cannot exceed 100K in size.
- Too many links – The number of item links in the modified destination record cannot exceed 1,900.
- Conditions that Prevent the Merging of Patron Records — Problems & Descriptions:
- If the patron records that you entered can be merged, Sierra displays both records. For example:
If you do not want to merge these records, select the Close icon. Sierra returns you to the previous screen.
If you want to merge these records, select Merge Patrons. Sierra combines information from both records into the Destination record and then deletes the Source record. Sierra Circulation adds a NOTE field that contains the source record number and the date to the destination record.
You may need to clean up the patron record a little to remove fields that are redundant or no longer accurate.
If the Circ Active date of the source record is populated, you should ensure that an Overdrive account that may exist on the Source record is merged in that interface too.
- Log into your Overdrive Market account and go to “Support.”
- In the merge patron function, put the 8-digit Source record number in the “Original User” field, and the 8-digit Destination record number in the “New User ID”.
Circulation & Patron Records
Fines, Fees & Bills
Notices & Printing
- Intro to circulation - Webinar 2/13/2024
- Circulation Workshop: A comprehensive overview of the Sierra Circulation module and processes (video recording of online webinar 5/5/2023)
- Circulation Workshop: A comprehensive overview of the Sierra Circulation module and processes (video recording of online webinar 11/2/2021)
- Click here for Circ 101 video tutorials
Ordering Barcodes and Patron Cards
You never want to find yourself without a good stash of barcodes for your items or barcoded patron cards. These are custom orders that must be ordered in advance using particular prefix and formats to work in our Integrated Library System. Your new barcodes will need to use your current prefix, and duplicate any existing records or unused supply you may yet use.
What do you need to know before you order?
-
- What type of barcode do we use?
Codabar14 digit barcode, where the last digit is a check digit in a modulus 10 (Mod-10) complementary check digit format (more detail on this format). When you are looking at the barcodes on a sheet, they may not look consecutive to you until you ignore that last number. - What is a check digit?
A check digit is the last digit in our codabar barcode. It is the correct answer to an equation that is done on the previous 13 digits in the code. It’s purpose is to check the validity of the barcode as it is scanned. An incorrect answer would result in an error message, alerting you to rescan. - What your next number should be?
You wont want to repeat any number you have already used. Create a list of all of your current records. Sort the list by the barcode number. Look at the first and last barcode number in your list. The largest of the two numbers is the highest number that has been issued. You will need to also check your current stock to find a higher number. What is the next highest group that you would order.
For example if your highest barcode is 22390000027896, you might consider moving to the next decimal place and order 2239000010000#, where the last digit is the check digit. In this example we just added started the next range by replacing the last 0 with a 1.
- What type of barcode do we use?
Document the order for the next time you need to order.
In this example, the barcode uses a modulus 10 (Mod-10) complementary check digit. The check digit derives from the barcode as follows:
Mod-10 Algorithms Differ Among Vendors
The method for calculating a Mod-10 check digit can differ from vendor to vendor. Check with your barcode vendor to determine if their algorithm matches the algorithm used here.
- Starting with the second digit from the left, add every other digit. Using the example barcode above (without the check digit):
- Multiply each of the remaining digits by 2. If any product has two digits, add the digits to produce a single-digit number. Sum the results:
- Add the results from steps 1 and 2. In the example:
16 + 30 = 46 - Subtract the units digit obtained in step 3 from the number 10. The result is the check digit. In the example:
10 – 6 = 4
Can’t place holds on ordered records – RESOLVED
Problem: Patrons cannot place holds on titles that are yet to be released, like they can in Encore.
Reported: 11/19/21
Resolution: Mid-Hudson has adjusted the settings of each material type in Vega to be requestable even when no items are yet attached to bib records. The issue should be fixed. Please let us know if you are still having problems with this.
Create List: Import Records
Importing Records from a File
You can create a new review file by importing a list of barcodes, record numbers, or indexed field values. Before creating your list, see Format of Input Files for information on how to format your files.
To import from a file:
- Select Create Lists from the Function list.
- On the Review Files tab, select an empty review file by clicking its row, or select a file to overwrite. To find empty review files, select Empty from the drop-down menu of review file types.
- Click Import Records.
- If prompted to overwrite the existing file, do one of the following:
- Click Yes to open the Import Records dialog box and overwrite the file.
- Click No to return to the list of review files.
- Enter a name for the review file. The maximum length is 150 characters.
- Select how you want to import records into the review file by doing one of the following:
- To import a list of barcodes, select the Barcode radio button.
- To import a list of record numbers, select the Record Number radio button.
- To import a list of index entries, select the Index radio button, and select an index from the drop-down menu.
- From the Store Record Type list, select a record type to store. The list shows only the valid record types for the import method or index you selected in the step above.
- Click Choose File. The Select File dialog box opens.
- Select the text file containing the data you want to import, and click Load. Create Lists processes the file and displays the results in the bottom half of the Import Records dialog box.
Error Messages During Loading
If the file you selected contains entries that cannot be loaded, Create Lists displays an error message. See Error Messages During Loading for more information.
- Click Import to create the review file, or click Cancel to close the dialog box without creating a review file.
Format of Input Files
Input files must be formatted with one value per line. The system searches for exact matches only; partial matching is not supported (for example, entering “12345” in a file will not find a barcode with the value of “123456”).
In addition to the rules above, each input method has additional formatting requirements listed below.
- Barcodes
- When importing a list of item or patron barcodes, keep the following in mind:
- You can import barcodes using either a .txt or .csv file.
- Include the barcode number only; do not include the field group tag.
- Record Numbers
- When importing a list of record numbers, keep the following in mind:
- You can import record numbers using a .txt file only; .csv files are not supported.
- Valid record numbers must begin with the record type tag, such as “b” for bibliographic records.
- Create Lists recognizes record numbers with a character length equal to the smallest record number in the system up to the largest record number in the system.
- The system ignores delimiters and other extraneous text.
- The check digit is not required, but can be included. If your library has mixed-length record numbers, Innovative recommends excluding the check digit, as a 6-digit record number might be confused with a 7-digit record number. In this case, you can import 6-digit and 7-digit numbers separately.
- Indexed Fields
- When importing a list of indexed field values, keep the following in mind:
- You can import record numbers using either a .txt or .csv file for indexed fields.
- Phrase indexes are supported; keyword indexes are not supported.
Error Messages During Loading
When you load a .csv or .txt file, Create Lists processes each entry in the file. If any entries cannot be loaded, Create Lists displays an error message stating there are one or more entries that:
- Don’t match any record
- Match multiple records
- Don’t fit in the review file
For example:
To download the error file:
- Click Download. The system opens the Save file dialog box.
If you are using Sierra Web, the system automatically saves the file to your Download folder.
- Enter a name for the error file.
- Navigate to the location where you want to save the file.
- Click Save. Create Lists saves your file and returns you to the Import Records dialog box.
- If you have valid entries (shown in the bottom half of the Import Records dialog box), continue with the import process above.
Serials – Holdings Records
While the traditional text holdings statements are enough for most libraries, it is also possible to configure the Serials module to let your patrons know exactly which issues you have.
You will do this by setting up the Holdings for your subscription
To begin, open the Card for your periodical subscription –
On the left had side of the screen, there are six tabs. Along with the Card tab is one for Holdings –
With no issues currently checked in, there is nothing to display in the Holdings window.
Before checking in the first issue, update the Card so that the check box Update Holdings? is checked. With this box checked, the Update Holdings? box on the Card screen will be checked as well.
When an issue is Checked In, the Card is updated to reflect that the Issue has Arrived.
When the Issue is Checked In, as long as the Update Holdings? box is checked,
The Holdings tab display will reflect the issues the library owns.
When additional issues are Checked In, Sierra will update the Holdings display automatically.
The Holdings display will even correctly reflect when a Volume of Issues has bee received and a new Volume begins.
Sometimes an Issue will not have arrived before you receive the following issue – you may Check In Issue 3 before Issue 2 has arrived. When this happens, there is a Gap in your library’s Holdings.
Sierra will recognize this Gap and your Holdings will reflect this Gap accordingly.
But the previously missing Issue may arrive eventually and you will check it in,
When you Check In this issue, there is no longer a Gap in your Holdings and Sierra will update the Holdings display to close the Gap.
With the Holdings updated for your subscription, your patrons will know exactly which issues your library owns –
When patrons search for a periodical,
The Holdings for your library will display,
Showing both the latest issue you have received as well as the range of all the issues housed in your library.
Patron Images
Description: If your library chooses to use the Internal Patron Images feature, you can capture patron photographs of your patrons and display them in patron records.
Impact: By choosing to enable the Show patron photo option for staff members’ Sierra logins, library staff will be able to view and/or take patron photographs to be stored in patron records. These photographs can provide another level of security for the patron’s account.
If your library chooses to use the Patron Images feature, and you have access to a camera, you can take a patron’s photograph, which will be displayed in the Patron Record. Sierra will display the patron’s photograph in the patron display window.*
The Patron Images feature will be displayed from the Circulation Desk function as well as the Inter-Library Loan function.
*If there is no photograph associated with the Patron’s Record, Sierra will display the photograph area as blank.
- Patron Images - this will be launched in Spring 2021
- Library Readiness: If your library would like to include this feature, the MHLS support staff will work with you to get both the patron records as well as the photo hardware configured.
- Staff Documentation | FAQ - coming soon
- Staff Documentation - coming soon
List Patrons
- Find and highlight an empty review file and click Search Records.
- Name the Review File
- Range will remain as it is and nothing will be entered in the start and stop fields. This means that your search will be done over the entire patron record set in Sierra, from the first record p10000008 through whatever the last patron created, which is the number populated in the stop field.
Note: This is different than when you search for items, because with items you can be certain of the barcode prefix, and change from the entire range of records to search by index of barcode, where you would include the first 5 digits of your barcode in the “start” and “stop”. - Your search will be:
Type=Patron
Field=PTYPE
Condition = equal to
Value = YOUR Ptype – which will display as the code number in the completed search
Below is an example for the Kingston Library, whose PTYPE is 40.