SIRSIDynix Superconference, February 17-21, 2007

Summary & Pictures

See REPORT below.

Waiting to take off in Philly; and waiting; everything is big in Texas, incuding the airport; had to take a tram to the gate; shiney plane; Renate gives a big-Texas wave.

More of the Dallas-Fort Worth airport; layover near a Frullati; AA all the way; at the Broadmoor, in the King Midas suite, where they turn down your covers and leave chocolates at your pillow; Renate plots her next move; Mr. Duck is stand-offish.

Looking west at Broadmoor, with the Rockies as backdrop; Renate deliberates over desserts; hotel concierge deliberate over travel plans; pretty roses at the front desk.

Renate may have gotten the suite vacated by Patrick Sommers, louvered doors look out from the bath to the bedroom (not sure how this comes in handy... although the TV in the bath was a nice touch, should you wish to catch the Soaps while you soak in soaps); the many faces of Stephen Abram, VP of Innovation, always captivating and this time quite personal; Welcome!

Deborah Conrad (UUGI president, and conference organizer) has two good reason to be happy 1. she's almost done, and 2. she's almost done; Bill Davidson, VP of Sales (and Pat Sommers fill-in) does his best to razzle-dazzle; Tom Gates, VP of Product Development considers choosing a company to run off to; OR any; Berit Nelsen, VP Technical Product Management attempts to excite us over new product (slim-pickins, for academic libraries at any rate); the threat of snow loomed over us during the entire conference, as indicated by this menacing drift.

At 6035 feet above sea-level, the sun is definitely brighter, and the winter skies are lovely; frequent coffee breaks kept everyone stepping lively; now Pat Sommers has time to contemplate his many mergers, in the comfort of his severence package (artwork at the Broadmoor); morning sun reflecting off the West building; so frustrating, trying to decide which pastery to buy; but why fight it, just get one of each! (sharing DID take place)

The bus trip to Colorado Springs, to visit the many fine establishments along Pikes Peak Blvd; quaint sandwich shop; quiet and bucolic; yet some librarians disapproved (artwork at the Restaurant at Poor Richards); leaving the Broadmoor; looking out towards the Rockies before take-off.

REPORT (in rough chronological order) The User Experience: Pieces of the Puzzle Fall Into Place (attended by Andy, Denise, Renate) Stephen Abram, VP of Innovation, spoke to a steadily growing crowd of 850 conference attendees and 150 vendors. The theme was user expectations, and how SIRSIDynix can best meet those expectations. Stephen was especially frank this year, noting how librarians came to his aid during times of great personal need. A few highlights ... Funding for public libraries - find ways to "delight" the voter Integrate with the standardized curriculum, such as Homework Help (delight voters) Libraries are a top-3 need, as cited by prospective college students Librarians put information in context Virtual aids more important - 50% of users don't want to talk to an actual person Learning experience at point of need - almost immoral not to be where student needs exist Visual representation very important - image maps on existing OPACS Librarians should put themselves out there personally, tear down the barriers Connect with your community at a "psychographic" level (still not sure what this word means, but sounds good to say) SirsiDynix Corporate and Product Overview (attended by Andy and Denise, with additional reporting from Renate) Bill Davidson of Sales, and Tom Gates of Development filled in for Patrick Sommers. Everyone was quite relieved to see Berit Nelson, who provided the product overview. Vista (new owners) are keen on making SD the best ILS on the market What remains is a strong management team (of course, post-conference Greg Hawthorn and Donald McCall have also departed) SD has 629 employees, 83% in Client Care 65% of business of ILS (169 libraries migrated to SD), 10% EPS (portal product) and 25% third party product, such as Serials Solutions and Envisionware SD predicts (hopes) for large growth in EPS SD is still committed to supporting both Unicorn and Horizon Many new customers are opting for SaaS (Software as a Service). SaaS means SD hosts and manages product on their servers. This should be another "growth" area, since it helps streamline products and services essential that we understand our "savvy but clueless" users must meet user needs, engage the user, resources must be CREDIBLE, ACCESSIBLE, VALUABLE, USEFUL, USEABLE, DESIREABLE, FINDABLE (might also add FUNDABLE) Semantics Studio - good resource regarding user behaviors SD is putting considerable energy into EPS (for K-12 and publics?) and Facets (for academics?). Again, no one is talking about OCLC, which could potentially take over all OPAC, and most ILS needs, unless companies like SD develop sufficient value. Many new customers are opting for SaaS (Software as a Service). SaaS means SD hosts and manages product on their servers. This should be another "growth" area, since it helps streamline products and services SD is also concentrating on other services; wireless computing (and Pocket Circ), self checkout, print management, RSS, delivered content Patch clusters appear here to stay, more uniform, quicker means to upgrade Only 40% of customers are at GL3.x, trying to close the gap! C-Client will be "unsupported" after 2008 Possibility of a browser-based WF!! but probably not full-fledged for another 3-5 years. There is currently a very stripped down version for K-12. DRA Classic will be dead after 2009. Renate will be holding a memorial service. GL3.2 is due end 2007, for a possible Jan 2008 install. UUGI Business Meeting (attended by Andy, Denise, Renate) While SD and UUGI have collaborated to produce these last 2 conferences, the Broadmoor was a SD venue choice. The Broadmoor was beautiful, but not so condusive to moving and hosting large groups, and there was so little to do beyond sessions, since the resort was a bit remote, and food was SO expensive! The conference arrangement company ICM managed this conference. Dynix has successfully used ICM for many years. The combination of annual dues and ICM allows UUGI to concentrate on program. The 2008 conference will be in Detroit, and will be the first UUGI-selected location. Superconference will be at the Renaissance Center, same venue as the ACRL 1999 conference. Detroit means more choices for food and entertainment, and much less expensive. Michael Bowden (HACC) was amongst the newly elected officers. He will co-chair Programs. We might need to lean on him a bit to develop greater content for academics. The 2009 conference will be in Orlando, and will be the first merged event, SIRSI and DYNIX - upwards of 1700 attendees! SIRSIDynix's Roadmap for "User Experience" Solutions (attended by Andy) This session was an extension of remarks made during the opening session by Tom Gates, VP of Development. Marketing 101: Library websites should be meaningful, accessible, reliable, navigable and authoritative. Use popular consumer models, like Barnes & Noble. Usability testing: background questionaire, tasklist, think aloud/oberservation, satisfaction questionaire. SD has done extensive usability testing, and sponsored students, such as Kent State's K-12 study. Facets is an OPAC enhancement, not a replacement. Facets uses FastESP search technology, and apparently generates suggested search clustering in an instant. A good example of Facets is (Scott's favorite) Vivisimo. The product is still in beta, might be available late 2007, and there's no pricing. SD execs were noticeably thrilled that academic libraries were interested. Unicorn Cataloging/Authority Control and Serials Update (attended by Denise and Renate, Denise reporting) This session was a GL3.2 review. Since the conference, GL3.2 has essentially become the new SD product - ROME. New Configuration - New Policy online Helps Configuration of hit list can be displayed in columns. Column 1 & 2 are fixed field columns. View Pane can be turned off. Must review and understand catalog rankings policies. Program Load Enhancements - Java Workflows only. New matching options 010 LCCN 020 ISBN. Load Options (4); Delete, List, Ignore, or Load matching record. Multiple Categories to remove. Remove meshed title heading Reschedule reports. MARC Export Utility Wizard - Include internal catalog key. Selection gadget for catalog key placement. Default tag is 001 Unicode Customers Bi- Directional Enhancements. R2L Right justified. Bi-directional language display format. MARC editor - Add subfield helper has own icon display subfield codes. Add Unicode Format Character Helper. R2L display primarily Hebrew and Latin. Label Designer Enhancements - Holding code is a new value for Check In type. Online FAQ Printing Item Barcode Labels. Using the label Designer Wizard. Call Number Browse Search - Closest hit is now 2nd on hit list. Session continued with Serials Update Sorting options for received issues - Check-in. Display, Modify, Create, or Remove control. Title sorting for Predictions as Late report. MARC Holding - Reports will have output options and selection criteria. Export information. Sort Enumeration - Ascending and descending, eliminates the need for scrolling to the bottom. Improves Title Sorting for Prediction as Late report - Group by serial control. Sort by title or control ID. MARC Holding Report Selection - Selection criteria for serials and bibliographic reports. Selection based on holding record attributes; record type, library, or location. List Controls Without Vendors - New report: Serial Controls not linked to a vendor. Troubleshooting tool. GL3.1 with patch cluster 4. Acquisitions Update Presenter: Lisa Witteman, Technical Product Coordinator (attended by Renate) There are many acquisitions improvements in the GL3.2 JAVA WorkFlows client. There are improvements for ordering and many changes centered around invoicing - new fields in the invoice and invoice line and new capability in both wizards and reporting. Coffee Anyone? Practical Tips for Training Your Staff on the JAVA Client (attended by Denise) Sirsi distance learning and training Customized training for your institution Basic Training Strategies - In house, hands on, in person and custom General Information - Circulation, cataloging ILL, Acquisitions Barriers to Training - Time, money, staffing (expert), resistance to change (be Sympathetic), different learning styles (some are self-learners and others need numerous walk through. Planning Training From Scratch Serials Solutions Products and Unicorn: Do They Play Well Together? (attended by Andy) Where is Serials Solutions and how can they help me? SD chose SS for the strength of their suite: Article Linker, Central Search, MARC Record Service, and ERMS We currently subscribe to Article Linker (which allows us to link across resources) and the EJournal Portal (which provides access to all subscribed online journals). SS follows SaaS, all of their services are hosted by SS, so no need for hardware or updates. ERMS manages everything about journals: contacts, usernames/passwords, IP addresses, costs, renewels - basically everything Marty does! So, if Marty retires, we can outsources his job to ERMS. Central Search is often coupled with EZProxy. MARC Record Service would give greater exposure to online resources, particularly those that may not be listed elsewhere, like our current journals list or iLink. Cataloging Basics For System Administrators Why know some cataloging basics? Because the catalog is one of your greatest assets. (attended by Denise) UNICORN Detail Title record information format policy. Call Number every title record must have at least one call number attached. Copy links to the circulation nodule via the Item Type Format Policy is used to displays certain data to catalogers Bibliographic Map Policy assigns format to each incoming record Cataloging MARC Machine Readable Cataloging Store and display written in '60's tagged metadata is language independent. Hard code 5 digit fields. ERM - Electronic Resources Management (attended by Renate) Digital Library Federation ERM is an attempt to address the shortcomings of existing systems, processes and procedures for managing collections that are available in electronic format Vendors working on ERM include Serials Solutions, SirsiDynix, EBSCO, Innovative Interfaces, etc Libraries working on ERM include Penn State, MIT, Yale, Johns Hopkins, etc. ERM affects serials, acquisitions, cataloging, reference, systems, ILS vendors, publishers, etc. Patch Clusters for Unicorn (attended by Andy) Whether we like it or not, Patch Clusters are here to stay. Patch Clusters aggregates all system fixes, for a single install. These installs are not full system upgrades, which saves down time, and also regularizes updates. This appears to be another attempt for SD to streamline basic operations, and to encourage customers to move towards common platforms, operating systems and databases. A patch tool facilitates the upload and install process. It is possible to extract the patch cluster first, then install later when there is less traffic on the local system. More info at patches.sirsidynix.com. Circulation Update Whats Coming in GL3.2 (aka ROME) (attended by Denise) Family Card Family card Group ID is different from individual ID Individual user record can be linked to each other to form groups User records are linked together by Group Name *Groups can be families, homerooms, teachers, or professors. Access levels in groups can be set through policies or within individual user records. OPAC access visible only Parent access levels or child access level control what information can be viewed. *Browse User Group option *Display User Wizard with Display Group *Notice Master is one selected person or all members of a Group can receive notices. *Check Out Wizard Alert Patron Credit Account Allows for deposit of money for fines and lost items now or in the future. Credit Rule Policy determines how funds will be distributed from the account. Default Price Policy with maximum amount allowed. Reports are being developed to give account data. Insufficient funds to pay bill will generate an alert. If a fine is paid automatically from the account it generates an email to notify the patron. Bill record and credit account are linked. Patron Credit is for an Individual record. Books by Mail Hold is placed on OPAC or staff client, option for mailing location or library when item is trapped (library) policy. 2 New Policy's were created and need to be established for item mailing *Shipping Cost policy *Mail Services policy Place hold option needs to be enabled Mail Item to User new wizard Trap Hold Route to Shipping to be mailed Special due date wizard to be added Mailing label and shipping Return label is generated Shipping Cost Policy will allow you to charge the patron. *Patron Credit library account can be charged. Bundling is allowed to tracking number but shipping costs are being worked on. Order Hold Fill Policy Demand Management Only! Report runs for List On shelf Items with Holds Policy determines Fill Order by library groups to fill a hold Global Calendar Wizard Allows staff to modify closed days/dates for selected libraries Access to library calendar controlled by new maintenance attribute in the library policy. Circulating Groups of Items Group items can circulate individually All items in the set require a barcode. 1 Item of the set is the parent Checking Out options are in development. Set statistics 1 or 5. *Check in information will indicate set (5) information New Charge History Fixed in User Record Only if it is configured on your server Not available on OPAC Call to have CCC enable in your Configuration *Patch Cluster 5 Print User Records selectable information Print receipt is possible use Print Setup What's Planned for GL3.3 Transfer holds from 1 title to another. Holds limited by item type. Welcome to the Dark Side: Beginnning Unix for Library Staff (attended by Andy) Lissa Potter of the Surburban Library Cooperative, told us just enough about Unix to be dangerous! It seems that almost anyone who has dabbled with the "dark side" has a horror story to tell, like how they accidentally trashed all their data. Rest assured, Denise won't let me get that close to the commands to do this sort of damage! Good books include "The UNIX Philosophy" and "UNIX in a Nutshell" Lissa's links can be found here http://www.libcoop.net/lissa/links.html Many UNIX programmers started as liberal arts majors. Interesting article here http://www.thomasscoville.com/PCarticle.html prstat is a useful command to check server activity. Good to review directories /var/temp and /var/mail for dormant, useless files. Reports Sharing Session (attended by Denise) Items taken from the Reports Enhancement Forum. As per Berit Nelson: "Anything that is in the C Client and you want it in the Java client submit a CCC incident. It can be scheduled into development and tracking is easier." Check suggestions and enhancements and vote. Search capability is really good. Wikki is fairly new, join it and participate Sending Pre-due Notices to Patrons List of Desired articles Consortia Requests Stats report titles to reflect each library name for those statistics Email to different people Change ownership to multiple owners. iBistro Customization: Small Changes = Big Impact (attended by Andy) Pam Tejex is a Senior Consultant at SD. She ran through a number of fun-and-easy edits that can be made to OPACS, like our iLink. We've made a number of changes already to languages and links, fonts and colors. But it is possible to View Source and discern all the XML elements for any iLink page, to find how to edit much more. For instance, I would like to have searches continue in more than just Google. We might be able to add Worldcat to this list. We might also be able to some text to suggest search tips. Two good suggestions - always document work as html comments, and backup custom pages before major upgrades, as they might be overwritten in the process. Bridging the Gap: Constructing External Links to iBistro/iLink Pages (attended by Andy) Joel Hahn of the Niles Public Library District, demonstrated how to establish links directly to iLink content. We already do this with New Additions on the Library homepage. We also direct patrons to streaming content from the ATS website. It is possible to establish very detailed static searches, combining search fields, locations, item types, language and publication year. These combinations might be useful in Class Guides, to direct students to suggested search results. Please see Andy if you would like to establish direct links to catalog content. MARC Holdings Records - Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway (attended by Denise) "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." Marie Curie Single Part Item a map, item, or one volume book Leader /06, code x Multi Part Item a set of maps, items, encyclopedia, media kit Leader /06, code v Serial Item an item issued at successive intervals journal, serial update, and loose leaf publication Leader /06, code y Holdings Information particular item specific type, copy, etc. serials control record will update automatically for things held permanently, bound volumes, and microfilm Holding statement numerology & chronology 852 - Location 853 - Pattern 863 - Bibliographic unit; issues received 866 - Textual Holdings (may be used) 867 - Supplementary 868 - Index Serial Control Record OPAC display automatically update holdings Distribution Tab modify serial distribution chose holding code. Update Holdings Linking Holding Records Predictions contain linking number in 853. 853 & 863 ensures successful creation General Maintenance Update Marc Holdings if you remove items to remove the 863's. Replace patterns Helper sub field 8 has a 2 Re predict Troubleshooting Modify to make sure there is a holding field check to see if an 866 field is created rather than 863 at check-in Missing caption & pattern; find 853 error. Recently arrived Issues check info for daily pattern minimal maintenance of holdings "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." - Sir Edmund Hillary Hands-free Interlibrary Loan with URSA Presenter: Gail Wanner (attended by Renate) URSA provides patrons with the self-service approach to Interlibrary Loan. Some of the benefits of URSA include allowing libraries to make use of local/regional agreements meaningfully; improves service to patrons; and saves staff time. Key features include : Library determines patron type and expiration, statistical reports show usage, ASP hosted - no server needed, and automatically creates new basic records in patron file. The new URSA software (not yet available) will require less training time and reduces cost $8.00/request. System Admin (UNIX) Sharing Session (attended by Andy) Sys Admin sharing is always the best place to be for top-notch griping about the company and its products. John Dickson, VP Engineering was present to field questions - his bravery was noted! Perrenial questions included concerns over product documentation, its timeliness and completeness. There has been mounting concern over Java Workflows. Java WF has been slow to develop, and there have been productivity issues. Many (me included) questioned why the company continues to spend so much time and energy in Java, when networking has developed to a level where a browser-based WF makes sense. A browser-based staff client would further streamline operations for SD, since the product would not be server/platform dependent. BUT, it is estimated that a browser WF could take upwards of 5 years to produce. And, SD has committed so much time and money in the Java product, they seem determined to see it through to completion. Vista might help weigh in on this decision, just as they recently weighed in on nixing the Dynix products, in favor of Unicorn/iBlink, which is now referred to as Rome. Other highlights: New listserv software is currently in trial, for better reporting and replies. Interoperability of patch clusters seen as a major step forward. C-Client supported through 2009. Mac Java WF is dependent on proprietary Mac Java, which is has been slower to develop. Live LDAP across WF and iLink is imminent. This would finally allow us to use the known college logins for My Account and EZBorrow. Client Care website will have a singlesearch capability, to easily search Documentation, Known Issues and FAQs. Catalog Sharing Session Only 5 enhancements from the web forum may be submitted per year. Below are the five that were submitted and when SirsiDynix might implement. (attended by Denise) Brief drop down list; GL3/4 consideration *Policy scoping Additonal Category; GL3.3 consideration Better search indexing ; GL3.3 consideration Allow Global Edit ; GL3.3 consideration Change 596 field shadowing; consideration for future release Hits but no holdings showing. Additionally 3.1 Diacritics and Post Holdings validate does not work! *As of 10/2006 OCLC MARC 8 check box on Bib Load Ariel Font Symbol Table *Pref-Desktop-font-Arial Unicode to correct Display size increment size for workstation *Global Configuration- Cataloging-Validation Add immediate Helps for invalid error Do not turn the 52 ON on the server! Pipe delimited output reports are available in cataloging per recent cluster patch. Lower case alpha characters in bar code make the item not visible. Item Search & Display Class Scheme. If you made it through the ENTIRE report, and can tell me (Andy) ONE thing you learned. I will give you a coffee (or tea) coupon! (psst... don't tell anyone)