SuperConference, March 15-19, 2003
St. Louis, Missouri

Opening Session, 3/16 (Andy, Renate, Denise)

Pat Sommers CEO opened the conference. For the first time SIRSI made their financials public (or at least part of conference discussion).

Highlights for 2002:

  • 207 new customers, consistent with previous years, an increase over 2001
  • International customers in Europe, Australia, and the Middle East, 332 international customers which comprise 17% of the customer base. Some notable accounts are the Toulousse Public Library and Nottingham Library Service.
  • The majority of the new customers are academic libraries, then in descending order: public libraries, special libraries, consorti, and school libraries
  • academic libraries make up 41% of new business
  • 1800 servers serving over 10,000 libraries
  • 13.8 million dollars in earnings
  • 360 employees, of which 100 are developers
  • 30% of Sirsi's employees are trained librarians; 200 employees are working in support operations
Other highlights included:
  • the much touted Unicorn 2004 (more on this later)
  • new product called "Rooms" (I'm sure we'll be beaten over the head with this at the next conference)
  • more distance learning is becoming available
  • an increase in cooperative agreements with vendors such as Barnes & Noble - users have the option of purchasing books directly from B&N after searching in iLink
  • Sirsi re-engineered its Customer Service Department
  • a new Chief Operating Officer, Don McCall
  • goal to be sexier than Google

Shift Happens: Major Technology Trends, 3/16 (Andy, Renate, Denise)

Stephen Abrams, ProQuest visionary, gave the crowd a glimpse into our library future, products that will available and anticipated user behaviors (which oddly seemed to fit quite nicely with the new SIRSI "Rooms" concept)
  • "NextGens" seems to be the name given to post Gen-Y. We are to expect big changes with this new generation of students
  • NextGens don't like obstacles, want "unfettered" access
  • evening and weekend experiences are important
  • context is far more important than content
  • everything will be WIRELESS
  • Instant Messenger-like services will eclipse email
  • all-in-one devices like cell phones that also email, produce video will become commonplace
  • 20% of the population will have bionics
  • voice recognition will eclipse keyboard use (can you imagine a dozen students dictating papers in the Alcove?)
  • pervasive use of XML, websites that will readily recognize platform and browser
  • graphical approach to database searches, site maps will replace keyword input
  • graphical interfaces produce a 300-500% increase in search effectiveness
  • Google has the nutritional value of a twinkie

UUGI Business Meeting, 3/16 (Andy, Renate, Denise)

The Users Group is run by volunteers. Joe De Lucci (formerly from Lehigh) and former President has taken the position of Library Director at Villanova. New officers elected by ballot before the St. Louis meeting, were announced.

Its clear UUGI is going through growing pains as DRA customers continue to migrate to SIRSI. UUGI can no longer handle all registration logistics and conference content. Attendees are about these changes. While the user group aknowledges that they cannot handle registration, they don't want to become just another appendage of SIRSI Corp.

  • SIRSI should continue to handle registration. UUGI will continue to handle session content.
  • SuperConference is seen as interim. Conference should be entirely all-SIRSI in a few years.
  • UUGI is currently loosing money. Group will need to access financials after 2003 conference, may need to change how dues are charged. New Sirsi Users were not invoiced the $25.00/year membership fee.
  • Continue as a tax exempt organization?
  • Canandian contigent expressed interested in holding conference closer to home.
  • The question was asked whether future conference programs could be webcast for those members who are unable to attend?

iBistro/iLink Workshop part 1 and 2, 3/16 (Andy)

iLink is more customizable than originally perceived. Some libraries go to great lengths to match the look and feel of their institutional websites. Any labels, messages, pictures or colors can be changed.... it's just a matter of how much time you're willing to spend!
  • Good practice to keep a log of changes to iLink.
  • prime locations for edits are Labels, Messages, and System.env
  • be sure to retain all changes as Custom files
  • Can include HTML in labels, which could direct patrons to desired help/locations
  • iLink is highly customizable. Indentify the "state" pages and save any changes as custom

Introduction to MARC Holdings in Unicorn part 1 and 2, 3/16 (Renate)

The presenters represented three university libraries: Rutgers, Penn State, and Lehigh. After a brief discussion on the differences in these institutions, the session started with a definition of US MARC 21 Format Holdings and the philosophy for creating and maintaining holding records. Highlights include:
  • the use of MARC holdings ­ providing accurate, detailed, and consistent recording and display of holdings
  • information on training workshops and helpful resources, e.g, USMARC format for holding data handbook (available on the Web)
  • MARC fields and the information they contain
  • creating holdings with the Serial Control Record
  • fields supported and not supported in Unicorn
  • troubleshooting, e.g. patterns must match

Manual Override: SIRSI's Docmumentation Resources, 3/16 (Denise)

  • There are several methods of accessing the online help module.
  • Use Sirsi Customer Support Web Site for releases and documentation.
  • Resources on the Web Site: known issues, enhancements, training guides.
  • Mutimedia Presentations are available for download.

Getting the Reports You Really Want, 3/16 (Denise)

The most well attended session of them all; not a seat to be had, we were overflowing out the doors, until I asked, "Are you going to be covering Sirsi report generation." He replied, "No." Suddenly the room was bare and there was an immediate surplus of handouts. He was speaking enthusiastically UDMS, RPW, 4RW; that is DRA lingo!

Enhancements to Unicorn Acquisitions, 3/16 (Denise)

  • This session was intended to inform the group of new features in Unicorn 2003. Such as, Brief title field can be shadowed until full record is brought in then shadowing can be deselected.
  • Selection Lists functionality was requested; they are flexible, adjustable, centralized/decentralized library use, and automatically included in 2003 upgrade.
  • New suite of Selection List Wizards with Selection Lists Statuses
  • Much of the information that was being offered in this session pertained to the optional 9XX automated order loading module that they intend to offer in the near future.

Product Overview, 3/17 (Andy, Renate, Denise)

Lots of exciting (ie expensive) products on the horizon. It might be worthwhile to explore the potential of Hyperion to catalog and deliver digital images. Mark Moorehead was determined to have us understand that Rooms were not justs portals (even though that's what they felt like).
  • U2003 - completely overhauled "lost" processing
  • U2003 Acquisitions - can build-in selectors into purchase orders
  • U2003 Acquisitions - 9XX order loading with popular vendors
  • U2003 Acquisitions - binding solutions, tied to a vendor
  • iLink - preconfigured with (20) typical Z39.50 connections
  • iLink - greater KEPT capability, able to retain KEPT over multiple searches (finally!)
  • iLink - tabbed environment in Full View
  • iLink - URL checker - incorrect links are reported (We've been waiting for this!!)
  • iLink - greater content delivery, such as Barnes & Noble
  • Hyperion - could do some of the same processes we are doing with the Archives digital project, with an ability to cross search via iLink (Bucknell is investigating)
  • Hyperion - can build your own digital collections, local history collections, photographic and slide collections, electronic documents and company histories, multimedia collections, and academic resources
  • U2004 - the MAJOR upgrade (see below)
  • eLearning - online tutorials, self-paced, provides self-evalution. Circulation is the only current module available. We have FREE access to the this tutorial until April 11 (see Nikki for details)
  • Rooms - (definition) "Evolving suits of software, information and services designed to give libraries and information centers a means to create focussed dynamic collections that are unbounded by issues of format or sources of delivery" (a veritable utopia!)
  • Rooms - (definition) "Evolving suits of software, information and services designed to give libraries and information centers a means to create focussed dynamic collections that are unbounded by issues of format or sources of delivery" (a veritable utopia!)
  • Rooms - aim is to have "content in context, nothing irrelevent" (Rooms brings together much of what we already do with Blackboarc, Class Guides and eResources by Subject, but with a addition of cross-database searching)
  • Rooms - provides meta searching of multiple information targets, use of XMX and OpenURL. Searching can be pre-structured to included embedded helper keywords that direct search to focus on desired topic area.
  • Rooms - topic or discipline areas can come pre-delivered, or Rooms can be customized for local audience.
  • Rooms - authentication at point of entry into any Room.

Migrating? Don't Miss It. DRA Classic to SIRSI Unicorn, 3/17 (Renate)

Sherri Schneider (Cedar Crest College), Vickie Kline (York College) & Bill Burkholder (Bucknell Univ) talked about their experiences, both good and bad, of migrating from DRA Classic to Sirsi. Topics discussed included migration highlights, DRA terminology vs. Sirsi terminology, MFHL problems, and things they do not like about Sirsi. (I related to all these speakers very well.) Bill Burkholder campared Bucknellıs migration to Noahıs Ark complete with all the rainfall. (Excellent!!)

Networking Today and Tomorrow, 3/17 (Denise)

  • Discussion on various aspects of connectivity and security.
  • Bandwidth calculations for Wfıs workstation 10k per station
  • Cabling Infrastructure to comply with the standards established for copper and fiber wiring.
  • Wireless is great technology for libraries but there are security concerns.
  • War Chalking - markings on outside of a building indicating a free illegal wireless connection is available. Some cable companies and libraries are using "war chalking" to make wireless hook-ups available to anyone.
  • Hot Spots ­ Wi-Fi wireless local area network hook-ups are on the rise in hotels, airports, and Starbucks; currently there are 1100 throughout the US.

Workflows for Unicorn 2004, 3/17 (Andy, Denise, Renate)

The U2003 upgrade seems fairly uneventful compared to the all the promise of U2004. U2003 should be available late-Spring (see upgrade details above). U2004 should be available next Spring. So much for our annual January upgrade schedule!
  • We will need to upgrade to Solaris 2.9 (currently 2.8)
  • Will adopt Windows standard, so typical functions like copy/paste, fonts, colors will work. Printable glossaries.
  • There will be a search history, which will be very useful in Cataloging and Circulation. More than the just-previous search. Ability to edit variable AND fixed fields.
  • It will be easier to toggle between brief and full records in iLink and Workflows
  • USB printing, so we can finally use our receipt printers!!
  • Major update to Spine label generation and printing, will operate similar to Appleworks drawing program, with print preview. There will be templates to work from. Can print individually from screen, or can batch report.
  • SIRSI is promising a Mac Worflows client, which may mean that we will not need to access via Citrix!!
  • User ID and Item ID on same screen, can see checkouts at charge screen
  • Unicode only available on Oracle (we use Informix). Unicode used for easy toggle between many languages.

Patriot Act, 3/17 (Andy, Denise, Renate)

One presenter, a future lawyer, had a thorough knowledge of recent laws developed to guard against domestic and international terrorism, and how these law may effect libraries. It was ironic that this session immediately proceeded Bush's call for war.
  • if a history log or report is available, it is subject to sopeana or warrant
  • Be prepared for the "when it happens" because it is not an "if it happens' situation.
  • Attorney's should be consulted well before anything take place in order to establish procedure.
  • All personnel should know proper procedure to follow when authorities show up in search of information.
  • important to have a strategy in place, have a point person or campus officials who should handle these matters
  • need to be careful with private records, since libraries could be held liable and could be sued for punitive damages
  • libraries are routinely dumping logs and reports and/or disassociating patron IDs from items

Indexing 101, 3/18 (Andy, Denise)

There seems to be infinite control over how bib records are viewed, for every format. Regular maintenance of indexes is important to insure stable databases. We run adutext and correctthesauri every (early) morning.
  • four main indexes; keyword, keyword sort, browse, browse sort
  • can view all formats at Config > Catalog Config > Catalog Format
  • knowledge of MARC fields and subfields, needed for correct display, utility
  • edit and rebuild index can take 6-8 hours for a collection our size, SIRSI does not require rebuild, some libraries rebuild their indexes yearly
  • suggested to run "reorgtext" weekly(?)

Cir Maps, How to Navigate your Circulation, 3/18 (Renate)

Rob Brown (Systems, Noblesville Southeastern P.L.) presented an overview of the Circulation Map ­ why we have it, how does it work, documenting the map, etc. He talked re the changes he made for easier manipulation of files and the maintaining of it.

Circulation enhancements:

  • lost processing
  • suspended loans
  • additional user category fields
  • and one very nice feature: there will be sounds when discharging library materials

Unix Admin Sharing Session, 3/18 (Andy, Denise)

Most of this session centered on Oracle matters. Since we use the Informix database structure, there wasn't much useable information here. We should still be aware of where our logs are stored (just in case the FBI pays a visit).
  • would need to migrate to Oracle if library needs Unicode, SQL or particular system reports
  • good idea to dump logs and error logs yearly (monthly if larger system), go to /s/sirsi/Unicorn? logs and /s/sirsi/Unicorn/logs/backups
  • some libraries strip patron IDs from logs

Cataloging/Authority Sharing Session, 3/18 (Renate)

Question asked re deleting holding symbos from OCLC via SmartPort? Presently, Sirsi libraries are handling in two ways 1) Mark item 'withdrawn' or 'discarded', run a report, punch numbers into CATME, holding symbol will be deleted (should we pursue CATME? - Andy) 2) Continue to use PASSPORT
  • Sirsi is in the process of writing a script for a Batch Upload Program
  • CATME and CONNEXION will eventually be the same
  • Load authority records from SMARTSOURCE but discrepancies with the lists from the Library of Congress occur
  • "Global edit" command works

You Want Me to Count What?!? A Short Primer on Unicorn Statistics Reports, 3/18 (Denise)

  • The session gave you a basic idea for generating a statistical report.
  • Decide what fields of information should be listed or counted.
  • Only use one command at a time and look it up in the online Help to know what you are asking to report on.

Unix Admin Security and Monitoring, 3/18 (Andy)

This was the most interesting (and alarming) session. Libraries as small as F&M are under frequent hacker attack. Effective network sniffers, stable firewalls and regular backups are all very important tools to thwart attack and minimize damage.
  • Sendmail and Telnet are prone to viruses and uninvited access
  • www.cert.org, securityfocus.com, CISsecurity.com are good sources for patches and security alert information
  • can be easy for hackers to install "root kits" to establish server access and space, which is what happened to our NT server

Customer Service 101, 3/18 (Renate)

This session provided a helpful overview of the the Sirsi Customer Service organization. The session covered how the Help Desk operates on a day to day basis and provided tips on how best to utilize this resource. Presenters: Mike Casale, Vice President of Customer Service; Julian Terry, Director, Help Desk Services; and Dan Alexander, System Support. Highlights:
  • 11 degreed librarians on the Help Desk with an average of 5 years ILS experience
  • Help Desk is available 7am - 7pm CST (and half the time they return calls at 4:59pm EST! - Andy)
  • Questions are asked via phone, E_Mail, and WebPortal
  • New sites are limited by the number of folks who can contact the Help Desk
  • Average time to answer phone - 45 seconds; Sirsi wants to close that to 30 seconds

How to Normalize the Abnormal: Creating and Maintaining Serials Predictions, 3/18 (Andy)

The information at this session probably won't be anything new for Ken, but I found it educational. I have a new-found appreciation for what goes on in Serials. It must be like trying to manage 1,700 children, any of which could do something unpredictable at any given moment!
  • issuelate report is primary means to create claims
  • serclaimntc report is used to contact vendor
  • if you choose Claim Never, will never see claim in report, better to flag claim reason, like date
  • need to remove the claim record before using combined issue
  • chronology is NOT frequency, publication cycle is frequency, beware of date drift...
  • best to pad predictions to safeguard against extra issues
  • future release will provide ability to create control for serials without vendors

Jumping through Hoops: Advanced API Techniques, 3/18 (Andy, Denise)

There was the difficult decision to either enjoy discussing serials for another 2 hours, or join Denise and infiltrate the (top secret) API discussion. So, we put on our shades and snuck in.
  • Why API? if need special formats, need to mix and match data and create custom reports, need easy access to historic data and database tables
  • Ball State library created Serials List, ability to track serials by department, ability to track audit trail
  • Abileene libraries needed to be able to secure online resources and track usage
  • an appeal ws made to share API-developed scripts on sirsi.com (the secret API area)

Enhancements to Unicorn Circulation, 3/18 (Denise)

  • 2003 Enhancements for Lost Processing, Suspended loans, Additional user category fields, and global configuration options.
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