Minerva Circulation Roundtable
June 27, 2018 Minutes
Reports
Maine InfoNet / Technical-Lynn Uhlman
- Decision Center is almost ready to go. Beta testers are needed before the program is released to all Minerva libraries. Email Lynn if you are interested.
- Mobile Worklist is ready to go. Information can be found here: https://maineinfonet.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/1000264947-mobile-worklists
- Next Sierra upgrade to version 4.0 will be released in July, watch for notice on the list serves. This upgrade will include a mandatory upgrade of any Sierra password that is less than 8 characters. Passwords can be reset by opening a Sierra session, clicking on Admin at the top of the page and clicking on change password. Minerva staff is encouraged to reset their passwords before the upgrade.
Maine InfoNet –James Jackson Sanborn
Discussed the amount of patron information currently being collected by Minerva libraries, specifically driver’s license numbers. Concern has been expressed regarding the possibility of Maine InfoNet being held liable for any compromised personal information or identity theft resulting from a server compromise. If license numbers are not being entered into the patron record in Sierra libraries are free to handle the collected information as they see fit.
A decision was made to create a survey asking libraries that collect license numbers
- Do they enter them into Sierra?
- If so, what is the minimum amount of information their collection agency or police department needs to act on the libraries behalf.
Reminders and Announcements—James Rathbun
James received several emails for discussion.
- Do not place fines on another library’s patron’s account.
- A library asked to discuss the practice of placing hold only in the OPAC. Several circulation staff members find it cumbersome to use the OPAC for holds rather than place them in the circulation module.
Lynn Uhlman mentioned that the majority of support tickets for stuck holds the InfoNet staff handles are a result of holds placed on the circulation side. Since the practice of placing holds in the OPAC has been in place, they are receiving fewer stuck hold tickets.
Several issues make placing holds in the circulation module problematic. Best Seller Express and other rental or local use only collections present a false availability to other Minerva library patrons. The ability, and sometimes necessity, to override system messages allows holds to be placed on ineligible items and masks patron and item loan rule restrictions/blocks. Requesting in the OPAC allows all of the loan rules/blocks to be considered and the hold process runs smoother with less chance of errors occurring.
Topics for Discussion
- Items “Lost in transit” were not covered under the new billing policy. Time line for billing for these items was briefly discussed. A decision was made to table the discussion until the Circulation Standards committee drafted a new “Lost in Transit” policy for review.
- Noticing Gmail addresses bouncing back a message of delayed delivery. James Jackson Sanborn and Lynn Ulhman explained that this occurs when Microsoft, Google or other companies change their filter setting for what they consider spam. The InfoNet staff is exploring whether changing the from address of system notices to a minerva-no reply address instead of an in-house email address (which is an alias and may be part of the problem) will help with email rejection. Lynn Ulhman will investigate and report back to the group.
- James Jackson Sanborn requests Minerva revisit the reading history function after being contacted by several Minerva patrons. MILS and URSUS both have had reading history enabled for several years. The process would be as follows: Minerva agrees to turn the function on, each Minerva library then decides whether they want the function turned on for their library, each Minerva patron then decides if they want to turn the function on for themselves. This list is only visible when the patron logs into their account in the OPAC.
- List etiquette – Please visit: https://www.maineinfonet.org/minerva/support/lists/ for conventions for use of review files. When possible export and empty any review file you create. There are a limited number of slots for all libraries to use. Review files in Web Management Reports should be deleted after download.
Attendees:
| Orono PL | Alexis Dixon |
| Witherle | Anne Roman |
| Kennebunk | Brittany Kashar |
| Old Town | Cassandra Pool |
| Freeport | Courtney Sparks |
| EMCC | Cynthia Young |
| Husson University | Diane Hanscom |
| Washington County CC | Elizabeth Phillips |
| McArthur | Jackie McCann |
| Baxter | James Rathbun |
| Windham | Jen Dupree |
| Gray | Josh Tiffany |
| CMCC | Judi Moreno / Brianna Doyle |
| Lithgow | Julie Olson |
| Lewiston PL | Katherine Webber |
| Jesup | Laura Edwards |
| Rockport | Laura Meservey |
| Patten | Leslie Mortimer |
| Augusta Schools | Liz Soares |
| Camden | Lynne Annis |
| Topsham | Lynne Morgan / Cyndi Burne |
| Southwest Harbor | Mary Anne Mead |
| Eastern Maine Medical Center | Megan McNichol |
| Bailey Public | Shane Billings |
| York Public Library | Sudie Blanchard |
| Edythe Dyer | Susan Taylor |
| Curtis | Vicki Stevens / Carol Lord |
Plus, James Jackson Sanborn and Lynn Ulhman from Maine InfoNet
Date of next meeting TBD
Cyndi Burne
Topsham Public Library
