Penn State University Libraries - News and Announcements

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (updated June 2012)

LionCash or VTS (Value Transfer Stations that dispense debit-type cards) machines in the library have been discontinued.  They are an outmoded technology that has reached the end of their lifecycle and will not be replaced.  Data shows that most cash transfer transactions now take place online with ID+ Cards and Lion Cash accounts.  Students/faculty/staff are able to add value and use their ID+ cards to vend copies.  Visitors may obtain LionCash cards and instructions for adding funds to both LionCash and resident borrower cards at the Commons Services desk where a small supply of LionCash Cards will be available for issuing along with a STAAR account to enable network access.  No date has yet been announced for the removal of the equipment.

Important WorkFlows Wizard Property Changes. With the current LifeCycle, which moves all computers to Windows 7, and from testing Windows 7 with WorkFlows and the peripherals [scanner, receipt printers, etc.], the Circ-Reserves Expert Team recently reviewed and implemented a few WorkFlows Wizard Property changes. Discharge: All sounds will be turned off in the Checkout and Discharge wizards.  During testing of Windows 7 it has been found that the system looks in the wrong location for the sound file which causes WorkFlows to freeze. It was noted that turning off the sound offers a secondary benefit in that it encourages staff to review the monitor when discharging material. Note: Scanners might still admit a sound when reading the bar code. Display User: Add Routings tab now displays after Holds tab. CheckOut tab: Type of CheckOut, default to ALL, instead of ACTIVE. Holds: Trap Holds wizard removed from Holds group wizards. Background: With the move to Java Client in Spring 2007, it was discovered that there were a few problems with the Trap wizard.  For example, if an item is 'trapped' twice, it immediately shows as available at the pick-up location and a pick-up notice is generated before the item is actually there.  However, the Discharge wizard is able to correctly perform all discharging [including trap] functions.  Therefore, the procedure, since 2007, has been to use the Discharge wizard instead of the Trap wizard. Modify Holds for User and Item: Turn on reroute available hold feature. A new procedure will make it easier for library staff to re-route an 'available' hold when a user selects the wrong pickup location from the "I Want It" drop down.  Stay tuned for a training bulletin that will document the process.

The circulate flag in item records for all bound periodicals is now to be checked as the default to facilitate the circulation of bound periodicals from service desks.  The applicable checkmark is to be added by staff who routinely create and edit periodical records, including staff in Bindery, Serials Cataloging, Catmarking and the Annex.  This change will permit service desk staff to check-out new bound periodicals for the default 24 hour loan period without providing an override.  Many older bound periodicals will still require an override at checkout until those records can be updated.  This change impacts bound periodicals with an item type of PERIODICAL only.  Unbound periodicals and serials will continue to circulate as usual.  UPDATE Workflows circulating flag – more details on when to use a checkmark and when not to use a checkmark.  Background: Since the 2001 migration to SirsiDynix Unicorn/Symphony ILS, library staff have recognized that when a user places an "I Want It" on an item marked "non-circulating" the hold does not appear on the owning library's daily hold pickup list, presenting some very difficult public service transactions.  While the system accepts and acknowledges the hold to the user, library staff are unaware of the hold until the user questions the delay in service.  Circ/Reserves Experts investigated and discovered that some records transferred as non-circulating during the migration despite their circulating status.  This meant that even though an item may be in a holdable location such as Annex, if the circulate box in the item record is unchecked or blank, the system does not process the hold.  A second problem is also being addressed; because periodicals were assigned non-circ status forcing an override this added extra steps for staff to checkout a periodical for short term use.  Access Services has taken the following steps to remedy these problems:  Presented a "WorkFlows Clean Up Project" session on July 12, 2010 to assist library staff in looking at the holdable locations in their library to find holdable items types that are non-circulating.  To view this archived session refer to https://breeze.psu.edu/p53388204/.  Updated all annexed items to circulating and changed any "reference material" item type at the Annex to "book" item type so that all materials are holdable and circulating.  Coordinated with Cataloging and Bindery staff to use a default of circulating unless otherwise noted.  Updated "periodical" item type to circulating with a default 24 hour loan period. With these changes, users and staff will experience fewer problematic holds and service delays and save steps when checking out materials.