NExpress Regional Library Catalog http://www.nexpresslibrary.org Thu, 09 May 2013 12:48:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 3.10 Upgrade Notes http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/3-10-upgrade-notes/ http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/3-10-upgrade-notes/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 12:48:30 +0000 Heather Braum http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/?p=2664 We are upgrading to Koha 3.10.5 on Saturday night (May 11). If you’re interested in reading the release notes for the 3.10 version releases, see this section on the Koha community website. A nice PDF document was put together detailing the major enhancements in 3.10.0.

Additionally, here are some highlighted features/bugs from the 3.10 upgrade that we have found in testing, including patron search changes, a local hold check-in bug, a few cataloging menu changes (and options to avoid!), and report changes. After the upgrade, please let us know if you notice any additional changes/bugs/features worth highlighting and we’ll add them to this document and the post online.

Patron Search Changes (from Patrons section):

Current system: image001

 

image003

3.10 patron search:

image005

image007

New Search Option in patron search

image009

Local Hold checkin bug

Local Hold checkins at non-home library: triggering holds unexpectedly for wrong patrons. See this community bug for more information. We are continuing to look into an explanation and resolution of this issue.

Cataloging:

When starting a new record from the cataloging module, if you’re immediately selecting the framework, note that Standard framework is now at the bottom, when creating a new record from cataloging module:

image011

However, when importing in new record and changing the frameworks, it’s still the same menu as in previous versions:

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Edit Menu on Records: Please do not use the highlighted options in the image below (The Edit items in batch; delete items in batch; delete all items) if they are still present after the upgrade. We are in the process of getting these options hidden. They allow you to change/delete ALL items on a single bib record, including items that are not your library’s!

image014

Staging records for import:
One small change (just leave record type set to bibliographic)

image016

Batch item modification results: don’t do anything to the check boxes:

image018

Reports

The organization of reports will be changing after the upgrade, and they will be much
easier to find: we’ll now be able to internally group reports by categories! The categorization will be implemented after the upgrade and more information will be provided after it is set up.

]]> http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/3-10-upgrade-notes/feed/ 0 Prairie Hills USD 113 Training http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/prairie-hills-usd-113-training/ http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/prairie-hills-usd-113-training/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:52:42 +0000 Heather Braum http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/?p=2641 Welcome to NExpress

Welcome, Introduction and ‘What is NExpress?’

Public Catalog Tour

An Introduction to the NExpress Patron Catalog (.pdf, Updated 4/12/13)

About Your Account (.pdf, updated 4/12/13 )

Homework – Explore Additional Patron Training Tutorial Videos

Notes and Discussion

Questions and Answers so far…

Staff Client Tour

An introduction to the staff client (.pdf, updated 4/12/13)

Landmarks of the Home Page and Circulation Page

Basic Circulation – Checking items in:

Basic Circulation – Checking items out:

Patrons

Holds

Homework / Extra Credit – Searching

  • Overview of the keyword and advanced search features of the Staff Client
  • Keyword searching hints -
    • add “richmond” to improve results
    • Look for and use UNIQUE terms.  Is the author’s last name unusual, like “Evanovich”? Is there a term like “playaway” that will improve results?
    • As in Google, use a combination of keywords from the title, series and author name, including dates
    • Keyword searching looks at All fields of All attached items, even mis-cataloged ones
  • Advanced searching hints
    • Non-keyword searches are EXACT, so spelling counts but you get faster results
    • Look for unique or unusual subject headings to help narrow your search – “cookery for two”
    • Koha can’t find what is NOT in the record.  If a series title isn’t in the record, no amount of searching will find the book.
  • Use specialized external sites to find ISBNs and other unique identifiers AND correct spelling:

Workflows, Troubleshooting and Questions

DONE!
Welcome and enjoy access to 850,000 items, including books, movies, videogames, audiobooks and cake pans.

Advanced Training and Homework Posts:

]]> http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/prairie-hills-usd-113-training/feed/ 0 New McNaughton order http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/new-mcnaughton-order/ http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/new-mcnaughton-order/#comments Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:51:22 +0000 Heather Braum http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/?p=2629 New and upcoming materials have been ordered from McNaughton for the NExpress collection. See the lists below, ordered by title and ordered by release date!

Ordered by Title:

Ordered by released date:

]]> http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/new-mcnaughton-order/feed/ 0 February 2013 Upgrade Issues and New Features http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/february-2013-upgrade-issues-and-new-features/ http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/february-2013-upgrade-issues-and-new-features/#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:50:29 +0000 Heather Braum http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/?p=2588 After three days on Koha 3.8.5, I think it’s safe to say the upgrade has gone quite smoothly. There are a few outstanding issues that need to be addressed, and there are a few “surprise” features worth highlighting. We’ll update this post with new additions if needed!

Issues

  1. Receipts: The biggest “bug” has been instances where the text on receipts, especially on the hold transfer slips, seemingly runs off the page, because the text is too big. See the pic below for two examples. Patron info has been blacked out.
    The problem is actually being caused by Firefox “forgetting” the paper size setting for the receipt printer. Please verify all the receipt printer settings listed on the setting up receipt printers page and change what is needed. Contact a NExpress team member if you have trouble getting these settings change. 

    1. Dan has created the exact steps to fix this problem. Follow below, or ask for help!
      • Open koha Firefox (Portable Firefox)
      • Type about:config in the address bar
      • In the config search/filter field type always
      • Double click the line: print.always_print_silent, this will change the setting from trueto false
      • Login to koha in a new browser tab, (leave the configuration tab open, you will need it again), highlight a portion of text
      • Go to File menu, Print, and choose Properties, select the Layout tab
      • Change the first setting Paper Size from 8.5×11 to Paper Roll 80x297mm, select OK
      • Change the print option to only print Selection (to save paper)
      • You may choose to look at Print Options | Properties | Layout tab and verify the setting to Paper Roll is still set correctly
      • Go to the configuration tab you left open and double click print.always_print_silent so that it is now set back to true
      • Close the configuration tab and verify receipts now wrap text to the next line
  2. Fines: Mickey sent this out in an email Sunday: fines are currently NOT automatically calculating. A script has been running on our system since the upgrade to add timestamps to each fine — there are several hundred thousand fine lines the script has to go through.  From our ByWater sys admin: “Fines for items that are overdue when checked in should still be calculated, but automatic daily calculation of fines will not occur until the script is done. I will check on the job periodically and let you know when it is finished. When it’s done, I will run the fines job manually to catch up on fines.” As of 8am Wednesday, the script is still running. ByWater will let us know when the script is complete.
    On 2/15/13 9:27 AM, Larry Baerveldt wrote:

    Mickey,

    The fine fix is done. I’m now running fines.pl manually to catch things up. It’ll take awhile to finish, but when it’s done, I’ll re-enable the fines cronjob, and everything should proceed normally from here on out.
  3. Receipts: The customizable receipts and notices is not quite ready for libraries to use. The NExpress team needs a few weeks to figure out the new interface and options and determine the best practices for libraries to begin using this feature.
  4. [NEW, 2/13/13] Fines Grace Periods: Fines grace periods are not working at this time. It’s a known bug in Koha at this time, but should be fixed in a future update. We are hoping to have it addressed soon.

Features

  1. Cataloging: Remember all those permanent errors in the Z39.50 searches? They are apparently all gone now! Let the NExpress team know if you see the errors return. 
  2. Circulation: Time stamps now show for when items are due (23:59, typically). This is because the system now has the ability for hourly checkouts — but this is not currently set up.
  3. Editing patrons: a comment box is now available underneath the restricted flag. This can be used to add manual notes on why patrons are restricted. Thanks to Kathleen at Bonner Springs for noticing this one.
  4. Adding/editing items & patrons: When adding/editing patrons and items, the entry field you are currently on is highlighted in green, helping you keep track of where you are at! Thanks to Kathleen at Bonner Springs for noticing this one.
  5. Checkout history on records: On records, the checkout history tab for a record now displays by default the last 10 patrons to checkout the items on the record. You can change the number of patrons to be displayed, sort one of the available columns, AND search for a specific patron!
  6. Editing patrons: When creating a new patron and setting up their OPAC login and password, there is now a confirm password box you must fill out as well.
  7. Circulation history for patrons: This now displays by default the last 10 items a patron checked out. You can change the number of items to be display, sort one of the available columns AND search for a specific item in their circ history.
    UPDATE: There is a known bug in the sorting for the circ history if you sort by return date. The presence of text in that field (Checked Out) confuses the system and the items are sorted as text, not as dates. This is known and being worked on by ByWater staff.

Let us know if you find any other issues or new features and we’ll be adding them to this post. Thanks!

]]> http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/february-2013-upgrade-issues-and-new-features/feed/ 0 ALA Youth Media Award Winners (including Caldecott, Newberry, Printz) http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/ala-youth-media-award-winners-including-caldecott-newberry-printz/ http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/ala-youth-media-award-winners-including-caldecott-newberry-printz/#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:32:02 +0000 Heather Braum http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/?p=2570 If you’re looking for some collection purchasing ideas, you might consider these titles, which were announced at this year’s ALA Youth Media Awards, including the Newberry, Caldecott, and Printz Award winners and honor book announcements, at the ALA Midwinter meeting in Seattle, this morning.

I’ve put together a public list on NExpress that lists all the books announced as award winners and honors, available currently in NExpress.

Caldecott Winner

  • This is Not My Hat by John Klassen (NExpress)

Caldecott Honors

  • Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (NExpress)
  • Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen (NExpress)
  • One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo; pictures by David Small (NExpress)
  • Sleep like a tiger by Mary Logue; ililustrated by Pamela Zagarenski (NExpress)
  • Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds; pictures by Peter Brown (NExpress)

Newberry Winner

  • The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (NExpress)

Newberry Honors

  • Splendors & Glooms by Laura Schlitz (NExpress)
  • Bomb by Steve Sheinkin (NExpress)
  • Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turange (NExpress)

Printz Award Winner

Printz Honors

  • Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Saenz (NExpress)
  • Code name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (NExpress)
  • Dodger by Terry Pratchett (NExpress)
  • The White Bicycle by Beverly Brenna (not currently in NExpress)

The full announcement, including other announced award winners, is available online.

]]> http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/ala-youth-media-award-winners-including-caldecott-newberry-printz/feed/ 0 NExpress Reports training http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/nexpress-reports-training/ http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/nexpress-reports-training/#comments Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:53:17 +0000 Heather Braum http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/?p=2551 NExpress reports training materials are now available. Heather’s and Robin’s slides will be available shortly.

The new reports webpages are now available.

]]> http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/nexpress-reports-training/feed/ 0 Costume Masks in the collection http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/costume-masks-in-the-collection/ http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/costume-masks-in-the-collection/#comments Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:19:24 +0000 Heather Braum http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/?p=2525 Richmond Public Library has started circulating 20-30 costume masks (most are Halloween-oriented). Each mask record includes a link to a photo of the mask. (Example, Black Gorilla)

The masks can be found in NExpress in several different ways, by searching for “costume mask“, accessing the costume mask list, or using the costume mask tag. Also, the “Explore our Collection” section on the catalog homepage page will periodically have a ‘Tis the Season section that includes a button for the masks.

Holds can be placed on the masks by any NExpress patron and will be sent through the courier.

It’s yet another “interesting” item that circulates at our libraries! If you are interested in cataloging an unusual material for the library, let Heather know and she’ll help you quickly get the records created for them.

]]> http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/costume-masks-in-the-collection/feed/ 0 More upcoming releases ordered http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/more-upcoming-releases-ordered/ http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/more-upcoming-releases-ordered/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:26:16 +0000 Heather Braum http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/?p=2484 McNaughton added several more November 2012 releases to the ordering portal, so I ordered the following additional books:

  1. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (James Patterson), released November 12, 2012
  2. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross LP edition (James Patterson), released November 12, 2012
  3. The forgotten (David Baldacci), released November 20, 2012
  4. The forgotten LP edition (David Baldacci), released November 20, 2012
  5. Notorious nineteen (Janet Evanovich), released November 20, 2012
  6. Notorious nineteen LP edition (Janet Evanovich), released November 20, 2012
]]> http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/more-upcoming-releases-ordered/feed/ 0 Upcoming Releases Ordered http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/upcoming-releases-ordered/ http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/upcoming-releases-ordered/#comments Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:43:23 +0000 Heather Braum http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/?p=2473 I have put in a large McNaughton order again, through November (although some November releases weren’t available to order yet). See below for the titles & information. The first list is sorted by release date; the second, by author last name. I have also ordered 4 extra Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn to help with the holds. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Sorted by release date

  1. Sweet talk by Julie Garwood, released August 7, 2012
  2. Bones are forever by Kathy Reichs, released August 28, 2012
  3. Zoo by James Patterson, released September 3, 2012
  4. Zoo (large print) by James Patterson, released September 3, 2012
  5. The time keeper by Mitch Albom, released September 4, 2012
  6. The tombs by Clive Cussler, released September 4, 2012
  7. An Apple for the creature by Charlaine & Toni L.P. Kelner Harris, released September 4, 2012
  8. Untitled by Bob Woodward, released September 10, 2012
  9. Robert B. Parker’s Fool me twice by Michael Brandman, released September 11, 2012
  10. A wanted man by Lee Child, released September 11, 2012
  11. A wanted man (large print) by Lee Child, released September 11, 2012
  12. Delusion in death by J.D. Robb, released September 11, 2012
  13. Low pressure by Sandra Brown, released September 18, 2012
  14. Winter of the world by Ken Follett, released September 18, 2012
  15. The casual vacancy by J.K. Rowling, released September 27, 2012
  16. The casual vacancy (large print) by J.K. Rowling, released September 27, 2012
  17. Dark storm by Christine Feehan, released October 2, 2012
  18. Live by night by Dennis Lehane, released October 2, 2012
  19. Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly, released October 2, 2012
  20. Mad river by John Sandford, released October 2, 2012
  21. NYPD red (large print) by James Patterson, released October 8, 2012
  22. NYPD red by James Patterson, released October 8, 2012
  23. The Bone bed by Patricia Daniels Cornwell, released October 16, 2012
  24. The twelve by Justin Cronin, released October 16, 2012
  25. The panther by Nelson DeMille, released October 16, 2012
  26. Sleep no more by Iris Johansen, released October 16, 2012
  27. The racketeer by John Grisham, released October 23, 2012
  28. The racketeer (large print) by John Grisham, released October 23, 2012
  29. Back to blood by Tom Wolfe, released October 23, 2012
  30. The sins of the mother by Danielle Steel, released October 30, 2012
  31. Flight behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, released November 6, 2012
  32. The last man by Vince Flynn, released November 13, 2012
  33. The black box by Michael Connelly, released November 26, 2012
  34. The black box (large print) by Michael Connelly, released November 26, 2012

Sorted by Author

  1. The time keeper by Mitch Albom, released September 4, 2012
  2. Robert B. Parker’s Fool me twice by Michael Brandman, released September 11, 2012
  3. Low pressure by Sandra Brown, released September 18, 2012
  4. A wanted man by Lee Child, released September 11, 2012
  5. A wanted man (large print) by Lee Child, released September 11, 2012
  6. The black box by Michael Connelly, released November 26, 2012
  7. The black box (large print) by Michael Connelly, released November 26, 2012
  8. The Bone bed by Patricia Daniels Cornwell, released October 16, 2012
  9. The twelve by Justin Cronin, released October 16, 2012
  10. The tombs by Clive Cussler, released September 4, 2012
  11. The panther by Nelson DeMille, released October 16, 2012
  12. Dark storm by Christine Feehan, released October 2, 2012
  13. The last man by Vince Flynn, released November 13, 2012
  14. Winter of the world by Ken Follett, released September 18, 2012
  15. Sweet talk by Julie Garwood, released August 7, 2012
  16. The racketeer by John Grisham, released October 23, 2012
  17. The racketeer (large print) by John Grisham, released October 23, 2012
  18. An Apple for the creature by Charlaine & Toni L.P. Kelner Harris, released September 4, 2012
  19. Sleep no more by Iris Johansen, released October 16, 2012
  20. Flight behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, released November 6, 2012
  21. Live by night by Dennis Lehane, released October 2, 2012
  22. Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly, released October 2, 2012
  23. Zoo by James Patterson, released September 3, 2012
  24. Zoo (large print) by James Patterson, released September 3, 2012
  25. NYPD red (large print) by James Patterson, released October 8, 2012
  26. NYPD red by James Patterson, released October 8, 2012
  27. Bones are forever by Kathy Reichs, released August 28, 2012
  28. Delusion in death by J.D. Robb, released September 11, 2012
  29. The casual vacancy by J.K. Rowling, released September 27, 2012
  30. The casual vacancy (large print) by J.K. Rowling, released September 27, 2012
  31. Mad river by John Sandford, released October 2, 2012
  32. The sins of the mother by Danielle Steel, released October 30, 2012
  33. Back to blood by Tom Wolfe, released October 23, 2012
  34. Untitled by Bob Woodward, released September 10, 2012
]]> http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/upcoming-releases-ordered/feed/ 0 Numerous book to movie adaptations will be released in theaters http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/numerous-book-to-movie-adaptations-will-be-released-in-theaters/ http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/numerous-book-to-movie-adaptations-will-be-released-in-theaters/#comments Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:01:13 +0000 Heather Braum http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/?p=2469 Happy Thursday!

I know many of you are aware of this, but I thought I’d give you all a heads up that numerous book (and a book/musical) to movie adaptations will be coming into movie theaters over the next several months. Many are classics, and you might check your shelves on the conditions of these books and decide if you need to replace any or add more.

Any one know of others to add to this list? Add them in the comments if you do!

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