Email from Syma Zerkow on 05/09/2013:
Our GoLive date for SirsiDynix Symphony is Thursday, July
11. We are starting to detail out the timing of a lot of the changes and
I want to make sure you were all aware of them. I plan to send out
updated information to staff on a weekly basis. The Communications
Division will begin a public awareness campaign for our customers in early
June.
·
In order to reduce the number of
circulation-related issues that will arise during our migration period (June
21-July 1), we have modified how the III system calculates due dates. Our
goal is to minimize the number of items returned over that time period but not
affect our ability to check out or return items. As a result, you (and
our customers) will see a lot of unexpectedly long check-out
periods. Please accept whatever due date the system shows and, if a
customer questions it, explain that we are moving from our existing
catalog and circulation software to a new system and to make the transition as
smooth as possible, we have temporarily changed the checkout period.
·
Collections throughout the system will be more
finely defined in the new catalog. Every library will have locations such
as Media, Beginning Readers, Graphic Novels, and more. Sirsi informs us
that due to the complex mapping of items to new locations, we need to keep item
location changes to the absolute minimum during the migration period.
Therefore, we plan to stop floating materials beginning the week of June
17. When we go-live on Symphony, floating will immediately go back into
effect.
·
During this period (June 21-July 10), no new
titles or items will be added to the collection and we will be unable to delete
items. Staff will also need to follow new procedures to check-in
periodicals and new procedures to create “items on the fly” (short records to
allow circulation of items whose barcode is not in the system).
·
From July 5-10, we will be using Symphony
Offline Circ. During this period, no fines can be collected and no holds
can be filled. We will be able to register new customers.
·
Training for the new procedures will begin just
after Memorial Day and run intensively throughout the month of June and
continue on a regular basis thereafter. Training material will also be
available on the Staff Training Portal.
·
We are working with Communications to develop
FAQ’s to assist you in providing clear explanations to our customers about the
changes.
As always, if you have any questions, please contact me or
use Contact Us on the HALAN ILS Migration News site on the Intranet.
---
-Marcos
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