Innovative Users Group Conference

Author Name: Bill Taylor
Library System: Washington County Free Library

Learning Event website:
http://innovativeusers.org/resources/calendar/event/41-iug-2015-conference.html

Top 3 things learned:

1. We can have our own tables in Polaris! For example, a table showing shelf capacity of different call number ranges in each branch, to compare with the number of items currently in that range in each branch, for purposes of rebalancing floating materials

2. We could have Polaris automatically send a welcome email to newly registered patrons - a SQL job can run once a week to send out an email to everyone who registered during the previous week

3. The Serials module is pretty easy to set up and use, especially if you don't have to interface with a vendor

How to implement: 
Each of the above will go on my to-do list! Since we decided not to purchase CollectionHQ, being able to replicate some of its functions will be very useful for selectors and branch managers. Our current system for tracking receipt of periodicals is time-consuming and idiosyncratic - using the serials module will be more efficient. A welcoming email to new patrons would be useful in conveying policies and information.

Additional learning:

• New features in version 5.0 SP1 (which we can upgrade to whenever we want)
• Patron can be allowed to change hold pickup location, even for in-transit and held items (if we want)
• In the PAC, patron's account display will list any associated patrons; also lists claimed and lost items
• We will be able to "secure" a patron record - no activity of any kind is possible until record is "released" - can be used as a last-ditch collections effort
• We can allow associated patrons to pick up each other's holds
• We can have items automatically renew themselves if there are no holds
• Patrons can opt out of reminder notices
• Polaris can automatically mark bib records to display or not in PAC, via a nightly SQL job, based on criteria such as presence of linked items and their status
• There will be a new check-in option of "missing part" which will set the circ status to "claim missing part" and generate a notice to the patron; can charge patron's account if we want
• (Coming in SP2, later in 2015:) integrated DOWNLOAD of econtent from Overdrive - that is, patron's can check out and download right from PAC - no need to send them to Overdrive website
• We can completely customize notices by editing the underlying report - more than just modifying text with language editor
• Sno-Isle Libraries have used Polaris reports to provide some of the collection management data that would be available with CollectionHQ - his examples are available in online presentation