Back-to-School Checklist for Librarians
1. Check library/media staff equipment.
- Ensure that all equipment is properly working and connected to the Internet (including barcode reader and printer).
- Review the equipment documentation at http://www.lnoca.org/departments/library/tech/hardwaresoftware.aspx to ensure that all necessary hardware and software is installed and properly configured. Check with your IT departments if all the necessary ports are open. If your IT restricts access through the firewall by IP address, note the specific IP addresses used for SmartPort activity.
- Verify with your technology staff whether or not you have full administrative privileges on your computer and keep that information on file for future Sirsi software updates.
2. Ensure that the correct URL for the INFOhio Cat/Cat Jr OPAC is easily accessible from school web pages:
- The directory of all schools automated with LNOCA is at http://web2.lnoca.org.
- URL example: http://web2.lnoca.org/html/english_unicorn/login/BRUSH/welcome.html
3. Library staff accounts - all Forms are accessible from http://www.lnoca.org/forms/default.aspx.
- New staff? Complete the LNOCA Account Request Form and return to LNOCA for processing. Make sure the new employee reviews the LNOCA System and Network Security Policy/Internet User Guidelines and Policy.
- Provide LNOCA with necessary forms for accounts that need to be modified or closed. (Different building? name? left the school system? etc.)
- Review the LNOCA User Accounts listing and make sure LNOCA has the correct email addresses for all library/media staff.
- Make sure library/media staff know their username/password - and do not share!
4. If you have not already done so, make sure that you have provided your school calendar and compulsory return date(s) to LNOCA.
- A Compulsory Return Date (CRD) must be entered for Sirsi policies to function properly. The CRD ensures that all items are due by a specified date. This can be useful in getting the items back to the library in time for inventory and for preventing "return dates" after the last day of school. Compulsory Return Dates can be set globally for all buildings, for a single building, or for a unique user profile.
5. Review (item) barcode ranges for each building and ensure that each vendor is assigned a unique range.
6. Check if patrons (student and staff) have been updated and have correct expiration dates - http://www.lnoca.org/departments/library/handbook/H_ExpirationDates.aspx. Run the PAT: List Users report to identify patrons entered into the system and/or to identify patron accounts that have expired. To identify expired patron accounts, enter the following:
- User Options Tab: User status = both
- User Selection Tab: Privilege exp date = <09/11/2009 (or replace the 09/11/2009 with today's date)
7. Run the PAT: List Users Report to identify patrons with unresolved holds. Enter the following:
- User Selection Tab: Number of holds: >0
8. Check if scheduled reports are being generated properly. Remove template and scheduled reports that are no longer useful.
9. Review documentation for LNOCA report templates on the ITC Custom tab at http://www.lnoca.org/departments/library/handbook/H_CustomReports.doc. These templates, created by LNOCA, are virtually 'ready-to-run' and require little or no data entry. They can also be further customized and saved to your templates tab.
10. Review StaffWeb training documentation in LNOCA's handbook for librarians.
11. Check the online Sirsi Manual at http://www.infohio.org/javamanual for updates.
12. Check out the INFOhio Toolkit at http://www.infohio.org/Toolkit.html.