It was discovered this week that the Sort Assist/Smart Bin in the Central Library has been operating on Australian time since the latest update (several weeks). Australia is (currently) two hours behind so the effect has been that all books returned through the Central bin/sort assist within that time period have a checkin time two hours earlier than when the book was actually returned.

This will not have negatively affected students in terms of fines, since they have effectively been given a bonus ‘2 hour grace period’. But it is something to be aware of when looking at an item’s issue history, especially if you’re confronted with a book appearing to have been checked in before the library was open or, even, before the book was issued.

The time has since been fixed on the Central Sort Assist and solutions are being looked at to ensure the time is always in sync with NZ time (especially with day light’s saving approaching).

The software on the Sort Assists in Central, Law, and EPS, as well as the software in use in LSS, has been updated. This has introduced a slight change in the process for encoding tags.

The Encode Tag function using Tag Utility on the LSS machine is not working so staff need to encode tags using the Circulation Assistant Software instead.

When you first open the ‘Encode Tag’ function on the Sort Assist/Circ Assist, you need to click on Settings before encoding. This screen looks quite different. Some of the changes are as follows:

1. You need to change the criteria for the 4 dropdown menus from “Always Ask” to “Fixed Value”:

a. This status will automatically change to “UC- CAN:CU” and does not need to be changed.
b. This status relates to set size. First, unselect “DVD sets”. Then choose the appropriate set setting as before. If you have a kit of 50 pieces or more, you can now encode these by selecting “other” in the dropdown menu for set number and manually typing in the kit size. [Update 21/02: The software on the Sort Assists currently does not include this drop down menu so sets/kits cannot be encoded on the Sort Assists. This is being looked at.]
c. This status will automatically change to “11” and does not need to be changed.
d. Change the MARC type to the correct item type (book, magazine, compact disc etc).

You can then press ok and encode the tags as usual.

Note that if you close the “Encode Tag” function you will need to reset these settings the next time you reopen the encode function. It is important to set the correct settings each time you do a session of tag encoding.

Keyword searches are currently not working on the web catalogue (although such searches are working fine on Horizon).

E-Services have been notified.

I attended a pilot course in mid-September called Leading Service at the University of Canterbury. This course was focussed on defining a customer service ethic appropriate for UC and developing concrete plans to introduce better customer area in the participants’ respective departments.

I’ve written a report on the conference which can be found here:

k:\Conferences and Seminars\Leading Service at the University of Canterbury.doc

I thought that the course suffered from an insufficent focus on defining a customer service ethic specific to UC/the educational context. However, there were some very useful tips for improving customer service. I have a copy of the workbook we used, which has some useful templates for planning and implementing customer service initiatives if anyone is interested in having a look.

Fiona

A month or so ago, a borrower returned half of a book, “The Development of Print Media Code of Ethics in New Zealand” (AU10737774B).

I’d been waiting for her to return the other half so it could be sent to binding, and so had left the item on her record. According to Horizon, the item was checked in two days ago (yet is still lost on the borrower’s record – which makes no sense).

If you know anything about this item (or even better, have the half sitting on your desk!), can you please email me.

Thanks

The Level 4 Men’s urinal was blocked tonight and flooded to the extent that water was leaking through the roof of the Men’s toilets on Level 3. A BEIMS request was placed when Level 4 was discovered. However, after discovering the leak through to Level 3, Security have called in cleaners to get the water mopped up straight away.

HA classification items have now been relocated from the Central Library collection to the Law Library.

The odd HA item is coming through returns thinking it still belongs at Central. Running the barcode through the Correct Location Code Report on the wiki will redirect these books to their new home.

A few fixes for known RFID problems were found today:

1. The self check kiosk fault which resulted in issued books having secure tags (as a result of borrowers accidentally trying to renew books on the same day they issued them) has been fixed.

I have restarted the kiosks in Law and Central so this fix can take effect. The Education kiosks will need to be restarted as well. So hopefully this will resolve the issue we’ve had with the gate alarms constantly being activated. Peter and I tested issuing and renewing items and didn’t detect any other problems as a result of this fix. However, if you notice anything awry please contact Library E-Services.

2. FE have supplied ‘attenuators’ to turn down the sensitivity of the RFID pads on the Information Desks. I have fitted them at Central, Law and MB – and intend to pop by Education tonight. These reduce the tag-detecting field around the pad so will hopefully ameliorate the problem of the pad erroneously checking in/out items. However, they do seem to impact on the encode tag function at the desks. You can still encode tags but you will notice that the pad doesn’t seem to detect the tag, even though my brief testing has found the pad will still encode the tag it can’t detect (!). I will do some more testing of this issue. Again, if you notice anything skewy since I’ve altered the pads please let Library E-Services know. (or me, but I”m part-time so it’s more reliable to go through E-Services).

Fiona

If you are helping Morgan (blind student with his dog) to find a desk to work at please ensure you seat him at a square desk as they are more stable than the circular ones.

Thanks,
Anne.

Key 61 frrom the Central key press is missing.

This is a key for the printer hatch of the self check machines.
It’s been missing for a couple of weeks now so if you find this key in your pocket, please return it.
We have two ‘spares’ (Key 62 & 63) but it’s too early to have already lost one!

Thanks