Mary's week so far

The focus of the sessions I've attended this week has been Horizon 8.x and the future functionality we can look forward to, especially with regard to the needs of consortia.

The serials,acquisitions and cataloging modules feature protection domains that will allow our libraries (or "agencies") to maintain their own data (copy records and pub patterns in serials; budgets and vendors in acquisitions; bib records and tags in shared bib records in cataloging).

In addition, each module has added features that make some workflows easier. In Serials, setting up publication prediction patterns will include the ability to use a graphical calendar to create and test patterns. Acquisitions will allow users to send EDIFACT order files to their vendors directly from Horizon instead of having to download the order file and using third-party FTP software to make the transfer. Cataloging adds a batch MARC record editor which Robin & I will find handy for clean-up projects.

Horizon will finally include tag ownership so that when a library adds a local note or subject heading, it will appear in staff and public PAC displays only for that library; any other library viewing the record in PAC will not see that note or heading. All local notes and headings will appear to all libraries in the MARC editor. Administration of bib record displays for both the staff pacs and HIP will be located within Horizon.

I also attended a session describing the process for migrating our data from Horizon 7.3 to Horizon 8.X. SirsiDynix staff have a series of programs that will report bad data such as invalid codes (collection, itype, btype, etc.), codes no longer in use,"blind" bibs (having no items but still attached to POs, etc. We will use the reports to clean up before proceeding with the migration.

At this point, SD has conversion scripts that can carry over the following data from Horizon 7 to Horizon 8.X: Item data, item/copy record links, patron data, circ and circ history, burb and burb history, requests, and current item status, all serials data.

However, at this point, the only data that can be migrated from Acquisitions is the vendor data. There is a problem migrating the budget data which is currently a flat file, whereas Horizon 8.X will be hierarchical. Without the budget data, they can't migrate the PO data. However, at a session Robin attended, the Acq users told SD they had no problem with the budgets being transferred as flat files to Horizon 8, and that they themselves will create their new budgets in the future fiscal year in the hierarchical format. I hope the SD staff can follow through with this.

The timeline for migration was described as follows:

1. SD runs data reports for bad codes.
2. Libraries do clean-up based on reports
3. SD performs a full test extract/load from Horizon 7 to Horizon 8
4. Library reviews test load results
5. Test load sign-off
6. Production data extract/load (gap loads as needed)
-- Auths, bibs, items
-- Patrons/Vendors/Serials
-- Circulation

I'm looking forward to the increased functionality of Horizon 8.X, but am in no hurry to rush into the migration until SD has completed all its data conversion scripts, especially the missing pieces in Acquisitions. Our libraries would be very unhappy to have to re-create their budgets again, especially since we couldn't migrate their CARL acq data, and they will want their associated POs and invoices to be carried over.

'70s party

The '70s party was a lot of fun. Amy, Melissa, Carol and I went (this is us in Amy and Mary's room before the embarassing trek across the parking lot and through the lobby). There were fewer people in costume than I would've liked, but more than I expected (we were worried we'd be the only ones). And a lot of people danced, which was really cool. At breakfast this morning the people Melissa and I sat with agreed it was one of the best receptions we've been to. The DJ ran around taking some pictures too -- I wonder if he's going to use them to advertise: "The DJ so good he can even get librarians to dance!" If only people knew how easy it really is to get librarians to party...

Biblio's Angels

Amy's Panel

Here's Amy with a couple of members of her panel. I missed the actual presentations because I was at Melissa's session. I came in after the break and the moderator went to ask me what I wanted to learn from the session and Amy said I was just there to take her picture, but I did stay and hear some interesting info.

Melissa's Panel

Here's Melissa at her panel. The gray-haired man on the left is Lon Dickerson, the man from Jefferson Parish. The man in front of the laptop is Bill McClendon from SirsiDynix. I missed his part of the presentation because he was after the break.

Robin's Wednesday

After the opening session, with remarks from Patrick Sommers and a very honest appraisal of the 8.x development process (including the problems) from Talin Bingham (I believe his name was), Mary and I went to a session on 8.x serials. It looks like it's closer to what we currently have than what we've seen before, with some cool new functionality. After lunch I attended Melissa's session on disaster recovery. She did a good job, gave a nice overview of the process. During the break, a guy from another consortium said she gave him some good info. The second presenter from her panel was from Jefferson Parish in Lousiana and had some harrowing stories about Katrina. One interesting note he had was that when they went to do payroll, the direct deposits all went through fine, but people who depended on paper checks couldn't get paid.

I missed the second half of Melissa's session because I checked in with Amy's ILL network consortia panel. It was interesting to hear the different ways people have approached the ILL process, and the different levels of support they get from their counties, states, etc.

My last session was on 8.x acq, which covered some of the same ground as an earlier session, which I believe Mary attended. They do seem to have some cool consortial functionality, and a lot of settings that are network-wide now can be set n a library-by-library basis, although some of them Mary may decide to keep the same anyway. At least we'll have a choice :)

The internet in the hotel is a little slow, possibly because everyone is on at the same time, but I will try to post some photos too. The 70s party is in an hour, so I'd better go get ready!

Hail, hail, the gang's all here

We're all in SLC now, though a bit scattered. I haven't caught up with Carol yet. I saw Amy briefly when she checked in. I spoke with Robin on the phone a bit ago, and she and Melissa were heading out to the Salt Palace to register for CODI. I walked up there this afternoon, and am now equipped with name tag, binder, and a nice canvas tote bag.

I'll probably turn in early. It's been a long day, and it will be busy one tomorrow.

Mary

CODI Conference Begins

Carol left yesterday for a pre-conference workshop on Web Reporter Administration today. She writes:


It's supposed to be rainy today, but sunny tomorrow. Possibility of thunderstorms on Thursday....they are calling this the dog days of summer returned.....

Mary, Melissa, Robin, and I fly out tomorrow. We'll keep you all posted on each day's activities and SirsiDynix news items.

Stay tuned . . .

Amy