Marin County Free LibrarySierra Implementation planning

for public services staff

A 10-branch public library, member of the MARINet consortium

MCFL implemented Sierra on October 2, 2012

Marin County Free Library

Our last major implementation was going live with LINK+ at the end of June, 2012

Then on July 17, we realized that we would go live with Sierra the first week in October, 2012

We reacted with our usual dignity and aplomb

Background

1. Communication – all-staff emails

2. Communication – solicited feedback

3. Communication – set up an email group so that we could share problems, tips, and tricks with the whole implementation team

and then we settled down and made a plan - 3 important things!

Field Trip!Coronado Library, September 10 (less than a month to launch)

Training videos – Developed a few one-topic short videos showing how to log in, check out and search in Sierra. You can see them herehttp://lists.marinet.info/video/sierra

Hands-on training – Short, scripted training for circulation supervisors at our computer lab.

Preview Version and Training

Experiment with the Function drop down menu From checkout, try logging into your own record Pay attention to the icons in the upper right (new patron record in

particular) Search for a patron record (by name) that has lots of fines/holds

etc. and notice the new aspects of the display Notice how and when the “back arrow” works to return to browse In “Search/Holds,” search for a popular title (Gone Girl) and notice

how you can limit. Try an author search (E.L. James?) Try a title search for a DVD series like Downton Abbey, use “Phrase” to limit by season.

Once you’re in a record, use the dropdown menu on the right to select “current location.”

DON’T EDIT, RENEW OR IN ANY WAY CHANGE THE DATA WHILE IN PREVIEW MODE!

Sierra Preview training for public service staff

Donna Mettier, dmettier@marincounty.org415-506-3157, ext 11

Bonny White, bnwhite@marincounty.org415-663-1244

Invitation - Come see us!

function drop-down menu

search patron by name

Checkout (Circulation Desk)

anywhere there’s an “i,” mouse over it for more information