The Paged Too Long report lists all of the items on your local server that have been paged for LINK+ circulation loan but have not changed status in more than the specified number of days. You can specify the number of days considered "too long" when you run the report.
You can use this report to recover LINK+ paged items that you may have inadvertently cleared before printing:
You will receive a report of items paged but the pages will not print as actual paging slips. It is, however, a good way to recover lost LINK+ pages.
Sierra 5.3 will offer staff the option to "resend" the notices if there was a problem with printing by offering a printer selection dialog so that staff can choose a different local printer.
When printing paging slips, be sure to choose the "Send Notices" button rather than the "Print" button in the upper right corner of the toolbar. The "Print" button merely prints the table displayed on your screen while the "Send Notices" button prints the actual paging slips.
When a courtesy notice is sent, the item or virtual item record is updated with the sending date in the Overdue Date field. The No. of Overdues field is left unchanged (at zero). When the first overdue notice is sent, both of these fields are updated (to the date the overdue was sent and '1', respectively).
You can view a patron's virtual items in Circulation Desk mode by going to the Checked-Out Items tab, right-clicking on the item you wish to view and choosing View Virtual Item.
Please remember to enter the destination branch or campus on book bands and labels before shipping them to the borrowing library.
Please remember to include institution, pickup branch and patron on the Link+ book band or label.
Please do not place the LINK+ book band or label over the book's barcode. This causes confusion and delays in processing when the borrowing library tries to check out the book and cannot find the barcode.
Please do not place LINK+ labels or book bands under the plastic or mylar cover. Some staff--in the rush to cross out LINK+ labels or book bands at check-in--may notice too late that the label or book band is under the clear covering. This may result in unintentional damage to the covers.
When ordering book labels from Avery, several members have experienced problems with Avery sending the wrong type of labels. It is recommended that you verify that you have received the correct product number before using labels from a newly-received order. The recommended label is product #6464. Another version of this label, product #5164, is non-removable and should not be used.
If you are sending an item to a member with multiple branches or campuses, please include the branch/campus on the book band (or label.) Having to look up the branch or campus can add quite a bit of processing time for the receiving library.
The branch/campus name can be found on the LINK+ paging slip.
Are your paging slips only printing part of the Institution name? This is because your Branches table doesn't include the courier numbers for LINK+ location codes. A printable list of courier numbers is available from the repository.
If you are using recycled paper when printing LINK+ paging slips, please be mindful that the paper is free of any patron information. A library using this approach might do so with the intention of recycling, but this is not appropriate if the paper contains any patron information. It would violate privacy regulations, including FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) guidelines that ensure privacy in the handling of patron information and records.
If you don't already have Auto Notices turned on, you can open a ticket with Innovative's Support Desk. More information on Auto Notices can be found in the Millennium or Sierra user manuals. Check with your local systems coordinator if you are unsure as to whether Auto Notices is already turned on at your library.
Printers used for printing LINK+ paging slips must be capable of graphical printing. The paging slip is sent to the printer as an image, not text, so the printer has to be able to understand an image. Consult your printer's owners guide, user manual, or other documentation from the manufacturer to determine if it is a graphics-capable printer.
The following printers can be used to print the custom LINK+ paging slips. This is not a comprehensive list. There are other compatible printers but this is a list of printers that LINK+ members are currently using to successfully print their paging slips.
Members using Polaris, Alma and other library systems do not have access to the custom print template paging slips that Sierra members use. Accompanying paperwork from these members will look like the samples below. Note that Alma libraries do not include patron information or other sensitive PII.
Polaris
Alma
Members using the Alma library system cannot include patron information on accompanying paperwork when they send their items to borrowing libraries. Alma's patron privacy configuration makes it impossible for staff to include patron name and other sensitive PII (Personal Identifiable Information.)
As long as you are properly checking in the items from other LINK+ libraries, you should see the patron's name in a pop-up on Sierra screens.
Currently, Loyola Marymount University is the only Alma member of LINK+.