The Canton Public Library recently updated 40 of the 78 location codes in use at our library to create a better structure for sorting lists and pulling hold items, and to align the naming conventions for location codes and fund codes for easier navigation by staff. This kind of project is a significant undertaking, and it requires caution and careful planning because location codes are used in so many areas of the system. This presentation is intended to help libraries who are considering making updates to core tables in Sierra consider the pros and cons and plan their approach. In addition, a real-time project of this scale can be a valuable teaching tool. Involving staff deepens their understanding of the ILS and how the tables within that system interact to produce the desired results. By gaining this knowledge, library staff can more easily and confidently work independently, updating and customizing their system to meet the specific needs of their library. Taking on a project of this scope empowers staff by giving them insight into how Sierra works, a better framework for understanding how to troubleshoot issues, and enhanced opportunities to discover untapped tools within the ILS that can be used to improve your library's workflow. In general, increasing library staff's knowledge of the platform will also improve communication between them and Innovative staff. When contacting Innovative about issues, they will be able to give a clearer and more detailed explanation of the problems, resulting in fewer back-and-forth volleys or misunderstandings. The presentation will include an overview of the changes Canton undertook, the rationale for those changes, and the actual process steps. Using this example as a case study, we will also talk about who should be included in system decision-making, why it is important to work on this kind of project with a team, and the various team roles that need to be covered. Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of the core table structure in Sierra, how tables are interrelated, which functions are impacted by a specific change, and how to approach these kinds of projects. They will also gain an understanding of best practices in change management, including timelines and expectation management, documentation, verification, and contingency planning.
