Jennifer Schmidt

July 31, 2024 By Jennifer Schmidt

Hold list not showing in CountyCat

Right now, if there is at least one available item, the wait list (or number of holds placed by other patrons) will not show in the search results. This wait list is coming in release 24.08 which will be available on August 15, 2024!

When all items are checked out or unavailable, then the number of other patrons currently on the waitlist will display.

If you opt to place a hold instead of going to get an available copy, your place in line will still show under "Your Holds".

If you opt to place a hold instead of going to get an available copy, your place in line will still show under “Your Holds”.

Patrons can see their position in their record.

There is an FAQ on this topic under the Placing & Managing Holds page.

July 31, 2024 By Jennifer Schmidt

Two limiters from the mobile app’s search results aren’t working (7/31/24)

MCFLS submitted a ticket to Innovative on 7/11/24 for the following issue with the CountyCat Mobile app (version 2024.17.160). After performing a search in the mobile app, two limiters found at the top of the search results are currently not working:

- By Format
- Search On

For example, if you search for Kristin Hannah in the app and then try to limit by format (large print) or search on the author field, you’ll see the results do not change or update. The Search in filter for CountyCat titles versus Libby (Overdrive) content works, however. Innovative let MCFLS know they have a meeting with the app developer 7/31/24 to learn more. Our office will let staff know when this has been resolved. Thanks!

July 25, 2024 By Jennifer Schmidt

e-Magazine checkouts from CountyCat do not display in the Libby app (7/25/24)

Currently, e-magazine checkouts done while in the CountyCat desktop catalog or the CountyCat Mobile app do not show up in the Libby app. E-magazine checkouts done in the Libby app can be seen and accessed right in the app (see the image at the right). Overdrive, the company behind Libby, is aware of the issue and working on a fix. For those of you who love e-magazines but use the CountyCat Mobile app and/or the CountyCat desktop catalog, you can still checkout and access issues. They just won’t show up currently among your checkouts in the Libby app.

For both the CountyCat Mobile app and the CountyCat desktop catalog, you can checkout and then access e-magazine issues. You’ll just be taken to the Wisconsin’s Digital Library web page.

In the CountyCat Desktop catalog > Account	In the CountyCat Mobile app > Account

July 23, 2024 By Jennifer Schmidt

What’s New with Sierra 6.2 Webinar (7/23/24)

All staff are encouraged to view the “What’s New with Sierra 6.2” webinar. The webinar comes from Innovative (Clarivate) with other content available at its Webinars & Events page. Currently, MCFLS’s production Sierra system runs 6.1. By September 2024, the training Sierra system will be updated with Sierra 6.2 and will also be refreshed with updated record information. Learn more about the Sierra training or test server on the MCFLS Libguides staff page.

July 15, 2024 By Jennifer Schmidt

Understanding the OPACMSG in CountyCat and the mobile app (7/15/24)

The MCFLS Help Desk recently received a question about the OPACMSG, a fixed item record field that displays to the public in CountyCat. There is a change from the old catalog in how this field information displays in CountyCat so staff are asked to please review this handout! Technical services staff responsible for your library’s item records can update the OPACMSG field of your library’s item records. Learn more about the OPACMSG field at the Database Maintenance Libguides D-02 page.

July 12, 2024 By Jennifer Schmidt

Linked accounts and lists are separate in the CountyCat mobile app v. desktop catalog (7/12/24)

FAQs have been added to the CountyCat and CountyCat Mobile App Help pages to inform patrons that certain features, while available in both places, are separate from one another. That is, they are not synced between each other like holds and checkouts are. The features are linked accounts and lists. So, if you have an account linked now in the mobile app, you need to link accounts separately in the desktop CountyCat catalog (or vice versa). The same is true for lists. At this time there is no way to have the features match in both places because they are different software systems.

July 11, 2024 By Jennifer Schmidt

Two limiters in the search results of the App aren’t working (7/11/24)

Today MCFLS submitted a ticket to Innovative for the following issue with the CountyCat Mobile app (version 2024.17.160). After performing a search in the mobile app, two limiters found at the top of the search results are currently not working:

- By Format
- Search On

For example, if you search for Kristin Hannah in the app and then try to limit by format (large print) or search on the author field, you’ll see the results do not change or update. The Search in filter for CountyCat titles versus Libby (Overdrive) content works, however. Our office will let staff know when this has been resolved. Thanks!

June 28, 2024 By Jennifer Schmidt

Our libraries are closed July 4th

All public libraries in Milwaukee County will be closed Thursday July 4, 2024 in observance of Independence Day. There will be no delivery between locations on that day. The Franklin Public Library closes at 5pm on Wednesday July 3rd, 2024. The Whitefish Bay Public Library closes at 6:30pm on Wednesday July 3rd, 2024. For specific information per location, please consult the given library’s web page.

June 20, 2024 By Jennifer Schmidt

The CountyCat upgrade is complete! Services are restored

The scheduled upgrade for CountyCat is now over. The new catalog is live and all e-resources with a connection to our library system (e.g., Hoopla, Freegal, Pressreader, etc.) are again available for use! You can log in to your account as usual to manage holds, pay fines, and browse for new things to borrow. You’ll also see some new features like:

All formats of a title are grouped together (physical book, audio book, etc), so you will know at a glance what the library has to offer.
Access to your Libby reading history.
Manage family library accounts and pay fines all in one place.
Easily browse for bestsellers, new materials, and world language materials
An easy to browse World Languages section.
Effortlessly navigate our Library of Things, full of non-book items you can borrow.

The MCFLS office thanks you for your patience as we navigate this change. Please use the FAQs and the Help Guides by area to learn more about CountyCat!

June 18, 2024 By Jennifer Schmidt

Planned outage as our libraries move to a new CountyCat

This Thursday June 20, 2024, all public libraries in Milwaukee County are moving to a new CountyCat. To accommodate this change, there will be an outage that begins after the last library closes on the evening of Wednesday June 19th and continues into the morning of Thursday June 20th. CountyCat, CountyCat Mobile and all resources with a connection to our system software (e.g., Hoopla, Kanopy, Libby) will be temporarily unavailable. If you have downloaded titles from Libby or another eContent provider in advance, then you’ll be able to use them that morning. You just won’t be able to checkout, stream or download new titles during the outage. Just a reminder that you do not need to create a new library account or PIN for CountyCat. In addition, the mobile app is not changing, only the CountyCat desktop catalog is. Please see the FAQs on this page for details. We anticipate CountyCat and all resources to be back up and running by Noon Thursday June 20th. A note will be posted here once we have the all-clear!