Meeting Minutes for 06/03/2025

Demo of new features, bug fixes, and documentation for the upcoming release (Minute)  

• Release Notes

Discussion Topics 

• Home Library Pickup for Sierra libraries (Bethany Baker, Marmot) (Minute 00:19)
  • The Home Library Pickup feature was recently released for the Sierra API.
  • This feature will enable Pika to accurately assign pickup locations for specific items that should not be sent through the courier.  
  • Some examples of these items include the Library of Things, which a library may not want patrons to request for pickup at a branch if your library operates a multi-type branch system. You want the patron to pick up the item at the branch where it lives.
  • This feature existed in Sierra but was unusable in Pika due to the lack of an API.
  • Now that we are on Sierra 6.3, Pascal is starting work on the Home Library Pickup in Pika. We are testing a few things on the Sierra side to ensure it's accurately reflecting, so it's not quite ready for use yet.
  • Bethany has spoken to some of the MLN2 Sierra server libraries to ensure we are assigning the correct items. MLN1 and MLN2 Sierra server libraries will hear from Bethany because she will be working on this in earnest. 
  • Once this is established, it will be a great feature that Marmot will offer.   
  • Pascal pointed out that after releasing the initial development at their last update, they reviewed features with our Discovery Partner, LION, and uncovered some issues with the API calls. Consequently, Innovative will resume development of the Home Library Pickup hold functionality to enhance its usability.    
• Cloudflare Proxy implementation (Minute 02:44)
  • Marmot moved their DNS to the Cloudflare services.
  • This empowers Cloudflare to act as a forward proxy, meaning their servers intercept requests to our servers first, allowing them to fend off and block the large number of malicious requests we receive from AI-type bots that were causing performance instability.  
  • Discovery partners that control their DNS should review connections to ensure that everything is connected successfully.
• MUG scheduling (Minute 4:53)
  • MUG will be the first week in October
  • Look forward to a Save the Date
  • MUG is going to be virtual this year

• Demo of new Pika features, bug fixes, and documentation for the upcoming release (Minute 05:31)

• VuFind Updates (Minute 22:49)
  • CJ has been collaborating with the VuFind community to enable password resets when using an ILS, such as Sierra, for logging in. CJ's code has just been accepted by the VuFind community and will be integrated into the VuFind code base in the next major release. Anyone who does not utilize password resets will not need to worry about it. 
  • In the meantime, Marmot has implemented a temporary version for any libraries that require it.  
  • Configuration updates were made to ensure that updates run smoothly and that the servers are a bit happier with us.     

Discussion of development priorities for the next release (Minute 24:13)

• Pika integration for Islandora upgrade
• New Marmot website
• New VuFind implementations this summer for Adams State and Fort Lewis College
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The next meeting is on Tuesday, September 2, 2025