Sierra Web

[Brooke Bahnsen]

Hi everyone!

 

I am wondering if any of you use Innovative’s Sierra Web on the Bookmobile (or for any mobile event) instead of the regular Sierra.

 

I am researching different ways to connect to Sierra on our Bookmobile. If you do, I will reach out to you separately with some questions.

 

Thank you!

 

Brooke

Brooke Bahnsen

Outreach Manager

Cook Memorial Public Library District | www.cooklib.org

Cook Park Library • Aspen Drive Library • Bookmobile

413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, IL 60048 • 701 Aspen Dr., Vernon Hills, IL 60061

847-362-2330, ext. 1050

 

 

[Lisa Hechesky]

We use Sierra and have our wifi set as a static IP address so it can be used. We have done Sierra Web but it was terribly slow and clunky. 

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From: abos-o...@googlegroups.com <abos-o...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Brooke Bahnsen <bbah...@cooklib.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:38:47 PM
To: 'abos-o...@googlegroups.com' <abos-o...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [ABOS-Outreach] Sierra Web

 

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[andy]

We use Sierra web occasionally for a variety of things. I find that it's not ideal but it can do the basics for what we need when we're offsite for some kind of event.

[Megan Lowery]

High Plains Library District uses web Sierra for all off site services (expect on our bookmobile where we have a cradlepoint/ static IP address). 

Feel free to reach out with specific questions.  It has been a learning process but currently serves our needs.

 

 

Megan Lowery

 

Mobile Services Supervisor

High Plains Library District

2650 W. 29^th Street, Greeley, CO  80631

mlo...@highplains.us

Cell: 970-302-6367

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[Savitri Santhiran]

Saint Paul Public Library (urban library in Minnesota) uses Sierra Web when in low broadband neighborhoods. It is definitely clunky and has issues such as not printing due date slips with all the necessary information for patrons but a lot better than no access. 

Savitri Santhiran
Mobile Library Manager
She/Her
Saint Paul Public Library
461 Dale St. North,
Saint Paul MN 55103
651-266-7452
www.sppl.org | e-news
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From: abos-o...@googlegroups.com <abos-o...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Megan Lowery <MLo...@highplains.us>
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2025 2:56 PM
To: andy <an...@mcpld.org>; ABOS-Outreach <abos-o...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: [ABOS-Outreach] Re: Sierra Web

 

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[Lynde McCaleb]

I want to add that, like Megan said, we use the web version on occasion. But we discovered we also can connect to the desktop version when we connect to a remote computer, which I prefer to use than using the web version.

 

 

 

Lynde McCaleb

Outreach Librarian

High Plains Library District

Outreach Services

2650 W. 29^th Street, Greeley, CO  80631

1-970-302-3068

lmcc...@highplains.us

 

From: abos-o...@googlegroups.com <abos-o...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Megan Lowery
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:56 PM
To: andy <an...@mcpld.org>; ABOS-Outreach <abos-o...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: [ABOS-Outreach] Re: Sierra Web

 

High Plains Library District uses web Sierra for all off site services (expect on our bookmobile where we have a cradlepoint/ static IP address). 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ABOS-Outreach/DM5PR05MB349838970564C57BA710BA71A2F0A%40DM5PR05MB3498.namprd05.prod.outlook.com.

[Allison Eckhardt]

I regularly use Sierra Web at outreach events when creating library cards, but usually use it to just check to see if the person already has an account.  I almost always use a hotspot, even when wifi is available at the site. Since creating new library accounts take time, I have patrons fill in the paper application form (check for legibility), enter their name, expiration date, and barcode number in Sierra so they can start using it, then finish filling out the rest of the account information back at my office on regular Sierra.   I generally have pretty good luck staying connected when using a hotspot, though sometimes do get disconnected, but that is pretty rare.  

Allison Eckhardt 

Outreach Services Manager

Springfield-Greene County Library District

Springfield MO 65810

[Katie.Evans]

Similar to many others, I use Sierra Web for offsite card creation and checkouts. I do the same as Allison - basically create a library card on the fly and then fill in the rest of the information when I get back or ask Circ to help out if they have the time. We have the default set to email the receipt to the patrons so we do not have to deal with a printer. We have a large hotspot that has been reliable so far. 

I started out by using an inactive circulation login that I was given, but then realized I would not be able to separate the statistics for checkout location. I just got a new login created to fix that. I'm very new to this. Who knows what else I didn't know needed to happen. 

[(otr) Mary Ragain]

We use Sierra Web when we start having low bandwidth that makes running the regular Sierra app next to impossible. Regular Sierra is very bandwidth heavy. 

The Web Sierra uses much less bandwidth but if you're in an area where bandwidth is tricky, it may still not work or will sign out at random. I've encountered times when it'll let me enter the sign-in screen and looks like it's loaded - and then will immediately sign out again when I try to load someone's account.  Mind you, this is all only when I'm in really bad internet connectivity areas, which is generally about the only time I try to use Web Sierra (I prefer the original program because it's much less clunky and easier to use). 

When using Web Sierra in very low internet connectivity areas I make sure for every checkout and checkin that each item fully appears on the screen as scanned in before I move to scan the next item. Sometimes it can take a few seconds (or even up to a minute, depending on the internet bandwidth) to get even one barcode scanned in. So generally for check-out purposes if I have a patron waiting I will load their account to make sure their account is still valid for checkouts and then I'll quickly scan their item barcodes into a Word doc or Notepad with their name/account number. Then after I have their barcodes recorded I'll give them the items and after they leave I'll copy/paste the barcode numbers into Sierra Web to finish checking them out. It's annoying to do, but much faster for the patrons. Plus, if Web Sierra loses too much internet connection and logs out sometimes the last items checked out to a patron don't show in their account, so it's good to have the barcodes on another document so I can copy/paste in what might have gotten missed when the internet crashed Web Sierra. 

It's definitely a viable option to use when the regular Sierra program will eat up too much bandwidth. Just make sure you experiment with it to check how responsive it is at your current location so you can get an estimation on how fast it will work if you're planning to use it in a more fast-paced patron interaction environment. If you're only using it periodically in a day, then it'll likely be fine. If you're planning to use it with a lot of patrons in an area with spotty internet, then carefully keep an eye on it and make sure it's keeping up. 

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Mary Ragain (she/her)

Outreach Assistant

Mobile Library