Koha Test Site Configuration Guidelines

Koha Test Site Configuration Guidelines


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The first meetings with your ByWater Implementation team will focus on going over your data and mapping your library, patron, and catalog information to Koha. After mapping is confirmed, your Data Specialist will load your processed data into Koha. Please set aside time during the following weeks to add additional configurations.

Before Test Data Is Loaded

Your new Koha site is a place for you to familiarize yourself with Koha, experiment, test scenarios, and learn. Once you have login access, you are welcome to practice adding and configuring imaginary branches, item types, authorized values, patron categories, and so on. These will be erased when your test data is loaded. Each Koha screen has a help link in the upper right corner to help you get started. When your Data Specialist begins loading your test data, they will place a highly visible banner across the top of your site.

Configuring Your Site

ByWater will load your extracted test data e.g. authorities, bibliographic records, items, borrowers, circulation transactions. ByWater will load the following data points: 
  1. Library branches
  2. Item types
  3. Shelving locations
  4. Collection codes
  5. Lost, Damaged, Withdrawn, and Not for Loan authorized values (statuses)
  6. Patron categories
  7. Patron attributes

Depending on the legacy ILS and the completeness and consistency of ILS data, there may be additional data that ByWater can load.

During your implementation process, please do not add or delete anything from this list or any ILS codes without having a conversation with your Data Specialist and/or Koha Educator. However, you are welcome to begin working on configuring the branches, item types, etc. as your Data Specialist loads them.

Your data will be loaded in chunks, and after each chunk has been loaded, you will be able to input settings and additional configuration. We will show you how to do this during your implementation meetings, and we are available to answer questions in tickets. We will offer written documentation and recorded tutorials.

Getting Started

  1. Library branches
    1. These are viewable in Administration > Basic parameters > Libraries.
    2. At minimum, you will confirm whether libraries should be hold pickup locations and be visible on the patron-facing catalog. Add available email addresses. 
    3. Configuration information in the Koha manual: https://koha-community.org/manual//latest/en/html/administration.html#libraries
  2. Item types
    1. These are viewable in Administration > Basic parameters > Item types.
    2. Options include hiding item types from the public-facing catalog, adding processing fees, and limiting item types by library or libraries.
    3. Configuration information in the Koha manual is under the heading “Adding item types:” https://koha-community.org/manual//latest/en/html/administration.html#item-types 
    4. This video explains item types, shelving locations, and collection codes: https://youtu.be/10BDAQCJ9Ic 
  3. Authorized values
    1. The following collection data is viewable in Administration > Basic Parameters > Authorized values:
      1. Shelving locations
      2. Collection codes
      3. Lost, Damaged, Withdrawn, and Not for Loan statuses
    2. For all of the above, confirm that the staff interface descriptions and OPAC descriptions are accurate. You can also add library limitations. 
    3. You can change descriptions, but do not change the authorized value codes. 
  4. Patron categories
    1. These are viewable in Administration > Patrons and circulation > Patron categories.
    2. At minimum, please select whether overdue notices are required and default messaging preferences for each category.
    3. Customization options are explained in the Koha manual: https://koha-community.org/manual//latest/en/html/administration.html#patron-categories
  5. Patron attributes
    1. If your library uses patron attributes, they can be viewed and configured in Administration > Patrons and circulation > Patron attributes. 
    2. Options are described in the Koha manual: https://koha-community.org/manual//latest/en/html/administration.html#patron-attribute-types

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