This is an email I posted to the open_ils mailing group- it was suggested that I share the contents of the email on this site- so here it is. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks. - Lisa

Hi All-

I feel like I am coming really late to the party.

My name is Lisa Hill and I am in charge of the KCLS catalog.I oversee the OPAC the mobile Pac and the UI of Self Checkout- self check out overall falls under our Circ Supervisor.

I apologize for not chiming in sooner- I am sure all of you know that when you migrate there are not enough hours in the day to get your work done for that first year after you go live.

My department alone has answered about 7,000 emails so far from patrons and staff alike since the OPAC went live on 09/24/10.  That does not include any telephone help or the fantastic service the folks in the branches have given to our patrons.

Matt and I will send out a more detailed email about where we think the OPAC might be going- but I wanted to give you my input regarding our OPAC and Mobile Catalog in its current form- you know straight from the horse’s mouth…

Mobile PAC

This has been one of the most gratifying parts of the project.

This is the headline for a short snippet by a LJ blogger:  King County Goes Live with Customized Evergreen ILS.

Now why would he say that?  Makes me a tad cranky that they make it sound like KCLS is off on their own unique version of Evergreen when nothing could be farther from the truth.  So, I submitted this comment to that blog post:

Jed Moffitt's first post launch update for staff at KCLS since Go-Live on September 23, 2010...

Dear KCLS Staff:

Thank you!

In keeping with my migration metaphor - that it's more like the tide coming in than switching on the light - we are now in the second wave.  The punch list is not short but there are no big, scary show stoppers on it.  And honestly, the expectation is that the punch list will continue to expand and contract over the next several weeks and maybe even months.  And then after that, there will be new development projects underway. Okay, let's be honest, I'm sure the development projects will be ongoing for the foreseeable future.  And that's totally awesome.

It's 2:30 in King County and the ESI team just went out for lunch.  That's right, Day One, and there is no panic.  In fact, the feeling is closer to giddy.  The people in charge of addressing the problems that arise on day one are handling them as they come in.  There is no deluge of staff emails or patron complaints.  It is just going along not feeling like a regular day exactly but not feeling like an ILS migration day either.  

It's 9am and the libraries are opening here in King County and guess what...they are running their AMH equipment and checking in material!

Patrons are using the 24/7 automated check-in units, Preston is still sorting all the transit items, tote check-in is happening.  This is a big step forward and you can feel the excitement starting to build.

It's the start of day two of Go Live.  Turns out going live doesn't happen all at once like turning on a light.  It's more like the tide coming in. 

Soon after that last post, the check-in notices got squared away and Karen gave the go-ahead to start checking in items.  Here was Matt's tweet:

We're gathering around the console and watching transactions. Been a few crazy days but this is a great group to work with, Equinox rocks!

Here's what's working:

1. Central sort is working just fine
2. Library Mates are cut-over and ready for action
3. All of the offline mode data has been imported
4. Check-in messages are registering properly now

The issue now is notices.  Not all the notices associated with check-in are working exactly right so the ESI team is pounding away at the code to get those to where they need to be.  Once Karen, KCLS Circulation Coordinator, gives the notices code a nod, everything goes live and all the backlog starts being processed.

Not much to report here at the end of the day.  There a a couple Evergreen issues still being troubleshot (troubleshooted?) and also a seemingly unrelated problem with one of the staff induction stations at one of the libraries (so the Lyngsoe team has something to do!).