Re: More info - Requests and renewals in Web OPAC

[Mieko Yamaguchi <m.yamaguchi@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 8 Apr 2000, Peter Gavelin wrote:

> And am I wrong to say that Item Level allows a patron to
> place requests on multiple items of a single title? This is
> completely unacceptable in our case. A single patron must
> not be able to block all items of a title!

Unfortunately you are correct.  If you allow item level holds a
patron can place holds on multiple items of a single title.

> Title Level, which to us seem to be the only solution regarding
> our Students Collection, does not work at all for our general 
> collection. We must be able to recall books, differentiate recall
> and overdue notices, no renewals must be allowed when there is 
> a hold on a book. And this is really the case with our students 
> collection too. And if we go for Title Level then there is the problem 
> with excluding other patrons from requesting from our Students
> Collection too...

I think you have found some basic problems of INNOPAC holds - it took
us longer than it has taken you to find these limitations.

Title level holds don't work unless all your patrons have similar (or
equal?) loan entitlements.  We also wanted to use title level holds
because they are more equitable but cannot do so for the same reason 
that you have found.  There have been some recent hold enhancements 
but as far as I can tell they all address title level holds and I don't
think they will help you make title level holds work in your situation.  

Holds on INNOPAC work ok if you have the staff to process patron requests 
individually but when automatic processing of patron requests was
introduced the system was not modified sufficiently to deal with complex
situations like yours.

One possible way to overcome the problem of your students collection 
if you have the booking module might be to make these books bookable (but
not holdable).  Bookings are at the item level so this is not a complete
solution but at least a student can only book one copy of any title at 
a time. 

Mieko
-----
Mieko Yamaguchi                                m.yamaguchi@xxxxxxxxxx
Technical Services Manager/System Coordinator        +44 (0)1248 382970
Main Library, University of Wales Bangor, UK   +44 (0)1248 382979 (Fax)