patrons placed REQUESTS - increased workload

["Sue Ricedorf" <sricedorf@xxxxxxxxxx>]

	Greetings:
	The Chester County Library System plans to turn on patron placed REQUESTS for the first time on 2/1/03.
	To date, staff are still placing holds for the public. We plan to do a "soft" start,  and not publicize the new feature until we have worked out any "kinks" 
	in the first few weeks.

	One of our concerns is trying to plan for the anticipated increase in volume of work for staff (shelf-checking for the increase in volume of paging slip items, etc.) in the 
	seventeen libraries in the county which vary greatly in size. We also realize we will need a larger area for keeping the hold materials to be picked up by patrons.

	We would appreciate any information you have on the increased workload you experienced after you first turned on patron placed REQUESTS.
	(What was the percentage of increase in holds placed? How did it impact workload of staff?  Did you need to hire more staff?)

	Thank you in advance for sharing your experience. 
	Sue Ricedorf  
	Computer Services Department
	Chester County Library
	PH: 610-280-2661
	email: sricedorf@xxxxxxxxxx