RE: patrons placed REQUESTS - increased workload

["Tom Lawrence" <tlawrence@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Our experience with patron holds has been overwhelmingly positive.  There is
an increase in the delivery of materials and more searching of shelves but
you will likely find more of your materials circulating.  Good luck!

----------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Lawrence, Executive Director
Poughkeepsie Public Library District
93 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY   12603
(845) 485-3445 x 3312
e-mail: tlawrence@xxxxxxxxxx
www.poklib.org


-----Original Message-----
From: innopac-admin@xxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:innopac-admin@xxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Sue Ricedorf
Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 11:22 AM
To: innopac@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Computer Services Dept.
Subject: patrons placed REQUESTS - increased workload

        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


--
This message was distributed through the Innovative Users Group INNOPAC list
Public replies:  INNOPAC@xxxxxxxxxx
Update your subscription options:
http://innopacusers.org/list/listinfo/innopac