Re: Subject: Holds Initiated by Patron

[Thomas.Garbelotti@xxxxxxxxxx (Thomas Garbelotti)]

We have been using this sucessfully for the last 7 months, I would recommend it due to increased patron access. We have a storage library located about 3 miles from the main library that does not allow direct patron access, and the ability for our patrons to place holds and page items directly from that facility has been appreciated by our users.  

There have been issues with paging slips not printing on occasions; this has happened twice in the last 7 months, each time for about a week or so until we catch it; with III's assistance (there is a webpac process that needs to be restarted) it seems to come back. We are more alert to this possibilty now, and hopefully if it happens again we will catch it sooner.

Logistacally, I would recommend that you re-evaluate the number of holds a patron can have at once before initiating this feature, there is a potential that patrons can "browse" your collection by placing a ton of holds in the same subject. We ended reducing the number of holds from 25 to 10, and to date have not had any complaints by our patrons. As we have a multi-facility and location item, we manipulated the loan rule determiner table to restrict holds and paging from our local branches. We managed this by creating identical non-holdable loan rules for these locations, and listing them lower on the determiner table than the final, all other location (?????), which points to a  holdable loan rule. This has worked very well for us.

If you would like any other information, please let me know.

Thomas Garbelotti
Technology Coordinator, Access Services
Dartmouth College Library


--- You wrote:
To: <INNOPAC@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Holds Initiated by Patron
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 13:48:37 -0400
Reply-To: innopac@xxxxxxxxxx

Hi

We are considering the option of patrons being able to place a hold on
materials that are currently checked out. Has anyone tried this option? What
are the pros and cons.  Thanks.


Dorothy Hargett
Regent University
Library Circulation Supervisor
dorohar@xxxxxxxxxx
757-226-4156
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