[13653] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: closed stacks requests
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Blazej Feret)
Thu Dec 7 20:01:48 2000
Date: Thu, 07 Dec 2000 14:51:03 +0100
From: Blazej Feret <blzferet@SUNLIB.P.LODZ.PL>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-to: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
Message-id: <3A2F95C7.4157ABEB@library.p.lodz.pl>
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Hello Audrey,
Greetings from Poland :-)
Closed stack is something we still have in most of Polish academic
libraries. So we had to make our vendor (Dynix GmbH in Germany) to
improve the standard Horizon (Amlibs/Epixtech) system. In fact we
haven't yet fully implemented this feature but I can at least try
to answer your questions.
> Does the patron have to have a library card - and enter their
> library card number to request an item?
Well... you don't have to have a card itself, but you have to have the
card number (barcode) to be entered. Also, so called "second ID" is
required for user's authorization. It's usually something like student
ID number, social security # or simply a password.
> Is the item then attached to the library card number?
Yes, it is.
> What happens if they don't come to pick up the item?
This needs a comment. When the user clicks on "order" button in the
OPAC, a order information is printed in the stacks area. From this
moment on the system "knows" that the item was ordered (and the next
request for order does not produce the printout but waits in the queue)
although the OPAC status for the item doesn't change. The stacks staff
brings the item to the circulation desk where they manually (i.e. using
one of the system options and the item barcode) change the status for
"on order". From this time on you can see the changed status in the
OPAC.
The book is pyt away on the waiting shelf in the circulation area and
waits to be collected for a predefined (and dependent on the user class)
time. After this time - if it's not picked up - the status is automa-
tically changed to "available". As far as we have checked it so far -
neither the library (circ.) nor the user gets this information. So the
library has to arrange waiting books in day-shelves and move these for
which the status has probably changed back to 'available' and the user
has simply to remember about the time limits...
> Is there a different request procedure for patrons who are inside the
> library versus patrons who are outside the library and using the web to get
> to your catalog?
No. There isn't. First, that currently our WebPAC does not allow for
requests/orders and second that we don't see any reason for this. Even
if the waiting time is short - say - 1-2 days the outside user can
be in the library on time to pick it up. And for inside users - the
book waiting time simply doesn't matter. They can get it as soon as it
is at the circulation desk.
Hope it helps :-)
Best wishes,
Blazej Feret
Main Library
Technical University of Lodz
Lodz, Poland
>
> Any information or comments on pros and cons would be greatly appreciated.
>
> thanks,
> Audrey
>
> ~~~
> Audrey M. Kelly, Technology Consultant
> Library of Virginia
> 800 East Broad St.
> Richmond, VA
> 804-692-3768
> akelly@lva.lib.va.us
