[Evergreen-catalogers] Managing patron requests

Thu Feb 8 10:13:06 EST 2018

Hi Don,

It's not so much patron requests as it is popular items that the library
would have probably ordered anyways and the patron wants to be first on the
list. That's the case for most of them. JTaq looks promising, I'll look
into it.

Thanks,

Laura

On Thu, Feb 8, 2018 at 9:41 AM, Donald Butterworth <
don.butterworth at asburyseminary.edu> wrote:

> Laura,
>
> When you say "patron requests" are you talking about patron
> recommendations for purchase?
>
> If so, you may want to try the freeware we use call JTacq. One of it's
> many features is Recommend-a-Title.
> Here is a link to the JTacq website <http://www.jtdata.com/jtacq.html>,
> which gives an overview of the entire product.
> Here is a link to our Recommend-a-Title patron screen
> <https://www.data-n-stuff.com/webcgi/patrons/patron_requests.htm?domain=asburyseminary.edu&location=ATS>.
>
>
> A user must first open an account. They then can use keyword to search
> ISBNs, or any combination of Author & Title. When they find the title they
> want, all they have to do is click the shopping cart. Their selection is
> then transferred to the JTacq client for your library. The requests are
> then imported into a Search Bin. From there you can click on a button that
> will automatically search Evergreen to see if you already own the title(s).
>
> Feel free to open an account on our site and make recommendations. I will
> feel free to delete any we don't want.
>
> ;-)
>
> Don
>
> On Thu, Feb 8, 2018 at 9:22 AM, Sylvia Orner <sorner at albright.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi Laura,
>>
>>
>>
>> We are currently using the patron request module to keep track of our
>> requests, but we also use it in conjunction with EDI ordering and the
>> acquisitions module so that the holds auto-generate as soon as the item is
>> ordered.  As Scott mentioned, it’s got some issues, but it works for our
>> purposes.  However, it works best if you are using it along with the rest
>> of the acquisitions module.  If you’re just using it as a spreadsheet, you
>> would probably be better off creating something in Excel because, as you
>> mentioned, the patron requests are difficult to navigate and can get kind
>> of clunky.
>>
>>
>>
>> If have any specific questions or want to discuss the process more,
>> please feel free to get in touch. I’m more than happy to share what we’ve
>> been doing.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sylvia Orner
>>
>> Head of Technical Services
>>
>> Scranton Public Library
>>
>> 2006 N. Main Ave.
>>
>> Scranton, PA 18508
>>
>> 570-207-2379 <(570)%20207-2379>
>>
>> sorner at albright.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Evergreen-catalogers [mailto:evergreen-catalogers-b
>> ounces at list.evergreen-ils.org] *On Behalf Of *scott.thomas at sparkpa.org
>> *Sent:* Thursday, February 08, 2018 8:09 AM
>> *To:* Evergreen Community Catalogers
>> *Subject:* Re: [Evergreen-catalogers] Managing patron requests
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Laura,
>>
>>    One of the libraries in the SPARK consortium is using this module.
>> When they started using it, we were advised by others in the Evergreen
>> community that it was problematic. This is indeed true as you are finding
>> out, but it is not so bad that this library has stopped using it. For them
>> it beats cards or a spreadsheet. PaILS is sponsoring development to improve
>> this module, and we are looking for funding partners.
>>
>>     I don’t work hands-on with this module, but, if you have specific
>> questions, I’d be happy to pass them on to the library that is using it.
>> Someone from there may also be on this list and may chime in.
>>
>>
>>
>> Scott
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Scott Thomas
>>
>> Executive Director
>>
>> *PaILS / SPARK*
>>
>> (717) 873-9461
>>
>> scott.thomas at sparkpa.org
>>
>> [image: Description: Description: Training | SPARK – Pennsylvania's
>> Statewide Library System] <http://www.palibrary.org/pails/>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Evergreen-catalogers [mailto:evergreen-catalogers-b
>> ounces at list.evergreen-ils.org
>> <evergreen-catalogers-bounces at list.evergreen-ils.org>] *On Behalf Of *Laura
>> Sachjen
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 7, 2018 3:40 PM
>> *To:* evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org
>> *Subject:* [Evergreen-catalogers] Managing patron requests
>>
>>
>>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> How do you manage patron requests at your libraries? Do you use the
>> Patron Requests feature in Evergreen or something else?
>>
>>
>>
>> Up until very recently we used paper reserve cards for patron requests,
>> which were getting misplaced or not ending up where they needed to go.
>> We're currently trying out the request feature in Evergreen (we don't use
>> the Acquisitions module for anything else btw), but as one of the people
>> who has to place the holds I'm finding it incredibly difficult to navigate.
>> This is especially true when multiple branches create requests for the same
>> title or create them for a title that another branch already owns. It's
>> also getting clogged up with titles whose release dates are months away.
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm open to any ideas or suggestions on how we can make this process
>> smoother.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Laura Sachjen
>>
>> Technical Services Manager
>>
>> Branch District Library <https://www.branchdistrictlibrary.org>
>>
>> (517) 278-2341 ext. 124 <(517)%20278-2341>
>>
>> SachjenL at BranchDistrictLibrary.org
>>
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>> Evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org
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>> reen-catalogers
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Don Butterworth
> Collection Management Director /
> Faculty Associate
> B.L. Fisher Library
> Asbury Theological Seminary
> don.butterworth at asburyseminary.edu
> (859) 858-2227
>
> _______________________________________________
> Evergreen-catalogers mailing list
> Evergreen-catalogers at list.evergreen-ils.org
> http://list.evergreen-ils.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/
> evergreen-catalogers
>
>

-- 
Laura Sachjen
Technical Services Manager
Branch District Library <https://www.branchdistrictlibrary.org>
(517) 278-2341 ext. 124
SachjenL at BranchDistrictLibrary.org
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