[Evergreen-general] Are you using Hold Groups?

Tue Aug 23 10:03:03 EDT 2022

Our library was involved in supporting the initial development of this feature, because we wanted a way to easily place holds for multiple patrons on popular authors.  Using the concept of item buckets and patron buckets that allowed for batch processing, we thought we could easily expand that functionality to include batch hold processing.

There is a learning curve to the feature, as pointed out by Terran, but once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy.  I hope that eventually, patrons will be able to manage hold groups themselves, but as it is now staff manage them.  We had to start simple.  Perhaps if enough consortia start using the feature, we can fund additional development.

In the meantime, we created a simple online form where patrons can select authors that they want to subscribe to.  The form data gets sent to our technical services staff, who are responsible for adding and deleting patrons to the hold groups.  They are also responsible for placing the holds when a new title arrives.

Our patrons love the feature because they no longer need to constantly watch for release dates for their favorite authors.  For example, they know that if James Patterson has a new title coming out, they will automatically be placed on hold for the title.

In addition to making life easier for patrons, hold groups are an excellent way for us to plan for demand.  The number of patrons in a hold group helps us determine how many initial copies of a title we need to purchase.  It takes some of the guesswork out of purchasing.

If you have additional questions, let me know.

Cheers.
CM
-- 
Chauncey G. Montgomery
Director/Fiscal Officer
Community Library | Sunbury, Ohio
740-965-3901 | www.yourcl.org

On 8/22/22 10:00 AM, Misty via Evergreen-general wrote:
> I use this feature all the time. I like it because it makes everything more fair to the patrons by being randomized :)
> 
> /*Misty Morse [She/Her]
> Librarian Assistant/Cataloger/Notary Public
> Clinton Public Library
> */*765-832-8349
> 313 S. 4th St. Clinton, In.,478**42*
> *“Reading one book is like eating one potato chip"*― Diane Duane, So You Want to Be a Wizard <https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3464>
> 
> 
> On Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 09:57 AM, Terran McCanna via Evergreen-general <evergreen-general at list.evergreen-ils.org> wrote:
> 
>     Hold Groups are specialized User Buckets that allow you to save a group of users that you want to be able to place holds for all at once. For example, you could have a book club hold group that allows you to place each month's selection on hold for all members at once instead of one patron at a time. Or a list of patrons who want the next James Patterson book placed on hold as soon as it is available.
> 
> 
> 
>     	Terran McCanna, PINES Program Manager
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     Georgia Public Library Service | University System of Georgia
>     2872 Woodcock Blvd, Suite 250 l Atlanta, GA 30341
>     (404) 235-7138| tmccanna at georgialibraries.org <mailto:tmccanna at georgialibraries.org>
> 
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> 
>     On Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 9:50 AM Brandi Sanders via Evergreen-general <evergreen-general at list.evergreen-ils.org <mailto:evergreen-general at list.evergreen-ils.org>> wrote:
> 
>         Ok, someone explain, what are hold groups and what are they used for?
> 
>         -----Original Message-----
>         From: "Diane Disbro via Evergreen-general" <evergreen-general at list.evergreen-ils.org <mailto:evergreen-general at list.evergreen-ils.org>>
>         Sent: Monday, August 22, 2022 9:13am
>         To: "Evergreen Discussion Group" <evergreen-general at list.evergreen-ils.org <mailto:evergreen-general at list.evergreen-ils.org>>
>         Cc: "Diane Disbro" <ddisbro at scenicregional.org <mailto:ddisbro at scenicregional.org>>
>         Subject: [Evergreen-general] Are you using Hold Groups?
> 
> 
>         Good morning -
>         My library will begin offering Hold Groups to patrons in October. Are those of you who already use Hold Groups happy with how it works?
>         Thank you.
>         Diane Disbro
>         Pronouns: she/her
>         Circulation Coordinator
>         Scenic Regional Library
>         251 Union Plaza Drive
>         Union, MO 63084
>         (636) 583-0652 ext  110
>         ddisbro at scenicregional.org <mailto:ddisbro at scenicregional.org>
> 
> 
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