[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Holds and Offline Checkins

[Karen Collier]

James,

It's been a while since I've had to use offline mode, but I seem to remember there being a list after upload of transactions that may not have gone quite right that could use intervention (can't remember what it's called).  I think that list includes items that should have been snagged for holds.  Helpful, but still kinda frustrating if the book has migrated back to the shelf or is hiding on a shelf of other recent check-ins.  Particularly if the patron is notified by email that it's in... and meanwhile another patron checks it out.  Unlikely, but possible.

One work-around we've tried is to do check-outs in offline mode and save check-ins on a special cart for when connectivity returns so we can be sure not to miss any holds.  Seems a shame though to use only part of the feature.

It seems to me it'd be more useful if the system set them to checked in (or shelving or whatever) and put them on the pull list, rather than setting them to holds shelf.  Staff would still have to track the items down, but at least you'd eliminate the discrepancy between the system and reality.

My 2 cents.  Hope it helps.

Karen

-- 
Karen Collier
Public Services Librarian
Kent County Public Library
408 High Street
Chestertown, MD 21620
410-778-3636

----- "James Fournie" <jfournie at sitka.bclibraries.ca> wrote:

> Hi there,
> 
> A librarian from a SITKA site has noticed that during offline
> checkins, if an item has holds on it, there is no warning or alert or
> any other indication of the holds, during offline mode, or even when
> the transactions are uploaded.
> 
> I have tested this, and I found that not only is there no warning
> about holds, but also the item in question is automatically counted
> as
> "on the holds shelf".  This does not make sense to me -- how would
> you
> know to put it on the holds shelf?
> 
> I am wondering how other sites deal with offline checkins, if there
> is
> a specific workflow strategy for dealing with this.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> James Fournie
> BC SITKA Team