[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Items not checking in?

[Michele Morgan]

Just wanted to add one more thought to this thread.

Our libraries deal with checkin errors as well. The same was true in our 
previous library systems, but we had a LOT of questions about items not getting 
checked in after we migrated to Evergreen.

As others have mentioned, we have encouraged our libraries to turn off scanner 
beeps and rely on the sounds made by Evergreen, and stressed the importance of 
reading the screen.

We've also suggested to our libraries that they try a few checkin tests:

With a clean checkin screen, checkin a series of items and put them all on a 
cart in the order they were checked in. When the cart is full, export the entire 
list of items from the checkin screen. Match up the exported item list to the 
items on the cart. Items on the cart, but not on the list didn't get checked in 
and looking at the sequence of checkins may help identify how items got missed.

This diligence has helped, and we could certainly say that the ultimate problem 
is that staff need to pay closer attention to the screen. But that doesn't mean 
we should let the software totally off the hook. As others have mentioned, 
misscans, the client not keeping up with staff, the need to click or tab to 
acknowledge messages, all require a lot of attention from the staff user.

Circulation desks are busy. As previously mentioned, there is a lot of 
multitasking going on. It's the job of circ desk staffers to provide high 
quality service to their customers. It's the job of the software to provide high 
quality service to the circ desk staffers.

Hopefully, the transition to the web based client should go a long way toward 
providing a smooth and intuitive interface so that the staff's main focus can be 
on their customers.

-Michele

On 4/11/2014 4:23 PM, Buzzy Nielsen wrote:
> I think they're enabled by default. If you plug speakers in to the computer or
> turn up the sound, you should hear them. I will say, however, that the default
> confirmation sound for a successful checkin is pretty soft, so our systems staff
> replaced it with something more audible. Hopefully Brent will see this message
> and respond with more details on how to do that!
>
> Cheers!
> Buzzy
>
> ************************************
> Library Director
> Hood River County Library District
> 502 State Street
> Hood River, Oregon 97031
> 541-387-7062
> http://hoodriverlibrary.org
>
> On 04/11/2014 12:58 PM, Holly Brennan wrote:
>>
>> In addition to turning off the scanner beep, which helps, we've also turned on
>> Evergreen's sounds on checkin workstation. That has also helped quite a bit.
>>
>> Wait, there are sounds?! How does one activate this?
>>
>> -Holly
>>
>

-- 
Michele Morgan, Technical Assistant
North of Boston Library Exchange, Danvers Massachusetts
mmorgan at noblenet.org