[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Show available copies link in the catalog

[Chauncey Montgomery]

Kathy,
Of the three options, I like the third option the best.

Another solution would be to change the header "Available Copies" to 
"Potential Copies" and then put the link following the header. Under the 
header would list the holding info for the consortium and local library 
as it does now.  The language following would need tweaked as well to 
say "X of Y copies available at Such-and-such Library" (see attachment).

  Of course, that is a little more complicated and sometimes simple, 
like option 3, is best.

My two cents.
Chauncey


On 02/17/2015 12:29 PM, Kathy Lussier wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I've periodically heard from our libraries that they would like the
> "show copies" link that displays in the available copies area of the
> public catalog record to display even if there are no copies available.
>
> To demonstrate what I'm talking about, if you look at the
> record-with-available-copies screenshot, there is a link to show all of
> the available copies, which, when clicked, displays copies owned by all
> libraries in the consortium. However, if you look at the
> record-with-no-available-copies screenshot, that link does not display.
> I believe this is because the intent of this particular section of the
> screen is to display available copy information, in which case, the
> "Show" link wouldn't make sense if there are zero available copies.
>
> However, there are many cases when a user may start a search scoped to
> their own library, but then may want to see all of the copies in the
> consortium. For example, if there are zero copies available, but only a
> handful of holds, they may want to see the status of the existing copies
> to get an idea of whether they are due soon. Or we may have a situation
> described by one of our libraries where they already have a hold on the
> title, click to the title from their holds list (carrying along the
> search scope in the process), and then want to see the status of the
> copies owned by other libraries in the consortium.
>
> I think it's a good idea to add a link to display all copies, but the
> question is where would be a good place to put. I've thought of a couple
> of options:
>
> 1 - Display a "Show" link adjacent to the x current holds with x total
> copies statement. The problem here is that the "Show" link is a bit
> redundant if the other "Show" link is always displaying.
> 2 - Make the "x total copies" text in the holds area clickable to show
> all copies owned by the consortium. The problem with this approach is it
> is inconsistent with what's happening in the available copies area.
> 3 - Make the existing "Show" link display regardless of the current
> availability status of copies on the record, even if it is a bit
> incongruous with what that area is supposed to represent.
>
> Of course, we could always leave that area as it is if other libraries
> are happy with the display.
>
> What are your thoughts?
>
> Thanks!
> Kathy
>
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