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

[Mike Rylander]

I would vote for #2 (make "X total copies" a link), and extend that
linkiness to the "X copies available at..." area, except when X == 0.


--
Mike Rylander
 | President
 | Equinox Software, Inc. / The Open Source Experts
 | phone:  1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457)
 | email:  miker at esilibrary.com
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On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 11:08 AM, Benjamin Kalish <bkalish at forbeslibrary.org
> wrote:

> I vote for #1. What better place to put a link to all the copies than by
> the number of total copies?
>
> Benjamin Kalish
> Forbes Library / 413-587-1012 / bkalish at forbeslibrary.org
>
> Currently reading:* North and South* by Mrs. Gaskell
> Just Finished: *The Riddle of the Sands* by Erskine Childers
>
> On Tue, Feb 17, 2015 at 12:29 PM, Kathy Lussier <klussier at masslnc.org>
> 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
>>
>> --
>> Kathy Lussier
>> Project Coordinator
>> Massachusetts Library Network Cooperative
>> (508) 343-0128
>> klussier at masslnc.org
>> Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kmlussier
>>
>>
>
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