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

[Sarah Childs]

Between your three options, I don't have strong feelings one way or
another.  Any of them seems reasonably serviceable, but none seems ideal.

I would prefer either of the following options:

Option A
Just above the spot where it actually shows the copies is the place where
it seems most obvious to me to be able to change the scope of what's
displayed. So how about adding links just above the line where the column
descriptions for the copy information are?  I suggest link text that says
something like:  "Show copies in X consortium" and "Show copies in X
Library system" if you you were scoped to the branch level.   If you were
scoped to the Consortium it would say "Show only copies in X branch" and
"Show only copies in X Library system"   And of course for Library system
you would have either "Show copies in X consortium"  or  "Show only copies
in X branch"

I think having different text than just Show (such as "Show only") would be
helpful to tip off users that clicking the link will narrow the scope.

Perhaps there could even be a "Limit to available copies" check box near
these links, and the Show links where the number of Available copies is
displayed could be eliminated.

Option B
I suggest adding a Total Copies column between the Available Copies and
Current Holds columns, and eliminating  the "with x total copies" text from
the Current Holds column.

I prefer Option A, but I like Option B nearly as well and it would a
smaller change.

On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 3:33 PM, Sarah Childs <sarahc at zionsvillelibrary.org>
wrote:

> Between your three options, I don't have strong feelings one way or
> another.  Any of them seems reasonably serviceable, but none seems ideal.
>
> I would prefer either of the following options:
>
> Option A
> Just above the spot where it actually shows the copies is the place where
> it seems most obvious to me to be able to change the scope of what's
> displayed. So how about adding links just above the line where the column
> descriptions for the copy information are?  I suggest link text that says
> something like:  "Show copies in X consortium" and "Show copies in X
> Library system" if you you were scoped to the branch level.   If you were
> scoped to the Consortium it would say "Show only copies in X branch" and
> "Show only copies in X Library system"   And of course for Library system
> you would have either "Show copies in X consortium"  or  "Show only copies
> in X branch"
>
> I think having different text than just Show (such as "Show only") would
> be helpful to tip off users that clicking the link will narrow the scope.
>
> Perhaps there could even be a "Limit to available copies" check box near
> these links, and the Show links where the number of Available copies is
> displayed could be eliminated.
>
> Option B
> I suggest adding a Total Copies column between the Available Copies and
> Current Holds columns, and eliminating  the "with x total copies" text from
> the Current Holds column.
>
> I prefer Option A, but I like Option B nearly as well and it would a
> smaller change.
>
>
>
> 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
>>
>>
>> --
>> This message has been scanned for viruses and
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>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Sarah Childs
> Technical Services Department Head
> Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library
> 250 North Fifth Street
> Zionsville, IN 46077
> 317-873-3149 x13330
> sarahc at zionsvillelibrary.org
>



-- 
Sarah Childs
Technical Services Department Head
Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library
250 North Fifth Street
Zionsville, IN 46077
317-873-3149 x13330
sarahc at zionsvillelibrary.org
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