It would appear that some users are missing the Request first available copy button in the Library Catalogue, and are instead placing separate requests on multiple items on the bib record. This could be that they just don’t understand or trust the process for requesting the first available copy, but it could also be that the button is not placed where people see it. Once you get to the point of wanting to place a request, you tend to be looking at the Copy/Holding information section of the screen, and the button is not right in front of you.
For that reason, it might be useful to repeat the Request first available copy button in the Copy/Holding information section, either above or below information about the individual items. To see what it looks like in context, and where out of 3 possible places it could go, please have a look at it in the test library catalogue, and let us know what you think via a comment to this posting.
Catherine
Library eServices
It would be excellent to have an additional button in the Holdings area – most of the time it’s not used because catalogue users simply don’t see it.
As for its location, I’d plump for the Location…Status line. Possibly also at the bottom too for cases when the number of copies is lengthy?
John
I think the First Available copy button is best on the Location line, and if there can be two , then at the bottom as well – useful when there are many copies. Thanks, Sue
Thanks, Catherine. I think it would be very useful to have it on the location line *and* at the end of the list of items, if possible. This would mean people would be more likely to see it if there is a long list of items and they have moved their eyes to the bottom of the list. Caroline Anderson
I agree with the others – I prefer it in the Location line next to status.
Location line is good. I was just wondering if there is some way of removing the "request first available copy" option from multi-volume works especially serials records.
For multi-volume monographs it might be good to have a "request all volumes" option instead.
could this choice be available on the staff PAC – we might be placing a request at the desk for a student, or rearranging multiple requests on a bib with multiple copies?
Jenny A
Thanks Catherine.
I think that the additional button is a good idea. I’m seeing up to 4 of the new buttons, in total, on some records at present though, even where there is just the one copy. This may just be a testing glitch – title in question is 100 film noirs bib 114790
Dave C.
Thanks to everyone for the comments. It looks as though putting the new button on the Location … Status line is the most popular.
I don’t think we should put it twice though – it might be good for records where there are a LOT of copies, but it would be overkill for all others.
As regards the other additional requests, we do have control over hip displays to some extent, which is why it’s possible to do this at all. However, it’s a very tortuous process and not easily done (we are lucky to have Margaret who can do this at all), so requests for buttons to display in one instance and not another are just not possible.
Catherine