Kia ora koutou

As part of the work we are doing for VuFind (new library catalogue) we need to make a change to how Horizon handles placing requests for borrowers.  Currently it actually uses the catalogue (HIP) for part of the process and that makes us vulnerable if we need to suddenly shut down HIP (it is so old it is a potential security risk).

We are going to decouple Horizon requesting from HIP on Thursday (24th November) morning.  After we’ve made the change, you’ll need to close and re-open Horizon on your computers if you are running it (will put another post out after the change is complete).

What will change?

Users placing requests via the catalogue shouldn’t notice anything different.
The only noticeable change for staff using Horizon is a slightly different looking place hold form when placing requests on behalf of borrowers.
If you use the backup database (e.g. to test things before doing them live) you won’t get the middle-tier error warning message anymore.

The new “Place Hold Request” form

Things to note:

• the pickup location now has two editable lines/fields – please just us the first line’s dropdown menu (highlighted) to select a pick-up location.  Horizon won’t change the code in the second pick-up location field to match what is selected there but don’t worry about that, we’ve tested and it will set the pick-up location according to what you select in the dropdown menu.
• Notice section – leave this set to Mail (default) – the other options are ignored come hold notification time.  In practice most people will receive an email hold notice (or etxt for HD items) – but it is our notice program that controls all that.

If you want to have an advance look at this – test756 database has the change already applied (and see test hip http://hiptest.canterbury.ac.nz/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile=a#focus for the user experience.

Ngā mihi,

Romy (on behalf of Library Systems)