Dear all,
A nice practical issue for lis-pub-libs - I'll hope you'll ponder the
perils of automatic notification as a result.
I have just spent half a day trying to work out why we were apparently
sending out voice processed reservation collection messages to users
when we have no such system - bizzare!
After much investigation, within the library service, across the
council, with our major ICT suppliers, much detective work no firm
conclusion was reached
Over lunch and a soothing cup of tea, with the adrenaline subsiding
(this could have resulted from a major security breach - I was *truly*
worried!) the penny dropped...
The message had been received by our ILL manager.
The message was very limited - it didn't say which authority it was
from, it didn't say which library the item was to be picked up from, it
didn't give a contact number, it didn't state which items it related to.
The only thing it said was about 'Islington Library' and 'Reservations',
and it sounded like it was coming *from* Islington Libraries.
It was, in fact, not from us, but most likely from another authority
asking us to pick up an ILL request from their branch! Not entirely
appropriate for an ILL request, methinks!
Talking to our ILL manager, it seems that emails also often arrive for
this purpose, but it is more immediately obvious what they are about and
where they are from. Voice, SMS or any such system may not be so
apparent unless the message is properly structured.
I am asking our IT department if they can track down the incoming call
from the logd, as this is the only way we'll find out who sent it.
So, for those of you who use any form of automation to notify of
reservations, a plea for my sanity - please try to screen out from
whatever method you use those users and items which do not conform to
the self-collection model, and ensure that the message always has proper
source details - Library Service, phone numbers etc, to screen out the
noise.
Many thanks
JU
John Usher
ICT Manager
Library and Heritage Services
Islington Council
Central Library
2 Fieldway Crescent
LONDON N5 1PF
Tel: 020 7527 6920
Mobile: 07825 098 223
Fax: 020 7527 6926
Alternative contact: Michelle Gannon - 020 7527 6907
www.islington.gov.uk
How to get to Central Library:
http://www.islington.gov.uk/Education/Libraries/Local/Central.asp
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