(This query is really for Mieko but I thought other libraries who use
Course Reserves might find any answers useful)
Mieko, I have read your presentation "Beyond Course Reserves" and found it
useful but still have a few queries which I hope you can answer.
1. We have had the "store course reserve history in item record" switched
on since we went live last August but almost from the beginning we were
aware of a "bug" in this function which meant that SOMETIMES no Reserve
Note information was being put into the Item Record - it seems a random
fault and has been reported to III but they have not come up with any
reason or solution for it - in fact, we have heard nothing from them at all
on this subject. This means we have incomplete information in some Reserve
Notes and some items with no Reserv Notes at all although they should have,
and I am aware that any reports I have run using "RESV NOTE has" are not
accurate - but, as you say in your presentation, this is a good way of
getting a customised report that is user friendly. Did you ever experience
this "bug" and, if so, what was the solution?
2. As a result of the above, we have considered switching off this function
but are aware that we would then have no course reserve history from now
on - would you see this as a big drawback?. We also now understand the
implications for statistics of TOTAL CHKOUT in either using or not using
the RESERV NOTE function and know that if we changed now, the TOTAL CHKOUTs
for those items which came off Course Reserve a few weeks ago would reflect
differently from any that come off from now. Can you think of any other
repercussions from switching off?
3. If we do keep the Course Reserve history, how often, and how, do you
clear it out - if at all - as you say that they cannot be deleted globally?
I have done some deletions which were known to be mistakes by using a
Create List then through Rapid Updating replacing the Reserv Note field
with blank.
I look forward to your comments.
Sheila Smart
Deputy Head of Systems
Systems Office
University of St Andrews Library
North Street
ST ANDREWS
Fife KY16 9TR
Tel: 01334 462316
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