1VicRML
I can't figure out the "hold" function.
I've tried - through a fictitious patron account - to sign in, request/hold a book, then check out a book. But I can't find a way to self-check out that book. The only way I can get it checked out is to sign in as admin and do it as myself.
This is going to be a problem as someone requested a book this week and will want to check it out and take it home tomorrow, but it's very unlikely I will be in the building to check it out for them.
A second problem with this request/hold function is that if someone has a hold on a book the next person in line hasn't any way to put a hold on it for when borrower #1 returns it. This also happens when someone has a book checked out - nobody can put a hold on it.
So unless I'm missing some vital info, this "request/hold" isn't working as it works for the libraries I borrow/have borrowed from.
Can someone please help out with this?
I've tried - through a fictitious patron account - to sign in, request/hold a book, then check out a book. But I can't find a way to self-check out that book. The only way I can get it checked out is to sign in as admin and do it as myself.
This is going to be a problem as someone requested a book this week and will want to check it out and take it home tomorrow, but it's very unlikely I will be in the building to check it out for them.
A second problem with this request/hold function is that if someone has a hold on a book the next person in line hasn't any way to put a hold on it for when borrower #1 returns it. This also happens when someone has a book checked out - nobody can put a hold on it.
So unless I'm missing some vital info, this "request/hold" isn't working as it works for the libraries I borrow/have borrowed from.
Can someone please help out with this?
3VicRML
>2 Moloch: Thanks for this. Seems the only choice is to disable the thing and go back to person-to-person contact.
4ZephCraven
>3 VicRML: Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out! As @Moloch kindly shared in that Talk topic, the Place Hold button is not a full hold queue, it functions more like a notification to the librarian to set aside the item for that patron. That said, if you have enabled Full Circulation with patron logins, patrons are able to cancel their hold and check out items themselves.
Patrons click the human icon in the top right of the TinyCat page and log in. On the My Borrowing page, there's an On Hold section, within which they can click "Cancel hold." Then they are able to check the book out. I will ask our developers if it would be possible to add that "Cancel hold" button to the Detail and Search pages as well, though I can't promise that will be approved.
Another option is to simply forego the Place Hold button entirely, leaving the Check Out button available for circulation and the Ask About This button (or however you have named it) for inquiries and holds. Looking at your TinyCat, it seems like you've done this already!
Let me know if you have any other questions or if there's anything else I can help with!
Zeph
Thanks for reaching out! As @Moloch kindly shared in that Talk topic, the Place Hold button is not a full hold queue, it functions more like a notification to the librarian to set aside the item for that patron. That said, if you have enabled Full Circulation with patron logins, patrons are able to cancel their hold and check out items themselves.
Patrons click the human icon in the top right of the TinyCat page and log in. On the My Borrowing page, there's an On Hold section, within which they can click "Cancel hold." Then they are able to check the book out. I will ask our developers if it would be possible to add that "Cancel hold" button to the Detail and Search pages as well, though I can't promise that will be approved.
Another option is to simply forego the Place Hold button entirely, leaving the Check Out button available for circulation and the Ask About This button (or however you have named it) for inquiries and holds. Looking at your TinyCat, it seems like you've done this already!
Let me know if you have any other questions or if there's anything else I can help with!
Zeph
5kristilabrie
Of course Zeph already beat me to this. ;)
>3 VicRML: It looks like you've got Full Circulation patron accounts set up. While only one active lending status (e.g. "On hold" or "Checked out") can be placed on an item at one time, your patrons who have placed items on hold can get around this by cancelling the hold and then checking it out immediately.
To do this, have the patron log into (or view, if already logged in) their patron account using the top-right person/patron button in your TinyCat catalog, where they'll get brought to a "My Borrowing" page showing any checked-out or on-hold items. There's a red "Cancel hold" button next to on-hold items which the patron can use to release the item back up for checkout. Then, they can go back to the book page to use the self "Check out" button.
My wonderful colleague and TinyCat lead @ZephCraven pointed out that this is not the most intuitive design (I agree), so we're discussing options to improve the process. Let us know if you have any specific requests to consider! I hope this helps.
>3 VicRML: It looks like you've got Full Circulation patron accounts set up. While only one active lending status (e.g. "On hold" or "Checked out") can be placed on an item at one time, your patrons who have placed items on hold can get around this by cancelling the hold and then checking it out immediately.
To do this, have the patron log into (or view, if already logged in) their patron account using the top-right person/patron button in your TinyCat catalog, where they'll get brought to a "My Borrowing" page showing any checked-out or on-hold items. There's a red "Cancel hold" button next to on-hold items which the patron can use to release the item back up for checkout. Then, they can go back to the book page to use the self "Check out" button.
My wonderful colleague and TinyCat lead @ZephCraven pointed out that this is not the most intuitive design (I agree), so we're discussing options to improve the process. Let us know if you have any specific requests to consider! I hope this helps.
