Yes, it's somewhat infrequent, maybe a handful of times per semester, and also the check-out is being done by someone who doesn't normally do circ stuff - generally, a reference librarian. Putting Edit Alert Message as a choice as you describe, particularly in the Items Out and Check In's 'Actions' menus seems like a very nice solution. How difficult is it to add that? I assume this would be a special coding request, but perhaps also worth adding to the main code base. I know what you mean about Fake accounts, but in this case we need something that is easy enough that the reference librarians would be willing to use it rather than just keep doing what they're doing now, which is to ignore the circ system completely and just leave pieces of paper taped around the reference desk noting the book and borrower (shudder!). I really want to move this into the system not only for fines/overdues, but also just so the opac indicates the item isn't available so patrons don't waste time searching for it on the shelf. Aside from our particular context, would other libraries find it useful to have an easier way to edit item Alert Messages on checkout and checkin? Melissa
--- Melissa Belvadi Emerging Technologies & Metadata Librarian University of Prince Edward Island [email protected] 902-566-0581 >>> Jason Etheridge <[email protected]> 8/16/2009 2:39 PM >>> On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 8:58 AM, Melissa Belvadi<[email protected]> wrote: > Well, the specific situation is that we sometimes need to checkout > materials, esp. reference materials, to someone who isn't in the borrower > database (and isn't going to be added). Ah, so it sounds like an infrequent thing? In that case, we might better be served with a simple Actions -> Edit Alert Message menu option in the Items Out and Item Status and Holdings Maintenance interfaces. Have that wrapped in a specific permission and staff won't need to go through the heavier Item Attribute Editor. I worry about fake accounts though. They almost always make me think some specific and better workflow should be implemented. Perhaps in this case you could put the item in a Copy Bucket and still set an alert message. But then, you still want to be able to charge fines and/or know when the item is overdue, eh? -- Jason Etheridge | VP, Tactical Development | Equinox Software, Inc. / The Evergreen Experts | phone: 1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457) | email: [email protected] | web: http://www.esilibrary.com
