Last year, I noted how the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and others analyzed the user experience in the catalog and began using MeeboMe as a way to provide a path out of the “no results” dead end. Now we have another great example from the Allen County Public Library of re-examining dead ends in the catalog
Hi-Tech Hi-Touch: A Sirsi Patron Material Request Form
“The point of need that interested me was to make a material request form available for the patron when they could not find their search item….
The real meat of the processing is handled by the findit.php code. This is a reentrant form that does all the validation and processing. If you would like a copy of the code just email and I will send it to you.” [ACPL’s Innovation through Technology]
So basically, Sean Robinson at ACPL added a purchase request form to the search results page of the catalog so that if the Library doesn’t own the title the patron is looking for, she can immediately submit a purchase request. It’s these seemingly minor improvements that provide a more robust service in a place patrons don’t normally find a librarian. Why our vendors can’t think of these things is beyond me, but it’s great to see librarians like Sean taking the initiative to implement them.
Sometimes the simple ideas are the best ones!
Comment by Crystal — July 23, 2008 @ 7:14 am
“Why our vendors can’t think of these things is beyond me”
Indeed.
Comment by Mike — July 23, 2008 @ 7:47 am
ACPLs think alike. The inability to customize the search results page in just the same way was one of the many nagging frustrations that led us to switch to Koha.
Comment by Owen — July 23, 2008 @ 8:21 am
Our rather outdated Sirsi/Dynix Web 2 OPAC does offer this abiltt with an automatically filled in patron identification form (as long as they are signed in) so we can inform the patron and place hold when the item is purchased…
Comment by Mick — July 23, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
Thanks for posting this, Jenny. Sean worked very hard on this and it has had great results.
Comment by Melissa Kiser — July 23, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
[…] The Dead Ends Don’t Justify the Means – “So basically, Sean Robinson at ACPL added a purchase request form to the search results page of the catalog so that if the Library doesn’t own the title the patron is looking for, she can immediately submit a purchase request.” […]
Pingback by Friday Link Round Up « ellie <3 libraries — July 25, 2008 @ 8:11 am
So… these libraries actually have enough money to be able to fill those user-generated purchase requests? And the libraries automatically purchase based on individual user demand? Does this mean that an individual user could skew collection contents by generating a lot of requests?
Comment by Ilene Frank — August 1, 2008 @ 8:32 am
Ilene, I think this is probably like the purchase request form on any library site – it just happens to be linked to from the “no results” page. I’m sure that the same guidelines apply as when someone stops at the circ desk and requests that the library purchase a book they couldn’t find on the shelf.
The key here is that ACPL has taken a service that is usually buried on a website, away from the catalog or only linked to from the home page or a help page, and surfaced it in a useful place. The service itself is still the same, and it now parallels the one that happens in the physical building in a more usable way.
Comment by jenny — August 1, 2008 @ 8:42 am