Hi all-
One of our multi-branch libraries is looking for additional holds functionality so that holds between their branches work better than they currently do. Here's the situation, described by Ben Shum: A library system has multiple branches, and each owns their own copies/patrons. Library A owns a copy of an item and Library B does not. But patrons from both A and B place holds against the material. Because of how holds target / opportunistically capture, the patrons at Library A receive the item first while the item continues to circulate in and out of Library A, while the patrons at Library B never get their holds fulfilled. It would be preferred that Library A's copy be used to fill holds for both Library A and B's patrons in the order the hold was placed regardless of pickup location. While we understand that having additional copies for each branch could solve the issue, it may not be possible for the library to purchase and assign copies to each branch. Instead, they're hoping that it is possible to re-prioritize holds within their system to follow a stricter first-in, first-out (FIFO) policy. However, the concern has been made as to how FIFO might adversely alter how the library system shares material with the rest of the consortium. ---------------------------- There would need to be some way to fold in the other consortium's holds at some point so that the library and its branches wouldn't become a walled off entity within the consortium. In talking with Equinox, we have learned that this functionality exists in FulfILLment and that we could side-port it into Evergreen. See Mike Rylander's post here for a good explanation on the benefits of this new holds functionality: http://blog.esilibrary.com/2012/04/16/sharing-code-is-caring/ There is some more work needed in both Calculated Proximity Adjustment and Custom Best Hold Adjustment Order. So what we're looking for now are additional development partners to complete this development work and to side-port it into Evergreen. If you're interested in seeing this happen and would like to help make it happen, please contact me at terl...@biblio.org. Any contributions would be accepted. Amy +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Amy Terlaga Assistant Director, User Services Bibliomation, Inc. 32 Crest Road Middlebury, CT 06762 203-577-4070 x101 <http://www.biblio.org/> www.biblio.org