Replies to This Forum

Permalink Reply by Viswanath.G.S on August 2, 2015 at 17:19

Dear Abilash,

          In LMS hold option is mainly included for books that are checked out. If the user cant take the book when it is available he\she should inform the library professional to hold it with them for specific time. Librarians will mostly probably keep it on hold for one day for the user to check out.

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Permalink Reply by Abilash Achuthan on August 3, 2015 at 16:57

Yes, when the title is available (on Shelf) we (library professionals) keep the book aside, putting a note, till date etc inside the book,  when there is a request, like this we keep many books in counter request from different sections. but if the other person looks for the same book he/she will search the shelf and finally he will come to know that the book is kept aside...

Then we library professional have to explain all the reasons etc, then it will be an argument, some time the user will say that librarian keep book for those people known to them as special request.

Why OPAC cannot mention it has kept aside, temporary hold etc as the per the request.

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Permalink Reply by Kalipada Jana on August 2, 2015 at 17:46

About q.1....between 10 a.m to12p.m anyone can issue the book. so the status is showing OUT. Now coming to q.2.....If any patron reserve the book(s), the status will show on HOLD during the fixed time. If the patron don't issue the book(s) within the fixed time, the reserve status will be replaced into Self status.

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Permalink Reply by Abilash Achuthan on August 3, 2015 at 17:04

Yes, this is an automatic process in LMS when user reserves a book he/she will get intimation...

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Permalink Reply by kamalaksha p on August 2, 2015 at 18:38

while that two hours somebody will return the books to library ,but our staff may not replace to the shelf of a proper time, that book also show as a on shelf..

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Permalink Reply by Abilash Achuthan on August 3, 2015 at 17:04

Why Cant in  OPAC the status OUT / SHELF indicated with date as on..

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Permalink Reply by Munesh Kumar on August 2, 2015 at 21:46

Abilash Sir thanks for bring out such a big problem of librarian; a big question on classification theories; priority and objectives of libraries. Library has been working on the principle of first come-first get. The automation and WebOPAC facilitated us to find/search the bibliographic information of library holdings/collection. But, software firms brought a system to reserve the document (if it issued). This policy was and liked by almost all the readers, they get a hope, that they can get book to be in this virtual ques system. But its not correct as per ethics of library (as I think). There should not be any claim system, because all the users are important for library, if a reader is taking a book then he/she is have some useful content in that particular book. If a person will reserve for few hours/day(from remote by using WebOPAC) then that book will not serve the purpose of that reader who is already present there for the same book. One more thing comes thought comes in mid, "if a book is available in library then why to reserve that in advance?" We need to favor to those readers, who comes early before the time to get the books. There should not be hold/reserve policy on any book. Copies should not be circulated if they are lesser in numbers. 

Now you please what is your opinion? 

thanking you... 

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Permalink Reply by Abilash Achuthan on August 3, 2015 at 17:24

The Reservation process first started for books Newly Added to a library collections, Eg: International libraries, such as BC and ALC Display NEW ARRIVALS of books added to their collection and welcome their members to Reserve those titles, so many members reserve the titles sometime it will be high like 35 reservation etc... from this they can analyses all  the titles subject area copies required to be added as per readers interest.

Actually there is no need to reserve a book which is OUT Insted, let the user request his/her need for that particular book by providing message service from OPAC to the user so that he may return the book before due date also if the book is due let the person send a message for the same to return the book leaving the option to the user...

Only thing is OPAC should indicate the date as on for book issued as well as book on shelf.

Thank you!

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Permalink Reply by Munesh Kumar on August 6, 2015 at 19:54

...actually there is no any firm view or guideline, nor easy to make and implement this policy. There are the differences of opinion, more or less personal justifications. There are two thing; books and users in library as asset. As per the ethics of library, users are equal and having right for their choice, library should not be biased for any category of users. Second one is book, book should not be hold for future, if a user is available and desired to read or lent as applicable. Both the cases are diffident  and interrelated to each other. If we use the Five Laws of Library Science to solve this problem then, the priority should be given to first comers only. The idea of holdings are less practical, unjustified and biased. But we are following the trends, we need to change it in firm policy in a justified and standard way. 

Thanking You...

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Permalink Reply by Abilash Achuthan on August 7, 2015 at 0:28

Dear Munesh,

It is is easy to make and implement all the options are programmed by professionals.

The old options which we all know in OPAC

Out

Shelf

Reference (Ref)

Reservation (with Sequence no)

ILL (OUT)

Display (New Arrivals)

Banned Book

Binding

Missing/Lost

Damaged

Withdrawn

Why not more options in OPAC?

If a patron issue/checks-out a document from a library immeditely the status shows out,(Programmed Way)In some libraries the OPAC displays the details with the due date and patron no.

Here, there is no need of due date to be displayed, What we need is Issued date as on so that it will be easy to identify the default user (like no of renewals done and when it is over due because the issue date remains same)

if patron return a document then Immeditely the status will show shelf, but from the counter it may not be moved to shelf immedietly, on the other end some might be looking for the same he/she may not know the fact where the book is kept (Eg:At Photocopy, Reading Section, Special Request, Library Staff kept aside etc.)

if options are given as on date and with more options in OPAC it will be easy....

Thank You...

Abilash A

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Permalink Reply by Pakki Narayana Murty on August 5, 2015 at 23:31

Sir,

In our library we are using libsys software. When the book is in the library. It shows on the shelf.

When it go to issue. From next minute it shows as out.

There is no problem with OPAC. We treat this service as our good friend. With this we may serve student with satisfactory.

Murthy

for GMR Institute of Technology

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Permalink Reply by Munesh Kumar on August 6, 2015 at 20:03

Right sir,

we need to focus more on students then on other category of users. Because, an educational institute is first for teaching then for research and other curriculum.

Thanking You...

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