Home > Cataloging and Metadata > Archive > Committees Archive > WebPAC Implementation Team >

WebPac Implementation Team : Patron Initiated Features Subgroup

Appendix to Patron Initiated Functions Report

WWWOptions relating to patron record viewing.  A synopsis of the wwwoption and the setting proposed by the Patron Services subcommittee:

  1. CLEAR_PRIVATE_INFO

    This causes the web OPAC to build links to sensitive information in the form of clickable buttons rather than as text URLS thus offering a measure of security since these buttons are not cached by the browser.

    Proposal:  set to ‘Yes’

  2. FRAMEURL_PAT

    If the library is displaying the framed /patroninfo screen, the screen proportions of this frame can be defined using the WWWOPTION line FRAMEURL_PAT. This option defines the percentage of the screen occupied by the top frame of the display. If this option is set to 0, the Web OPAC will ignore it and use the default of 30%; this makes it impossible to log into a Patron record without that information displaying on the screen.

    Proposal:  Top frame 50%.

  3. ITEMOUT_MSG

    This option specifies the message that displays in the item information frame in place of the due date when a displayed item is currently checked out.  This message option will also display in place of the due date when a patron is viewing their library record.

    Proposal:  ITEMOUT_MSG=Due Date

    We also suggest a Help Screen that would outline recall policy and advise patrons to recall items that they need even if the item appears to be out on an extended loan.

  4. PATRON_FIELDS

    This option specifies the fields and sub-fields to present when Web OPAC displays a patron record.

    Proposal:  We will show patron Name, classification ,Address, Phone, 2nd address, 2nd phone, barcode, email address

  5. MODIFY_PFLDS

    This option allows patrons to edit their address, telephone number and email address fields in their patron records via the “View Your Own Record” display.

    Proposal:  Allow patrons to modify the following fields:

    ‘a’ (address) ‘h’ (address2), ‘t’ (telephone), ‘p’ (telephone 2) and ‘z’ (email address)

  6. NEWPIN_MSG

    A library patron has the option to enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN) through the Webpac.  This option specifies the text that is presented to the patron, prompting for the patron to enter a PIN when they do not already have a PIN in their patron record.

    Proposal:   Retain the current message (NEWPIN_MSG=Please enter your PIN)

  7. PATRON_NOTICES

    This option specifies the circulation notice delivery method which the patron may select when modifying his or her personal information in the Patron Information screen. The value of this option is one or more of the following patron record field tags, which indicate delivery methods to offer to the patron on this screen:

    a = Postal mail
    z = Email

    If more than one method is to be offered, these tags appear in the PATRON_NOTICES value without spaces or other punctuation

    Proposal:  PATRON_NOTICES=az (offer Postal mail and email methods)

  8. PSTARTOVER

    This option specifies the Web page which should be sent to the Web client when the user is looking at his/her patron record and clicks the Start Over button.  We have set this to the main menu of the Web OPAC.

    Proposal:  PSTARTOVER=/screens/opacmenu.html

  9. REQUEST

    This option controls the offering of the REQUEST this item option syntax:

    REQUEST=<Option Text>|<Hold Level>|<Pickup location>|<NNA Date>

    <Option Text>
    This specifies the text used to offer this option to the user.  If BUT_REQUEST is used, the REQUEST navigational button replaces the text string.
    <Hold Level>
    This specifies the level of the hold (bib (or title level), item level, or system level)
    <Pickup Location>
    This specifies the pickup location as follows:  ask (patron chooses), item (pickup location is taken from the location in the item record) or home (the patron’s home library is the pickup location).
    <NNA Date>
    Optional element that specifies whether the Webpac offers the Not Needed after pull-down menu on the request forms.

    Proposal:  REQUEST=Request Selected Item|Bib|Ask|Y|

  10. My_WEBPAC=

    This option has two TRUE/FALSE elements, separated by commas:

    MY_WEBPAC=<frame>,<search>

    <frame> When the Web OPAC displays patron information (i.e., when it receives the /patroninfo command link), the resulting page is displayed in two frames. The percentage of the page to devote to the upper frame is controlled by the FRAMEURL_PAT option

    <search> Controls the ability to log in to the My Millennium feature. When set to a "TRUE" value ('1', the characters 'T', 't', 'Y', or 'y', or any word beginning with one of these characters), then a Search the Catalog button appears on the patron information screen. If this button is selected, the patron is logged in, with all PTYPE-specific behaviors applied.

    Proposal:  MY_WEBPAC=True, True (Framing ON, My Millennium ON)

  11. NO_REVERIFY

    Patrons log into the My Millennium by selecting the Search the Catalog option while viewing their patron record.  Since the patron has already provided their name and ID to the system, it is not necessary to request verification again when the patron accesses a WebPAC function that requires verification.  We can specify what functions for which reverification is not required

    Proposal:  NO_REVERIFY=acq,req (we might want to add bookings when we start to use that module)

  12. TIMEOUT

    This option specifies a timout interval (in seconds) and the name of the web screen file to load if the patron has not made an entry within the timeout period.

    Proposal: TIMEOUT=300;URL=https://inno.dartmouth.edu/screens/opacmenu.html

System Options (COPTIONS) settings for patron initiated features

Status message for checked out item:                          DUE

Requests:  Journals:  Ask for article title, author etc…      YES

Requests:  Which item                                                ANY

Requests:  Pickup location                                           ASK

Requests:  Patron eligibility determined by                    PTYPE

Requests:  Eligible patrons                                           2-6

Requests:  Message for patrons denied access             Choose to view

Patron self-identification prompts and examples            Choose to view

Patron can view own record                                    YES

Patron can cancel own holds                                   YES

Patron can renew own items                                    YES

Item status in the Webpac

Part of the charge to the PIF group was to recommend what to do with the messages that the public sees regarding item status in Webpac displays.  Currently in the Innopac OPAC we deliver the following messages:

Status Message
- On shelf
b Select. Dec.
d Dart Author
h Summary
l Lost
m Missing
n Billed Not Pd
o Lib Use Only
r Repl. Ordered
s On Search
t In Transit
w Withdrawn
x On the Web
z Claims Retd
$ Lost and Paid
| On Holdshelf

Obviously many of these statuses would have little meaning for a patron.  The question of message displays for item record status was referred to the Access Services Librarian.  The proposed changes are listed below:

Item Status Display Message in the Innopac OPAC

Item Status Innopac Current OPAC display New proposed OPAC/Staff display
- ON SHELF ON SHELF
b SELECT DEC. MISSING
d DART AUTHOR BOOK DISPLAY
h SUMMARY LIBRARY HAS
l LOST LOST
m MISSING MISSING
n BILLED NOT PD MISSING
o LIB USE ONLY LIB USE ONLY
r REPL. ORDERED MISSING
s ON SEARCH ON SEARCH
t IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT
w WITHDRAWN (suppressed )
x ON THE WEB E- RESOURCE
z CLMS RETD MISSING
$ LOST AND PAID LOST
| ON HOLDSHELF ON HOLDSHELF

Request Rule File

This file is used to define specific request denial messages as well as to allow the use of  Innovative’s automatic request processing.  Listed below are the proposed settings for this table:

Request Rule File

Worksheet

  1. Background Information
    1. Site code: dartm
    2. Designated contact person: Rebecca.A.Lee
    3. Phone: 603-646-0525
      Email address: Rebecca.A.Lee@dartmouth.edu
    4. Has your library already implemented Automatic Request Processing? NO
  2. Should the system allow requests on Bibliographic records that have no attached Item or Order records?  NO
  3. Should the system calculate a “not-wanted-after” date when it creates a hold from a Patron Request.  NO
  4. Do you want to implement the Request Rule File?  YES

    1. Prevent ALL requests on Item records based on location code?  YES

      Enter the desired location codes for a specific refusal message.

      Location Message
      RS*** Items on Reserve may not be requested.
      ***F* This item is not requestable.
      or
      **S** or
      **JM* or
      PADDC or
      PADDP or
      PADDR or
      PADDK or
      PADDH or
      PADDH
      W**** Special Collections items are not requestable
    2. Prevent ALL requests on Bibliographic records based on location code?  NO
    3. Prevent All requests on Item records based on an item status code?  YES
      Status Message
      S This item is not requestable
      N
      M
      Z
      $ or
      R or
      H or
      L or
      D or
      B or
      X
    4. Prevent All requests on Bibliographic records based on an attached order’s status code?  YES

      DEFAULT

      Status Message
      Z L
      Cancelled orders are unavailable for request. On Hold orders are unavailable for request.

Pending policy and/or workflow decisions

These are decisions that came to the attention of the PIF group in the course of our work.  Though related to the PIF charge, the group felt the decisions where not within the purview of the PIF subcommittee.  To date they are:

  1. Processing of the Patron Request File.  This workflow is being determined by the Access Services Librarian in conjunction with ILL/Document Delivery departments on campus.
  2. Staff training and Patron Initiated Features.  Circulation Staff across campus need to be trained to aid patrons having questions about using Patron Initiated Services, especially the Request Item function.  This issue has been referred to the Circulation Roundtable Agenda group.

Enhancement Requests

  1. Allow capability to profile request options for particular ptypes, i.e., one group would be allowed to request a subgroup of the collection, while another ptype would be allowed to request the entire set.  At present, we are can only open requests of a particular group of items to a specific set of ptypes.
  2. Would like to see the Request Item option available in the Staff View as well as Public View of the Webpac.
  3. Article Request function –   Would like Innopac to generate a second button (similar to the ‘Request’ button) in the record display when it detects a check-in record attached to a serial.  This button would be labeled “Request Article” and would take the patron to a page where the appropriate verification/article text boxes would appear thus differentiating between an article request (no item involved) and a whole volume request.  This would make the Article Request/Item Request pages less cluttered and confusing.
  4. We would like to see the ability to establish two separate timeouts within my millennium.  This would allow one timeout for users accessing their records and requesting material, while the 2nd timeout would be used by library staff permitting them to work longer within a webpac session without interruption.