Vision of what patrons can do

The working group for nhaisLOCAL (made up of those libraries who are expecting to implement this system when we get it created) has been answering "visioning" questions about what specific aspects of the system might look like. I will be sharing the responses to these questions with the larger library comunity here on this blog. This is the first of these exercises.  Please add a comment to this post if you have an answer to suggest that was not included here.

QUESTION
When nhaisLOCAL is fully implemented in your library what will the system allow your patrons to do (whether they can do it now or not) from outside your building?

SUMMARY of  RESPONSES

Library patrons should be able to search – with intuitive search and limiting options – all of the resources immediately available through the library (articles in ebsco databases, the library's physical  collection, netlibrary sources, overdrive, etc.) Patrons should also be able to browse by genre, new books, etc. The ability to create a list of stuff they found and then print/email/text that list somewhere would be important.

The patron should also be able to expand their search to the NHU-PAC to see what they can get via ILL. It is important that the patron can easily tell which things are "in" their library and which need to be requested through ILL. An easy link to placing a NHU-PAC ILL request directly would be good.

Patrons should be able to identify themselves to the system with a patron barcode and thus gain access to all the stuff they are entitled too (reserves, ILL, database searching, downloadable books, etc.) from that single login which might have a further security step on it (a PIN or password).

Patrons should be able to interact with the library through the system – manage reserves, including for stuff like museum passes (place them for now, for a date in the future, for stuff on the shelf or not, cancel reserves they placed before, etc.); renew materials; suggest purchases; chat and/or email info to the librarian (how great the library is, reference questions, catalog corrections, etc.); add info to individual catalog records (some private, like if they read something or want to; and some public, like reviews, video trailers they made, tags) They should also be able to send updates on their info (phone, email, address changes, etc.) and to select their notification options (phone when item is available, email 2 days before materials are due, etc.) They should also be able to pay fines online and make donations to the library (or Friends group)

Library should be able to control what an individual patron can do based on their prior actitivity – fines over $X and they can't reserve stuff, how many times something can be renewed, limit the number of items they can request based on patron type, etc.)

Catalog records should include bibliographic information, cover images, reviews from patrons and from published sources (like Library Journal), read-alikes, cover blurbs, links to Novelist content, and tags.

The system should include clear links to info about the library like hours, announcements, blogs, calendars, facebook pages, twitter feeds, etc.

All of these things should be available to patrons from anywhere using whatever device (smartphone, mac, pc, ipad, etc.) they want to use.

ACTUAL RESPONSES (with names/identifiers removed)

Reserve, renew, search, critique, enquire, suggest.

Search, reserve, renew, tell us how fabulous we are. Okay, maybe we don't need that last one.

What she said (Reserve, renew, search, critique, enquire, suggest)

and see what they have out, with due dates, and send a message to correct our errors, and be able to submit address/phone/email changes.

plus if possible, ask for ILL (seeing which other libs own or link to NHU-PAC  would be fabulous!), and see book covers and link to reviews.

Be able to access their accounts to renew and reserve items.

big vision for nhaisLOCAL

Patrons will be able to:  Search, locate and reserve materials locally and statewide with intuitive search and limiter controls.  They will be able to access their accounts for materials status, renewals, reserves, fine status.  Content in the form of reviews, etc.  can be added to item data from user portal.  They will be able to pay fines electronically.  The ILS will serve as the central portal for all Statewide database and down-loadable content access. 

We’d want a heads-up e-mail notification for those with e-mail addresses on record (eg: 2 day advance reminder for materials due), elective circulation history  opt –in ( eg:  have I read that?) and a  little more technical, but we’d want SIP (SIP is session initiation protocol, which is the technology that matches user ID #s to accessibility of electronic resources.  That way access is controlled to valid card holders for contracted services like Overdrive.)  and PIN capability (PIN is personal ID number, and allows for patron selection of a further security measure)  That’s all.

We would like our patrons to be able to reserve, renew, access their account to check fines, due dates, and what is checked out to them, search the catalog, and e-mail us with questions.

Reserve, renew, search, critique, inquire, suggest.

and see what they have out, with due dates, and send a message to correct our errors, and be able to submit address/phone/email changes.

plus if possible, ask for ILL (seeing which other libs own or link to NHU-PAC  would be fabulous!), and see book covers and link to reviews

We’d want a heads-up e-mail notification for those with e-mail addresses on record (eg: 2 day advance reminder for materials due), elective circulation history  opt –in ( eg:  have I read that?)

Also:

Ability to place holds starting on a future date

Ability to cancel own holds

Tagging

Fully elective notifications (choose via e-mail or phone or letter for each of the notifications - overdue, advance of due date, available holds, etc.)

Able to place holds on items that are on the shelf

Options for federated searching

Chat with librarian option in addition to e-mail

Federated Searching --

I would love to be able to have people enter their search term and automatically search through everything we have access to:  our in-house collections (all formats), our online databases (EBSCO, LearningExpress, Byki, WorldBook, etc.), and our online subscription services (NetLibrary & OverDrive).  I would keep NHU-PAC as a separate search so that people wouldn't think they could have immediate access to those items (need to understand those could be available but would need to go through ILL).  Of course - since each library has a different set of resources, the system would have to be configurable by the library to enable which things would be searched in a general search.  On an advanced search screen, the places to search could be options to be checked. 

So many of our patrons don't even know that what they are searching for might be available in another form or through another resource -- so a general federated search would introduce people to the many different types of information that we have.  We would also need excellent item type icons to help patrons distinguish between an article available on EBSCO and a book in the library. 

We would like the system to have a searchable online catalog (which we currently have) where patrons can place holds and renew materials (not a current feature). Since we're dreaming, I'd like to have a function that allows patrons to annotate our records for themselves or for others.

 

Patrons will be able to access their accounts from anywhere, with any type of computer or mobile device. They'll be able to check status, renew, place reserves, check personal reading history, search easily (federated searching?), request ILLs, see and post reviews, see readalikes, pay fines or make donations. They'll be able to access all databases and downloadables their library subscribes to. They'll be able to access their library's calendar of events, sign up for newsletters and notifications, link to websites, email (chat?) with their librarians. They'll be able to join online book groups, suggest purchases, services or programs they might like.  If the system could clean house and babysit, I'd go for that too!

They should be able to renew items, reserve items, see when their items are due and if they have any fines.  Pay fines electronically. See if item is in or out and if out when is it due back.  Visual search as well as basic and advanced search.  Links on item screen to relevant online sites.  Patron review of titles.

Staff should be able to limit number of times items can be renewed and patrons should not be able to renew if fines exceed a certain amount.

I'm sure I will think of something else in the middle of the night.

Search the catalog, see book covers and links to relevant info on the web, see read-alike suggestions, create book lists, reserve, review/rate what they’ve read, view their circ history, view their account, renew, pay fines, and sign up for due date reminders.

Reserve, renew, search, make comments on titles, ask questions of
library staff, suggest future purchases, see book covers & jacket
blurbs, links to reviews.

If this shared ILS links directly to a statewide database, could
patrons select ILLs too?

I like these ideas:
a heads-up e-mail notification for those with e-mail addresses on
record (eg: 2 day advance reminder for materials due), elective
circulation history  opt –in ( eg:  have I read that?)

Allow patrons to create multiple book lists of possibilities
(different subject areas) as opposed to firm holds.
Allow patrons to sign up for emailed date-due reminders.

Access our catalog, reserve materials, attach a 1 sentence review to something they read or used, renew their materials, suggest new materials for the library to acquire.

All recommended features outlined in previous responses are great so I will not repeat them here again…. But in case I missed this one in an earlier email, what about a reader’s advisory feature, similar to “If you like reading Harlan Coben, try …” or “Other people who read this book also read . . .”

I agree with the comments others have been sharing, items I'd love to see include: search, renew (if not on hold by another patron), reserve, see book covers, make ILL requests, review links, if you like this book, then try... book recommendations, access account information.

We would like to see our patrons be able to do the following from outside the Library:

Search our collection online by author, title, subject, keyword, age group, school grade level, and lexile level

Searching should be like using Google and have features such as "Did you mean.." to catch mispellings or suggested search terms that pop up when a search is being typed by the patron.

Narrow search results by date, material type (book, video, etc), and date.

Material entries should have typical biblio. info, plus summaries, book jacket covers, and reviews from publications, such as Library Journal, and allow for patrons to provide a review or rating. Link to NoveList info about item would also be useful.

Ability to bookmark and share material records.

Access downloadable books from the catalog, as well as any database the Library has available (federated searching). Allow them to use their Library card to login, instead of the various usernames and passwords we currently have for all of our online resources.

Ability to access their account and renew, reserve, and receive overdue notices by email/text. It would be great if all our collections were combined so that our patrons may request items from other libraries.

Ability to browse the catalog easily for new books, or for specific genres, such as historical fiction.

Ability to reserve museum passes and register for programs

Have easy access to Library contact info/hours.

Ability to create lists and print/save/email/text.

Ability to upload their own book-trailer videos to catalog records.

Ability to view a tutorial on using the catalog features.

Make an electronic donation to the Library/Friends of the Library.

A Readers Advisory would be GREAT! I'll have to agree on the other points as many seem much more "Automation Savvy" than I am. 

If possible, I’d like the ILS to link to the library’s website, blog and Facebook in an effort to promote our library programs and services.  I know this might not be possible, but I figured I’d throw the idea out there.