Thank you for all your time and efforts learning about our website and PowerPAC with library users. I am so grateful for your willingness to jump in and answer questions and receive feedback from the public.
Department Heads are gathering input and learning if requests are possible – and then weighing if requests should be implemented based on best practice, staff time available and the number of requests received. We don’t want to change the website daily, but we do want to be responsive. Here is a breakdown of how we would like to gather input on the website and a general timeframe for changes:
Slack channel – Use the Slack channel to report broken links or other things that are clearly not functioning as they should and no patron follow up is needed. You should expect a response to your slack within 24-48 hours. This is not the correct avenue for complaints or grumbles.
Messages to Molly via email or slack – Message Molly directly with patron complaints that require follow up. I will follow up with patrons. Also message me directly with general wish lists, complaints, observations, etc. that don’t require follow-up. I will make a running list of feedback and that will help department heads prioritize projects.
Keep in mind that we will not plan on making changes – other than fixing broken functions – daily or weekly.
Below is feedback we have received and a response:
Feedback: The new catalog makes me sign in and before I didn’t have to sign in.
Response: The new online catalog will require you to sign in after more than 20 minutes of inactivity. That is to protect privacy and security, and that is not something that we can change.
Feedback: It would be nice if items that were available showed up in a different color than items that were not available.
Response: That is not an option in our new system. Availability shows on the record several times. Please guide patrons where they can see the availability.
Feedback: Patrons miss using the online catalog to browse for materials.
Response: This a function that will not be available exactly the way it was. The online catalog is designed to search using “access points” i.e. title, author, date of publication, subject heading, keyword, etc. There was some “magic” in the old catalog that allowed for a browsing experience that we just won’t be able to replicate. For instance we cannot sort books in the order that they were added to our system. What we can offer are lists of books and carousels or rivers or books that people can scroll through. We are working through some issues to get more of those lists available and easily discoverable to library users.
Feedback: Patrons miss the indicator that showed up on the catalog letting them know if an item was in their reading list or holds queue.
Response: Patrons can access their reading history (if it is turned on) or their holds on the PowerPAC, but it won’t up as they search for materials in the bibliographic record. They will have to cross reference those lists. Again, this is just a little bit of convenience that is no longer available.
Feedback: I am not sure how to request an ILL or Purchase Request. I just see request.
Response: We are just accepting requests for materials that we do not own. Then library staff are deciding what the best option is to get the patron connected with the materials. It isn’t always an easy choice between ILL and purchasing an item, and the ultimate goal is just to connect the patron with the item. We are going to take all the factors into consideration and decide if an ILL or purchase request is the best route. For instance, we might have seen two ILL requests for an older DVD in the last month. And we can buy it for $5. In that case, we might just go ahead and do a purchase request since the purchase price is less than postage and we have seen a high demand for that item…even if it is older. So there are many factors to consider with ILL vs. purchase requests, and we just wanted to simplify the process since most of the public is not aware of all the factors involved.
Between December 21 and January 18 there were 4,855 logins and 1,601 holds placed on PowerPAC so people are busy using it. Thank you again for all your help with the transition.