[Koha] Using the Recalls feature

[Caroline Cyr La Rose]

Hi Eric!

On 2023-01-20 14:56, Eric Phetteplace wrote:
> Hi collective wisdom,
>
> Are there other libraries out there using the fairly new (as of 22.05)
> Recalls feature? Our prior ILS had recalls so we were looking forward to
> using this but as our circulation staff tested it, we began running into
> some problems. I've read the wiki page
> <https://wiki.koha-community.org/wiki/Catalyst_IT_Recalls>  and the manual
> documentation
> <https://koha-community.org/manual//22.05/en/html/circulation.html#recalls>
> but they either omit some details or there are bugs. Here are our issues:


I don't use recalls (and never worked in a library that used recalls), 
but I did test the feature extensively to document it.

There are still bugs, as it is, like you said, a very new feature, and I 
know the community is working hard on correcting them. But as far as I 
could tell when trying it out, the basic functionalities work well.


>
> There's no indication from a patron's details page if their items have been
> recalled.


I just tried in 22.05.06 and I see a mention in both the staff interface 
and the OPAC, under the patron's checkout, that it has been recalled.

In the OPAC, it's only in italics, so maybe it's not very visible. 
https://snipboard.io/9oml8O.jpg

In the staff interface, it's in bold red https://snipboard.io/rhxkyd.jpg


If you don't see the messages, maybe there is CSS or JS hiding them? 
Otherwise, maybe they were added in a later patch between 22.05.00 and 
22.05.06 and you don't have it yet, depending on the version you have...

Also, maybe translations might affect this if you use Koha in another 
language...


>
> When you check in an item with a recall on it, a pop-up does not appear
> like the documentation says and a notification is not sent to the patron
> who placed the recall.


Not sure what is going on there... I took the screenshot for the manual, 
so it worked for sure then.

I also just tried in 22.05.06 and got the pop-up and my notice was 
generated... Note that the patron is only notified if they have an email 
address in their file.

Do you have the recall notices in Tools > Notices and slips? If not, it 
may be the cause of the lack of notification...

For the pop-up, is there a pop-up blocker or something similar that 
could interfere with it popping up? I know I used to have this problem 
with holds sometimes (of course, always when demonstrating in front of 
people, you know how it is!), I would wait for the pop-up to appear and 
sweat a little before noticing the small bar at the top of my browser 
telling me to accept the pop-up :)


>
> If the current due date on a checked out item is closer than the recall
> period, recalling an item *extends* the due date (e.g. item is due
> tomorrow, recall period is one week, recall => item is due in one week).


I noticed this too! If the item is already late, it is suddenly not late 
anymore...

I think you should report that one on bugzilla so that it can be corrected.


>
> Question: if the RecallsMaxPickUpDelay setting controls recall expiration,
> then what does the "Recall pickup period" circulation rule do?


If I understand correctly, the recall pickup period rule sets the 
"expiration" date of the recall, whereas the system preference is the 
one that manages the second tab in Circulation > Recalls awaiting 
pickup. I imagine it's so that you can manage long awaiting recalls 
manually, but I expect that most libraries will set both at the same 
number and have them automatically expire.

The developers might be able to answer you with more details on this one...


>
> The *Place recall* action displays even when it's not relevant (e.g. on a
> bib with all available items).


This was already reported on bugzilla : 
https://bugs.koha-community.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=30942


>
> Finally, if you are not logged in and you select *Place recall*, you are
> taken to the login page, then to the patron details page. You have to
> re-navigate to the place you were originally to place the recall again. I
> have a convoluted OpacUserJS hack to work around this but thought I should
> point this out, it doesn't match user expectations.


I am not able to get this behaviour on my 22.05.06. I click Place 
recall, log in, and I am brought to the recall confirmation page. Did 
you try without your JS hack?


>
> Are we doing something wrong? Or should I file some bug reports for these
> issues? If anyone else is using recalls in production, I would love to hear
> from you.
>

Like I said I don't "use" the recalls feature, so I may not be the best 
reference on "real life" use, but since I tested it, documented it (in 
both English and French), and explained how it worked to my clients, I 
know the basics well enough. :)


Regards,

Caroline


<https://inLibro.com/en> 	Caroline Cyr-La-Rose, M.L.I.S.
Librarian | Product Manager

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