Hi, Mike -
Mike Richardson said:
We are looking at putting in a new library automation system, but the boss wants to know if we can do web based reservations (can the patrons reserve materials)?
Yep, so long as they have a valid library card number, or whatever sort of ID you are using.
So the patrons can search and reserve from their machine, without having to call us....excellent!
Can we reserve in advance (like reserve for next thursday, etc)?
No, at least no way that I'm aware of. This might be fairly easy to do as a customization for your library, however, using a separate MySQL table that holds the reserve information and the requested date and moves that info into Koha's reserve table at the appropriate time (using a script in cron, would be one way). But there would still be no way of keeping someone else from borrowing the video in the meantime, meaning that it wouldn't be available when needed. Hmmm...
Anyone doing anything of the sort that you are aware of? Anyone that might be able to implement it, even if on a contract basis?
Can we group patrons? We serve schools, and would like to view/send all the materials for school A, no matter who the patron is, all the materials for school B, etc.
If I understand your question correctly, the answer is 'yes' -- put each group in a separate 'borrower category.'
Our 'library' is about 6000 video tapes, no books, so slightly different setup. All of them are in MARC records now under the Dynix system. We want patrons to be able to search and reserve videos on their own that we then send out several times a week.
Gawd, seems like Dynix is overkill for your needs (and I'm sure it's also killing your budget). Looking at Koha sounds like a smart move!
Yea, it's *way* overkill, but part of the large consortium, the rest of which are regular libraries. But as Dynix is no longer going to be supported, we have to switch anyway, and I can use that budget money elsewhere ;) As long as I can make Koha work do all we need it to.... -- Michael Richardson REMC #1 Network Administrator PO Box 270 CompTIA A+ certified 809 Hecla St (906) 482-4520 phone Hancock, MI 49930 (906) 482-5031 fax http://www.remc1.k12.mi.us 370 5911 mobile 206 0011 pager