Requesting Multiple Volumes or Multiple Copies of One Title
Alma will not allow a patron to request a second volume of a title on the same record unless the item has a description. However, as one of our catalogers explained: "Since they are part of an analyzed set, the volume number goes on the holding record, not the item record, and therefore, there needs to be two holding records."
This is problematic for requesting analyzed sets from our off-site storage facility, which is where we get the most complaints from our patrons.
We put in a Salesforce case (#00485416) about this, but they closed it because they insist we must have a description in order to enable requesting multiple volumes. So, we are posting it here as in enhancement request instead.
Lisa Hamlett
shared this idea
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Klara
commented
Ghent University Libraries has the same problem.
We have a large depository library that houses significant special collections. Patrons request items of those collections ahead to consult them in the reading room. They are often interested in comparing different editions or copies of the same work (e.g. a researcher wants to compare three historical auction catalogs with different annotations).
Patrons cannot request multiple items within one record, except when the items have a unique description. Our items do not have unique descriptions structurally, and we are hesitant to implement this. It would not only be a significant workload; it would also compromise the consistency of the metadata, which would affect both our staff’s workflows and the user experience in the catalog.
We see this as a significant problem as a heritage library; given that facilitating comparative research is an essential aspect of our services. Adding unique descriptions on an ad hoc basis is not an option; we receive too many requests for this, and moreover, it is not a structural solution. -
gutti
commented
Not being able to reserve multiple copies of the same resource even as a staff user hinders requests for reading circles and schools which often require many copies of the same title for a single account.
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Sveinbjörg Sveinsdóttir
commented
Consortium of Icelandic Libraries has as this problem also.
Note: Staff is unable to place multiple requests on a title with available items on behalf of a patron via Alma UI. This problem is thus not only affecting our patrons but also staff users. -
Hiltje de Vries
commented
Hi Lisa, Leiden University Library (The Netherlands) has the same problem. Especially our patrons who are doing research for which they need several items with the same title of our Special Collections are complaining. Strange thing is, that ALMA is not completely strict in this policy; requests done by Primo give an error but requests done by staff users using the ALMA item request option are not giving problems.