Place in queue for hold requests is confusing for users
Can the queue numbering begin with 1 rather than zero? The zero is confusing to users when an item request is made. Users interpret this as not available. It's hard to explain the queue is for those waiting not those who placed the first request.
The OTB value of the labels was changed from “Place in queue: {0}” to “{0} user(s) before you get served”. The change is not affecting existing customers, only new ones. In case existing customers would like to user the new label, there is a “Restore” row action on the label, this will bring the new label to your Alma.
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Corinna Baksik commented
That wording is awkward in the U.S. "You got served" is a way of saying you delivered a subpoena, or in slang, that you've been insulted. https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=you%20got%20served
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Laurence Lockton commented
Another option is to use this in the label:
Place in queue is <span id="placeInQueue"></span><script>document.getElementById("placeInQueue").innerHTML = {0}+1</script> -
Manu Schwendener commented
+1
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Ann Kucera - Central Michigan University commented
We relabeled the button from 'Place in queue' to 'Current Holds.' That has eliminated quite a bit of confusion.
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Anonymous commented
Programmers (or rather programming languages) start counting at zero, I think that probably explains it. However, I agree it should not be shown at the surface.
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Stacey van Groll commented
Our users were also very confused by this. We changed the text a little for a while, like Francois, but it didn’t help much and kept coming up. I think that there are just too many variables in the Alma user groups, loan policies, and request queue priorities to make this information meaningful and understandable for users. We have resorted to changin the dynamic queue number to static text of “Request placed. You will be emailed when your item is available.” and are happy to be done with this issue for good.
Cheers, Stacey van Groll, University of Queensland -
François Renaville commented
Zero is indeed very confusing for end-users. We changed the logic and configured the Alma description for c.uresolver.request.placeInQueue code with:
"Place in queue: {0} user(s) before you get served"
So, if the value is zero, users understand they will be served very soon (hopefully...) -
Anonymous commented
Again, why is this not already the case? Who, other than epidemiologists counting victims, starts numbering people with zero??