Patron notes should be visible for the lending library
When patrons place requests via Rapido, they can enter further details about the request in the notes field. This is where they enter important additional information about the order, especially in the case of digital requests. This information from the notes field is not transferred to the Lending Library. The field is explicitly used by users as a message to the library, so it is frustrating for both sides that the library does not receive this information.
Seeing the patron notes is essential for the smooth execution of digital requests, precisely because the Lending Library can’t ask customers directly if something is unclear.
Please add the patron's note on the lending side in the "Request form (as filled by requester)" and on the Ful Resource Request Slip Letter in the same way as the chapter or page number do.
See comments for more details.

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Florence Lanz (UBE) commented
At IZ UBE, we strongly support this idea - we work with digitisations and MyBib and are also familiar with the problems caused by missing patron references.
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Manu_Schwendener commented
In my opinion it is a bug, not a missing feature.
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In the confirmation email the patron gets, the request note is visible.
But the library fulfilling the order did not see the note, and thus ignored it.
(adding this again, the screenshot got lost when I edited the earlier comment.)
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Manu_Schwendener commented
And here's what the lending library sees / doesn't see:
- in Alma, via Rapido
- in MyBibThe REQUEST NOTE note is missing.
In the case of Alma there even is a field "Note", but it only contains a - .
In MyBib, there also is a field "Notes", which does not show the request note.
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Manu_Schwendener commented
Can't attach another screenshot to an older comment, sorry.
Here's the cover letter of the scans.
Request note is missing.
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Manu_Schwendener commented
Here's what I get as confirmation. The information is visible as Request note.
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Manu_Schwendener commented
> Patron Notes fields are regularly used for the end user to share personal
> information with their library (email addresses, physical addresses..).> significant risk of personal identifiable information (PII) being unintentionally shared
> between the borrowing library and lenders in the system. Patron Notes fields are regularly
> used for the end user to share personal information with their library (email addresses,
> physical addresses..). This information [...] is NOT RELEVANT TO THE LENDING LIBRARY.Is Ex Libris' reply based on a misunderstanding? An unfortunate phrasing of the submission?
I don't think we are talking about the same field.
This is about the Comment field (= Request note) in the the Rapido form, see screenshot
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Manu_Schwendener commented
> which I also submitted via the RapidILL IE
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Manu_Schwendener commented
> Obviously, this would need a checkbox
> Ex Libris ... couldn't develop thisIf we get _two_ note fields, this can be solved with clear labels, and the checkbox isn't necessary.
And/or a "disclaimer" text as part of the request form, not tied to a certain field (this may already be in place, I'll go check).
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Lynne Porat commented
During last year's NERS voting, I tried promoting this idea (which I also submitted via the RapidILL IE). I was unable to convince EXL that the Request Note with information relevant to the request should be sent to other libraries, and another internal Note should be used for personal details or other sensitive data. Obviously, this would need a checkbox to ensure that the patron is aware of which information is being transferred. The response I received from EXL was that they couldn't develop this, which is strange because it seems quite simple to me. Also, if the Request Note is transferred with ISO requests, why not with Rapid requests?
For more details, pls. contact me: porat@univ.haifa.ac.il -
Manu_Schwendener commented
From the Aha communication:
"There was a very similar request to this last year: [...] the Request Notes (as submitted by our patrons) are not carried over [...] These Notes frequently include important information such as the necessity of Figures / Plates / EndNotes that could help a Lender accurately and successfully fill the request."
"This request DID vote highly during the first round, but when ExLibris was examining it for pointing they indicated the following:
'... we have determined there is significant risk of personal identifiable information (PII) being unintentionally shared between the borrowing library and lenders in the system. Patron Notes fields are regularly used for the end user to share personal information with their library (email addresses, physical addresses..). [...][Ex Libris] would, however, be open to discussing this further with the community, and exploring how we can solve the core issue."
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The patrons have no way of knowing that their information will be ignored by the system and thus by the library fulfilling their order.
This is not a privacy issue. If we need to warn the patrons not to enter confidential data, please add a checkmark they have to click or something similar.