Re: [IUG] Purchase alerts

[Phil Shirley <pshirley at cuyahogafallslibrary dot org>]

We're using something outside the III system for purchase alerts.  This 
could be customized to include only books.  This uses Create Lists and 
Perl; if you don't have Perl, it's free, and easy to install on any PC 
(we actually do the perl part on our web server and automate the Create 
Lists with Expect but you don't have to do any of that).  I'll be glad 
to send you our script and help you get this working if you want.

This script is based on something from another library, NOBLE I think. 
We use Create Lists to get a list of titles with holds, list certain 
fields, and then run this output through a perl script.  The script 
finds titles with more than 2 holds per item (where "item" means an item 
record or a copy on order).  It outputs a web page, sorted in descending 
order by holds per item, with this info:

title (with link to opac for more info if you want)
author
# of holds
# of items owned
# of items on order
total items (owned + ordered)
holds per item

I think that an item that's missing, billed, etc. doesn't count.

Our process is automated using Expect and runs every day.

Ann Arbor District Library has also done something like this that Glen 
Modell told me I could include in my perl poster session for IUG 2008. 
Here's an example page:

http://odie.aadl.org/iug_clearinghouse/pa_example.html

And their script is available in the Clearinghouse at
http://innovativeusers.org/cgi-bin/clearinghouse/view.pl?id=189

Phil

Mary Cohen wrote:
> Could someone give me feedback on how they handle purchase alerts?
> Purchase alerts encompasses everything on the list and we are only
> really looking at our books.  We've also been looking at the view
> outstanding holds tab in circ but that is also cumbersome.  There also
> isn't a "holds" file for create lists but I think there is an
> enhancement in the future regarding this.  That might be an easy way to
> limit by location.
>
>  
>
> Thanks for any help in advance,
>
>  
>
> Mary
>
>  
>
> Mary N. Cohen
>
> Technical Services Dept. Head
>
> Palos Verdes Library District
>
> 701 Silver Spur Road
>
> Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
>
> 310.377.9584 x242
>
> Fax: 310.541.6807
>
>  
>
>
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--

Phil Shirley
Technology Services Coordinator
Cuyahoga Falls Library
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
330-928-2117, ext. 109
pshirley at CuyahogaFallsLibrary dot org

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