We know you've been waiting for them and now they're here. The first test New Items Lists are now available. Thanks for your patience while we worked on these lists and now we'd really like to hear what you think.
Initially we've only created a couple of lists. Once we've heard your feedback we will create more new items lists for different types of materials.
The first set of lists for New Adult Fiction, New DVDs and New Mills & Boon titles are available now on the Library's catalogue at
http://webpac.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/
For instance, the New Adult Fiction list will show adult fiction titles received by the library in the past 4 weeks. Each day new items added to the collection are then added to the list, while items older than 4 weeks will drop off the list. Some lists may cover a different period, but all will work on the same continuous rolling model.
In addition, we have added the ability to subscribe to email updates for each list. If you are interested in new DVDs, for example, you can sign up to receive a daily email listing the new titles added that day. If there are no new DVDs added that day, no email. And for any fans of RSS, there's also a feed for each list.
The list of new items in each category are coming from a direct query on our system database. Unfortunately, the items aren't really sorted in any useful order such as title or author. Also, the links to each title point to our 'classic catalogue' and not our main discovery interface (Encore), however, you can still perform all the actions you would otherwise have available (reserve, add to list, etc.)
Ideally we would change those two aspects if we could but it's just not possible.
Check these lists out and leave us a comment with your thoughts and questions or suggestions for other lists you'd like created. We can't promise anything now but we will look at your suggestions and requests and see what we can do.
Initially we've only created a couple of lists. Once we've heard your feedback we will create more new items lists for different types of materials.
The first set of lists for New Adult Fiction, New DVDs and New Mills & Boon titles are available now on the Library's catalogue at
http://webpac.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/
A bit more about the New Items Lists...
These new lists work a bit differently to the lists you may have been familiar with on our old system. Where previously the library produced a self-contained list each month, for example new fiction in July, in the new system the lists are updated daily and cover the previous month.For instance, the New Adult Fiction list will show adult fiction titles received by the library in the past 4 weeks. Each day new items added to the collection are then added to the list, while items older than 4 weeks will drop off the list. Some lists may cover a different period, but all will work on the same continuous rolling model.
In addition, we have added the ability to subscribe to email updates for each list. If you are interested in new DVDs, for example, you can sign up to receive a daily email listing the new titles added that day. If there are no new DVDs added that day, no email. And for any fans of RSS, there's also a feed for each list.
The list of new items in each category are coming from a direct query on our system database. Unfortunately, the items aren't really sorted in any useful order such as title or author. Also, the links to each title point to our 'classic catalogue' and not our main discovery interface (Encore), however, you can still perform all the actions you would otherwise have available (reserve, add to list, etc.)
Ideally we would change those two aspects if we could but it's just not possible.
Check these lists out and leave us a comment with your thoughts and questions or suggestions for other lists you'd like created. We can't promise anything now but we will look at your suggestions and requests and see what we can do.
8 comments:
Dear It guys, Thanks for this. It is good to have, but when it is set up, can you please have a return button to get you back to the list? Currently I have had to go back and log in again each time. I usually reserve several books at a time. Also, I like the ratings - will we be able to edit them in the final version? And if you are emailing the updates, then it is not such a problem if you are not able to sort, as presumably you would only need to know the latest ones.
I would like a large print list as well, thanks.
Hi
Glad to see the reurn of the new items lists. However I don't think that you need a full synopsis of the plot in these lists - just author and title would do. A short summary of the book is great when it is found in the catalogue itself.
Di
We have just added 5 more new items lists - graphic novels, young adult fiction, biographies, kids DVDs and large print Mills & Boon title. You can subscribe to them all via RSS or email just like the first 3 lists. There are still a couple more to come.
Martin (library staff)
@ReaderLiz - I can't seem to replicate the problem with logging out between reserving individual items. I have added a menu with links to all the different lists; try using that once you have reserved a title (rather than using the back button). Hopefully that will help.
You should already be able to rate items, however, you must be logged in to do it. I'm guessing this has something to do with your problem getting logged out between reserves. Just click on the number of stars in the item record.
@Di,
I would be interested to hear if others agreed with your suggestion about removing the summary from the list. Is your concern that it makes the list quite long to scroll through?
We can grab 2 fields from the item record to display in the new item feed eg. Title/Author and Summary, Title/Author and Publisher, Title/Author and ISBN, etc.
Is there something else you would prefer to see in the list?
We thought that giving the summary would give context to some of the books/materials for people who aren't familiar with the authors.
Hi
I'm not sure if my commentss are actually reaching you.
Re New Items Lists:
Are all new items added to the top of the list?
This would make looking for new items a little easier.
Di
Hi Martin
I have had trouble posting another comment but here goes ....
I don't need a synopsis but understand that others might. I just think that the summaries are a bit long.
Also is there any format that is used when adding new titles? Are they always added to the top of the list?
Thank you
Di (a library tragic!)
@Di, as mentioned in the original post, the lists aren't sorted in any particular way. So, no, the newest items are not at the top of the list. If you're checking the lists regularly you might be better off subscribing to the email updates. You will get an email each day with only the newly added items in it. If no new items are added that day, no email is sent.
cheers,
Martin
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