UPDATE: The problems reported between December 24th and the 29th are resolved. All searching and linking within the catalogue is back to normal.
Comments
12 thoughts on “*UPDATED* Issues with catalogue searching”
Perhaps this is intentional, but there is an issue with renewing items online when more than 10 items are overdue.
When 11 or more items become overdue, the system refuses to renew any of them, providing instead a message that “there is a problem with your account”.
It seems staff are generally unaware of this, as I have twice called my branch to renew these books on the next date the library is open, and both times staff were unaware that a limit on overdues would have this effect.
It seems ridiculous that patrons should be required to take up the time of staff, either in person or over the phone, simply to renew items that should be easily renewed online.
Hi Dee,
The block on your account when you have more than 10 overdue items is in fact deliberate and is part of the library’s circulation policy.
For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions.
Sandra
Vaughan library online service has a very convenient capability. It shows items on my account requested by other customers. This lets me know what book cannot be renewed and has to be read first. Is it possible to implement this capability in Toronto library service?
Hi Alex,
That does sound like a convenient feature. Vaughan Public Library uses a different catalogue system from Toronto Public Library, and unfortunately, our system does not currently offer the capability to easily see which of your checked-out items have been requested by others. You would have to click the link for each of your checked-out items and view the full record to see if there are holds on it.
We will definitely keep your suggestion in mind as a possible future enhancement to the account functionality. Thanks for your comment!
Sandra
I would like to suggest an improvement to catalogue search capabilities.
As someone who is not able to visit the Toronto Reference Library, I am only interested in returning catalogue search results that are circulating. I am forced to click on many search results to determine whether or not they are available for transfer to my local branch. To make matters worse, the “Place Hold” link is not a true indicator of which items are actually circulating.
I would like to somehow be able to limt catalogue search results to those items that are circulating. As I see it, this could be accomplished in a variety of ways: “not Toronto Reference Library” and “not TRL Stacks” branch items, or better yet, a “not Toronto Reference Library or TRL stacks” branch item, a “circulating” format type, or, least desirable, the ability to search by branch.
Hi Doug,
Many of our customers have asked for a way to limit search results to items that can be checked out. Right now, you can do this (in a somewhat imperfect way) when keyword searching by choosing “All but Toronto Reference Library” from the drop-down Branch menu before submitting your search. Some reference items may still show up, but eliminating the Reference Library holdings gets you closer to a list of only circulating titles.
We are working on improvements to this functionality as part of our website redesign. Thanks for letting us know it’s important to you.
Sandra
Regarding the advice to select “all but Toronto Reference Library” in a search, at first I thought that was good advice, but doesn’t that exclude the books in the Browsery at TRL? As someone who CAN and DOES use TRL for the Browsery but also finds it annoying to turn up search results in the TRL stacks, this is a factor. The nice thing about the Browsery is no-holds, so if the item’s there, chances are it’ll still be there when I get there; and if it’s very crucial, I can (I think) phone ahead.
Hi Janet,
This unfortunately falls under the “somewhat imperfect” disclaimer that Sandra mentioned in her comment. My own try indicates you’re correct–using the “All but Toronto Reference Library” option excludes results from the Browsery at TRL as well as noncirculating and stacks items from TRL.
As Sandra said, we are working on improvements to the search functionality as part of the website redesign. It’s clearly an important feature to our customers to know what is and isn’t available to borrow in the TPL branches they regularly visit. Thanks for your feedback.
I am a housebound handicapped patron of TPL.
I request items using my home computer and have a neighbour pick them up at my branch.
Many times, my research items are available only for access within the downtown Reference Library, which, given the nature and severity of my handicap, is almost impossible for me (and probably others) to access by any transit.
If any book is purchased for the Reference Library, why isn’t there another copy purchased for circulation? While this may add to overall costs, service may be well improved.
I just logged in today to renew 3 items that are due in 2 days (i have in total 3 items due! and no overdue items, and I never used ‘Place on hold’ feature) but I couldn’t renew items – seems that my card is blocked!!! I will go to the closes TPL branch tomorrow – i hope they will know what is going on!It probably some kind of bug of this new system since I have no overdue items (unless system creates them). Seems that there is also some bug related to holds/cancelled holds. When I click to see details on the Notice (why my account is not working) it’s showing some cancelled holds – and some titles that I’ve never heard about!!! I NEVER PLACED ANYTHING ON HOLD OR CANCELLED HOLD! Now i can’t renew items online anymore and my card is blocked!:(I have never had any problem with Library card before!PLEAE CORRECT THESE BUGS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
I hope i will be able to clear this problem with my card tomorrow in TPL branch! (hope they know about possible problems with this new system)
Thanks!
Hi Paul,
Collection development policy is outside the scope of the web team, but the nature of Toronto Reference Library’s services will mean that some research works will only be available through them.
Toronto Reference Library does have specialized services, staff and equipment for providing full access to patrons with disabilities to their collections. I do recognize that your comment is more about the difficulty of traveling to TRL from outside the downtown core, though. One of the exciting things about web services is precisely the possibility of providing specialized information and research sources wherever our customers want them.
I would suggest you send your feedback via the general customer feedback form on the website – this gets your comment to the appropriate people, and you can request a reply from them regarding your suggestion.
Thank you for your feedback.
Hi Ivana,
Sorry to hear about your difficulties! Branch staff are often able to resolve these kind of issues with a patron record, but sometimes they have to be passed up to information technology staff. I hope it’s fixed quickly for you.
We’re dedicated to the continual improvement of our web services, including the web catalogue, including squashing bugs such as this as quickly as we can, but it’s always an ongoing process.
Thanks for your feedback.
12 thoughts on “*UPDATED* Issues with catalogue searching”
Perhaps this is intentional, but there is an issue with renewing items online when more than 10 items are overdue.
When 11 or more items become overdue, the system refuses to renew any of them, providing instead a message that “there is a problem with your account”.
It seems staff are generally unaware of this, as I have twice called my branch to renew these books on the next date the library is open, and both times staff were unaware that a limit on overdues would have this effect.
It seems ridiculous that patrons should be required to take up the time of staff, either in person or over the phone, simply to renew items that should be easily renewed online.
Hi Dee,
The block on your account when you have more than 10 overdue items is in fact deliberate and is part of the library’s circulation policy.
For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions.
Sandra
Vaughan library online service has a very convenient capability. It shows items on my account requested by other customers. This lets me know what book cannot be renewed and has to be read first. Is it possible to implement this capability in Toronto library service?
Hi Alex,
That does sound like a convenient feature. Vaughan Public Library uses a different catalogue system from Toronto Public Library, and unfortunately, our system does not currently offer the capability to easily see which of your checked-out items have been requested by others. You would have to click the link for each of your checked-out items and view the full record to see if there are holds on it.
We will definitely keep your suggestion in mind as a possible future enhancement to the account functionality. Thanks for your comment!
Sandra
I would like to suggest an improvement to catalogue search capabilities.
As someone who is not able to visit the Toronto Reference Library, I am only interested in returning catalogue search results that are circulating. I am forced to click on many search results to determine whether or not they are available for transfer to my local branch. To make matters worse, the “Place Hold” link is not a true indicator of which items are actually circulating.
I would like to somehow be able to limt catalogue search results to those items that are circulating. As I see it, this could be accomplished in a variety of ways: “not Toronto Reference Library” and “not TRL Stacks” branch items, or better yet, a “not Toronto Reference Library or TRL stacks” branch item, a “circulating” format type, or, least desirable, the ability to search by branch.
Hi Doug,
Many of our customers have asked for a way to limit search results to items that can be checked out. Right now, you can do this (in a somewhat imperfect way) when keyword searching by choosing “All but Toronto Reference Library” from the drop-down Branch menu before submitting your search. Some reference items may still show up, but eliminating the Reference Library holdings gets you closer to a list of only circulating titles.
We are working on improvements to this functionality as part of our website redesign. Thanks for letting us know it’s important to you.
Sandra
Regarding the advice to select “all but Toronto Reference Library” in a search, at first I thought that was good advice, but doesn’t that exclude the books in the Browsery at TRL? As someone who CAN and DOES use TRL for the Browsery but also finds it annoying to turn up search results in the TRL stacks, this is a factor. The nice thing about the Browsery is no-holds, so if the item’s there, chances are it’ll still be there when I get there; and if it’s very crucial, I can (I think) phone ahead.
Hi Janet,
This unfortunately falls under the “somewhat imperfect” disclaimer that Sandra mentioned in her comment. My own try indicates you’re correct–using the “All but Toronto Reference Library” option excludes results from the Browsery at TRL as well as noncirculating and stacks items from TRL.
As Sandra said, we are working on improvements to the search functionality as part of the website redesign. It’s clearly an important feature to our customers to know what is and isn’t available to borrow in the TPL branches they regularly visit. Thanks for your feedback.
I am a housebound handicapped patron of TPL.
I request items using my home computer and have a neighbour pick them up at my branch.
Many times, my research items are available only for access within the downtown Reference Library, which, given the nature and severity of my handicap, is almost impossible for me (and probably others) to access by any transit.
If any book is purchased for the Reference Library, why isn’t there another copy purchased for circulation? While this may add to overall costs, service may be well improved.
I just logged in today to renew 3 items that are due in 2 days (i have in total 3 items due! and no overdue items, and I never used ‘Place on hold’ feature) but I couldn’t renew items – seems that my card is blocked!!! I will go to the closes TPL branch tomorrow – i hope they will know what is going on!It probably some kind of bug of this new system since I have no overdue items (unless system creates them). Seems that there is also some bug related to holds/cancelled holds. When I click to see details on the Notice (why my account is not working) it’s showing some cancelled holds – and some titles that I’ve never heard about!!! I NEVER PLACED ANYTHING ON HOLD OR CANCELLED HOLD! Now i can’t renew items online anymore and my card is blocked!:(I have never had any problem with Library card before!PLEAE CORRECT THESE BUGS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
I hope i will be able to clear this problem with my card tomorrow in TPL branch! (hope they know about possible problems with this new system)
Thanks!
Hi Paul,
Collection development policy is outside the scope of the web team, but the nature of Toronto Reference Library’s services will mean that some research works will only be available through them.
Toronto Reference Library does have specialized services, staff and equipment for providing full access to patrons with disabilities to their collections. I do recognize that your comment is more about the difficulty of traveling to TRL from outside the downtown core, though. One of the exciting things about web services is precisely the possibility of providing specialized information and research sources wherever our customers want them.
I would suggest you send your feedback via the general customer feedback form on the website – this gets your comment to the appropriate people, and you can request a reply from them regarding your suggestion.
Thank you for your feedback.
Hi Ivana,
Sorry to hear about your difficulties! Branch staff are often able to resolve these kind of issues with a patron record, but sometimes they have to be passed up to information technology staff. I hope it’s fixed quickly for you.
We’re dedicated to the continual improvement of our web services, including the web catalogue, including squashing bugs such as this as quickly as we can, but it’s always an ongoing process.
Thanks for your feedback.