Preference Parameters

This suggestion can go two different ways:

1) Cataloging codes that are automatically removed for certain reasons. For example, if we have a current events subject code, the code would be automatically removed after the book has been circulating for 2 years. This option would help keep these types of categories clean, and would help reduce the amount of manual cataloging work that would need to be done. The WebOPAC already has filtering options for newly added books, so this suggestion would be taking things to the next level, giving us greater amounts of customization and flexibility.

2) Parameters for preferences in the patron module. For example, we get a lot of users who say "I'd like books by (insert author), but only from the last 2 years," since that is when they started losing their sight. Currently we have to just put all the books by that author within that publishing date range on their request list, then block the author in their preferences so they don't get anything else by that author. This system works for right now, but any future releases by that author the user won't get. Same thing with subject preferences. People want best-sellers, but only from the last few years. If we could select parameters when we are setting up a user's preferences we could be serving them way better, and we'd have a good idea what books aren't circulating as much any more so we can know what to include in Xcess. This option could be similar to the automatic hashad deletion, where there is a field staff can specify what the range is (between two dates, before a certain date, after a certain date, after a certain number of days, etc).

We agree with suggestion #2 that the ability to have Nightly exclude books based on a publication date would be very helpful. A Preference Type which would allow us to select for some patrons a range of dates to exclude sounds well worth pursuing.

I agree that the cataloging needs to be keep current. Most patrons want the newest information.

At FL1G, we have a number of people who do not want the older books by their authors. It would be great to have a selection for sending only the last 2 years by an author.