Where is the genre information located within Alexandria?
Genre information is pulled from the 655_a MARC tag. You can view and modify the data in Items using the Items Editor or MARC View Editor.
FAQ
Is it required that patrons log in to write reviews?
Patrons do need to sign in to the Researcher to write a review. The default Alexandria login information is Username = Barcode and Password = Last name. See our step-by-step instructions on writing reviews, and read more about Reviews.
When using Scout, is there a way to automatically show all items that are checked out?
There sure is! You can choose to automatically show or hide checked out items in the results list by using Scout preferences. Go to Builder > Searching and look at the Scout column. In the Unavailable Items row, check whether you want to hide or show unavailable items.
What is the difference between on-shelf holds and in-stock holds?
Generally, you will see On-Shelf Holds on items that were “Available” when the hold was placed, meaning it should be on the shelf. Once you’ve pulled the On-Shelf Holds from the shelves, bookdrop them to change their status to In-Stock. Then place them in the holds area of your library for patrons to check out. For more information on the two, see Best Practices for Holds.
What is the difference between a hold and a reservation?
Holds are placed on either a title or copy record when a patron would like to check it out as soon as it is available. However, a reservation is placed on an item for a specific date range.
When a book has a reservation, can other patrons still check it out?
Yes and no, depending on the situation. If a patron tries to check out an item but their transaction period interferes with the reservation, then they will not be able to check the item out. However, if the transaction does not collide with the reservation, then they can still check out the item. Check out our articles on the Reservations tab in Librarian and placing a reservation through Search for more information.
Can patrons reserve an item that is currently checked out?
Yes! As long as the reservation is placed for a date that the item will be available, such as after the due date of the current check out period, then there is no issue with placing reservations for items currently checked out.
How far in advance can reservations be placed on items?
Patrons can place a reservation up to 90 days in advance.
Is there a limit to how many reservations can be placed on an item at once?
As long as there are no conflicting dates between the reservations, there is no limit to how many reservations an item can have!
Can I hide in processing copies in Researcher?
Yep! You can set copies to in processing (i.e. checked out to the In Processing system patron #7) if they’re in your library but aren’t ready to be placed on shelves yet. They will automatically be marked as unavailable in Researcher, but you can hide them if you’d like. In Builder Preferences, check the In Processing box on the Auto-Hide tab.