Thursday, May 10, 2007

HIP OPAC suggestions from customers

"It would be great if there was some service that guided people to read books similiar to the one they just read. Something like they have on Amazon. Those who purchased "__________" also purchased "_____________". I use that feature on Amazon often to determine the next book I will read.
Comments: I am very impressed with the services that are on the web site. I am an MLIS student and I have been able to get a lot of information for projects directly from the WEb site."

"The search algorithms could be smarter. It's often troubling and difficult to find any items. Check out this site, as an example of an EXCELLENT library catalog. Could this system be adopted?"

"I would love to be able to do more advanced searches of the catalog such as specifying juvenile vs. adult fiction, etc. If there is a way of doing this already I certainly haven't found it!"

"there needs to be a working summary of each book"

"need ability to pay a fine online"

"email notice when books arrive that have been requested"

"Public catalog should allow a patron to browse the subject index. I wanted to browse India subject but could not."

"email reminders on books soon due"

"ability to limit search - example: when searching by author be able to limit to all books published in 2003"

"ability to alphabetize search results"

"The ability to pay fines online."

"The list functionality does not work all the time. I will save off books and create folders etc, but after about a month it all gets deleted. I think I miss some good reading because I cannot remember all of the books I find."

"Continue showing the picture of the book next to the title."

"Bring back the position you are when you put a specific book on hold - especially for the new bestsellers."

"The last several times I have tried to email my book list to my email and nothing came through. And I have the library as an approved sender / receiver."

"IF YOU FORGET YOUR LIBRARY CARD, BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE # IS BY SENDING IT TO YOUR E-MAIL. FIRST THE ONLY ACCESS YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR LIBRARY CARD # IS YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER. THAT WAY, IF I WANT TO REQUEST SOMETHING OFF THE COMPUTER, I COULD GET JUST GET MY LIBRARY CARD NUMBER OFF THE COMPUTER FIRST RROM MY E-MAIL."

"I would like to have the webpage connect to the renewal login."

" Whenever I try to renew online, the login box only gets me to a location that indicates the page cannot be displayed."

"When I call, only one person is competant to help on internet matters and he has not been available."

"Take the artwork off. Some of it is offensive and it is totally unnecessary. It also slows down the system more than it is already."

"Maybe a feature where you can take a sneak peak into the book (like Amazon has) so you can decide if you want to check the book out."

"Something like Amazon.com's 'If you liked this book, you might also like...'"

"I moved to Montgomery County several years ago from Danbury, Ct. I have continued to receive their e-mails about forth coming books and use their site almost exclusively to search for new books titles to request from you. I've forwarded their site to several friends because I find it easy to navigate, and full of great suggestions. Please look at Danbury Public Library

"There should be an easier way to access an account, for example, you should have a function where people can set up their own usernames and passwords. The library card plus phone number method is cumbersome."

"See a waiting ILL item on the Holds list under My Account"

"Have books designated as "lost" removed from the online catalog until found"

"List of award winning books (ALA, Newbery, etc.) to browse"

"I would like to be able to pull up my children’s Accelerated Reader booklist for their schools."

" View new books online/list"

"I would like to see a list of the books, dvds, audios, etc. that are on order and available soon instead of having to look up each individual title and seeing if that particular item is on order or will be available."

"A "new arrivals" list would be nice. Especially useful if waiting for a book to come out in print."

"Search for new books"

"I'd like to see pictures and description of contents for every item."

"I would like to have a summary or a review of the books. It would let me know what the book was about and if it's something I wanted to read."

"Have the ability to right-click and view book details in a new window. I should be able to generate a book list and view details about each book in the window I choose--same or new. Instead, if I want to compare two books, I have open two windows of the same book list, then click one book title in one window and the second book title in the second window. Again, this is huge pain."

"It would be helpful if maybe the catalog could note if a book is on hold when you click on the title for more information. I noticed that the Harris County Public library system has a feature like that. "

"I would like to place a book on hold before it comes out or immediately when it is at the bookstore."

"Have notification via email when books that are on hold are available.

"Need to be able to search/sort through children's collection only."

"I would like to specifically search only in children's books. Currently, you do not offer that search criteria."

"I don't seem to be able to find dvd details on the site. Videos, yes, but not dvds. Is there any reason for that? I would like to be able to reserve the remaining dvds in a series when I have only been able to find certain ones physically in the library."

" I would like to search by more parameters, i.e., audiobooks and location. Also, I would like to have a short synopsis of the book accompanying the book."

"An auto-complete feature for my library number. I've entered it about an infinity times on this site, and the auto-complete feature of your site doesn't work (I have this set in my IE options, and I DO see auto-completed information on OTHER websites, just not the library site.)"

"ILL directly from Worldcat(it used to be so)"

"Borrow audio books on-line. Overdrive, Inc. "It would be nice to, somehow, access audiobooks on this website so that anywhere you bring your computer, you could listen to them."

"NOT have focus forced on the search box every time the book list page appears. When I do a search and generate a book list, I should be able to click a book title, then click back and have the book list still scrolled down to that book. Instead, I click back and I'm at the top of the book list. If I want to see the next book in the list, I have to scroll down again. This is a huge pain."