Enhancement Requests
There are multiple opportunities to submit requests
for enhancements to the INN Reach software that powers the MaineCat - Statewide Catalog. Maine InfoNet can submit requests to
Innovative at any time. The user group that represents existing
INN Reach systems also has a process for annually collecting, prioritizing
and submitting recommendations en masse.
Below is a list of recently received enhancement
suggestions, some or all of which may have been submitted directly
to Innovative. This list will form the basis for Maine InfoNet's
contribution to the next round of INN Reach User Group enhancement
requests. Our submission from the last cycle is reproduced at
the bottom of this page.
Past Enhancement Request List, submitted June 29, 2001
When an virtual item becomes overdue and goes to the 'billed' stage,
and is then renewed by the borrower's library, the virtual item retains
the 'billed' status. Only when they are checked in by the lending
library does their status change to 'returned'. As a result, one
can have multiple items, all circulating properly, that continue to carry
a false and misleading status when viewed in the INN Reach OPAC.
We propose that renewing a virtual item change its status to that resulting
from renewal prior to the item going overdue.
INN Reach Group Submission Jan, 2001
Maine InfoNet
INN Reach Enhancement Requests
(Revised)
General
Title: Convert from rsh to ssh and/or other more secure protocols
Priority: 2
Description: Inn-reach currently uses rsh for connections, which is
an inherently insecure protocol. During an era of increased network attacks
both CERT and SANS, which track and report network breakins, recommend
disabling r-services (rsh, rcp, rlogin .) in favor of using ssh. This
request is for III to move to away from 'r' communications as soon as
possible and to implement ssh/scp or similarly secure transfer methods
for all data transfers, including patron information.
Circulation
Title: Provide all current statistics at library level within
a consortial system, as well as at the system level.
Priority: 1
Description: It is impossible to determine usage patterns at the library
level when a consortial system is part of an INN Reach group. One can
determine traffic among systems only. When loans flow between two consortial
systems, virtually no useful statistical information can be derived.
Within the context of consortia of loosely affiliated and heterogenous
institutions, this constitutes a major shortcoming in monitoring and
managing a shared INN Reach system.
Title: Enable recalls
Priority: 1
Description: Allow staff to recall materials if there is no copy available
in the consortium.
Title: Overdue notice: print library name (OhioLINK, Cascade)
Priority: 1
Description: Show originating library (not just system code) on overdue
notices.
Title: Recalls
Priority: 1
Description: Allow ability to recall items that are "Off Campus" through
an INN-Reach loan.
Title: Allow listing of InfoNet items on hold shelf
Priority 2
Description: Allow listing of InfoNet items with status XXXX Received
Title: Allow hold pick up message to display
Priority 2
Description: Display the InfoNet hold pick up message when in patron
checkout. "1 held item ready for pickup. List items? (y/n)."
Title: Visiting patron renewals
Priority: 3
Description: Allow for Visiting Patron renewals at the owning institution.
Title: Print paging slips at multiple locations
Priority: 3
Description: Add option to print paging slips for different locations
so that branch libraries of one institution can print their own paging
slips.
Title: Checkout: display INN-Reach items on hold (ORBIS)
Priority: 1
Description: When in checkout function, provide an automatic message
to indicate that the patron has INN-Reach holds waiting for checkout
In addition, we endorse the following existing enhancement requests:
Priority Year Title
1 - 2000 circ 1 Requesting: ID encryption
2 - 2000 circ 2 Requesting: add announcment message
2 - 2000 circ 3 Requesting selection of pickup location
1 - 2000 circ 5 Requesting: screen messages and examples
2 - 2000-Circ 7 Transfer unfilled request to another system
1 - 2000 circ 11 Print hold pickup notices
1 - 2000 circ 14 Virtual item: date and time (make this work in the character
based system too)
2 - 2000 circ 19 Statistics: Item # of checkouts
2 - 2000 circ 24 Visiting patron renewals
1 - 2001 Visiting patron, loan rule - enhance in character based too!
2 - 2001 Requesting, prohibit when item has due date beyond ### days
1 - 2001 Improve the hold system for soonest received copy
Catalog and Cataloging
Title: Handling of transferred searches for suppressed items.(Prospector)
Priority:2
Description: If a patron tries to transfer to the central INN Reach
system a search from a local record that has been suppressed from the
central catalog, though not from the local one (bcode3=z, for example),
the search will be unsuccessful because no exact match is found on the
record ID. The patron sees a screen that says "This item does not
exist in the database" and the only option given on the screen is
to "Return home" to the local catalog. We suggest that another button
be added to the screen that gives the patron the option to remain in
INN-Reach and continue searching there.
Title: Material type limiting
Priority: 1 Critical
Description: Allow all choices for material type limiting to be in one
pull-down menu regardless of which field (e.g. 008,007, 006) the value
is coming from.
Title: Record matching and merging-019 (ORBIS, OhioLINK)
Priority: 2
Description: The union catalog should report a list of records coming
into the database with an 019 field when it matches an 001 in the "o"
index.
Title: Implement new MARC Encoding Levels (Prospector)
Priority 2
Description: Implement the MARC encoding levels of 3 and 4 for overlay
purposes. The following precedence is recommended: blank, I, 1
(the number), 4, L (the letter), k, j, 2, m, 8, 5, 7. 3. e, w, u, z.
Title: Requesting: no available items, add screen message flexibility
(Cascade)
Priority: 2
Description: When there are no items available for loan through INN-Reach
would like message to be more flexible (customizable by site) or to inform
patrons to check with ILL at their library.
In addition, we endorse the following existing enhancement requests:
Priority Date Enhancement title
2 - 2001 Turnaround time statistics
2 - 2001 Status reports: Add another sort option for name
1 - 2000 Cat 1 Mat type code flexibility
1 - 2000 Cat 3a Institutional-level URL links (856)
1 - 2000 Cat 3b Institutional-level URL links (856)
2 - 2000 Cat 5 Patron view local record
1 - 2000 cat 10 Update order status when cancelled
1 - 2000 cat 12 Update call number
