Join the co-chairs to discuss all things Aspen Discovery. This is an opportunity to network with your colleagues and share ideas on customization, readers' advisory features, patron service strategies, and searching tips and tricks.This meeting is virtual through Zoom.
Agenda
- New in Aspen and the LiDA app
- Keyword filters - how are they working "in the field"?
- Materials requests
- Holds features
- Placing requests on behalf of patrons
- Accessibility in Aspen and the app
- Open time
Notes
Tara Wood reviewed the past 5 Aspen releases (25.10 through 26.02) and enhancements to each. The group discussed the new home screen link options for the app, as well as the anticipated Hoopla Flex and Palace Project integrations we hope to go live with over the next month.
The group reviewed the new keyword filter functionality that went live in February. So far there weren't many suggestions for terms to add, though "biopic" and "live action" came up for movies, as well as "library of things".
The group also discussed the holds functionality and local practices for purchase suggestions.
- Holds aren't placed automatically in Aspen for patrons, but they can be placed in bulk through the Requests Needing Holds area of Aspen Administration.
- Some libraries are using Aspen to wrangle all of the purchase suggestions, including using masquerade mode to add holds for patrons or to add requests submitted through other forms, such as paper forms.
- There was some debate over what to do with requests for titles with no publication release date - most of those in attendance mark those requests as "unavailable to purchase" or a similar status, which closes the request, and tell the patron to keep an eye on a release date
- In theory, libraries could allow patrons to submit these requests and rely on the Requests Needing Holds log to place holds at a future date -- most libraries limit patrons to 5 active requests, preventing patrons from submitting many of these types of requests
- Some TV series and movies never release to physical media (i.e. are streaming only) so some of these requests are never filled
The group also discussed the holds decision logic for Aspen, and how number of copies are factored in. We looked at the Holds Decision Tree documentation -- Aspen considers holds ratios after a number of other factors, such as local library holdings and availability.