Using Course Reserves for Displays

Using the Course Reserves Module for Library Displays

The Course Reserves module can be customized and used for library displays.

Initial setup

The first step is enabling the Course Reserves module by going to Administration > System preferences, and then setting UseCourseReserves to 'Enable'. 

Once the system preference has been enabled, the new option for Course Reserves will appear on the staff interface home page as well as under the drop-down 'More' from the top of the window.

The labels for the Course Reserves module can be changed to reflect its use for displays using code in the opacuserJS and intranetuserjs system preferences. ByWater partners are encouraged to submit a ticket requesting that we update labels. 

Authorized values

The Course Reserves module uses a required authorized value category called DEPARTMENT. For displays, this is typically relabeled as 'Type', and libraries use it as the display location such as 'Reference desk' or 'New endcap'.

TERM is another authorized value used by the Course Reserves module. Since it's not required, we typically hide this field unless a library has a use for it.

To add values for DEPARTMENT (and optionally TERM), follow the instructions in the manual for adding new authorized values. 

For multi-branch consortia/libraries, you can indicate whether the 'Type' (in the DEPARTMENT authorized value category) is specific to a branch/library.

Creating a display

Once in the Displays module, the first step is creating a new display. Required fields are marked in red. The steps are:
  1. Click the 'Add new display' button.
  2. Enter a 'Display name' - for instance, 'Summer reading', 'Staff picks', 'Halloween reads' etc. (required).
  3. Select the display 'Type' (required).
  4. Enter the 'Library' (required).
  5. Enter the 'Area of library' - for example, 'Stacks', 'Reading room', or 'Teen zone' (optional).
  6. Add a 'Staff note' (optional).
  7. If the display should be active immediately, make sure that 'Enabled' is checked. If you are setting up the display ahead of time, uncheck the 'Enabled' box.
  8. Once you have entered your details, click 'Save'.
Info
The fields above are ByWater's standard relabeling to use Course Reserves for displays. Please discuss any requested changes with us in a ticket.

The 'Staff note' can be helpful if there is something specific that needs to be communicated about this display. Fields are searchable from the staff interface and the OPAC.

Adding items to the display

The manual describes how to add items to Course Reserves/displays. If ByWater adds the code to modify Course Reserves for display use, we relabel 'Batch add reserves' to 'Add items', so you will be following the steps for using the 'Batch add reserves' button. (Note that we typically hide the 'Add reserves' button that allows for adding items one at a time.)

At this step, you can temporarily change the item type, collection code, home library, holding library, shelving location, staff note, and/or public note while the item is on display. Once items have been added, they can easily be edited individually if needed.

Alert
Keep in mind that item type determines an item's circulation and fine rules, so if items on display have a different loan period, it is important to change this field.

Shelving location is often changed to 'Display' (or similar) while items are on display. This helps patrons and staff find items in their temporary location.

These values will apply to the items in the display until you have inactivated or deleted the display, or until items are removed.

Changing items on display

If you want to use the same display details (name, location, type) but with different contents, you can remove its items while keeping the display itself:
  1. From the main Displays page, click the name of the display you need to update.
  2. Click the 'Edit display' button.
  3. To remove all items from the display, select 'Remove all items' to batch-remove everything from the display.
  4. If only some items need to be removed, use the 'Remove items' button. On the next screen, you can scan or paste in the barcodes for items you need to remove (one per line). This will automatically revert removed items to their 'permanent' item details (shelving location, item type etc.).
You can then add new items using the 'Add items' button as described above. This could be useful for topics that your library will re-use, but whose items will change - for instance, 'Staff picks' or 'Summer reading'. 

Ending a display

There are two options once a display is no longer needed.

If the display will be used again with the same details (such as name and type) and items, you can make it inactive so that it is available to re-use in the future. This can be useful for seasonal displays such as 'Back to school' or 'Summer cooking'.
  1. Click the display name.
  2. Click the 'Edit display' button.
  3. Uncheck 'Enabled'. This will restore items' permanent details (shelving location, item type etc.) while retaining the temporary display information for future use.
  4. When the display should be active again, simply use the 'Edit display' button again and select the 'Enabled' box to reactivate it. This will temporarily restore the display-specific details like shelving location and item type for all items on the display.
If the display will not be used again at all, you can delete with the following steps:
  1. Click the display name.
  2. Click the 'Edit display' button.
  3. Select the 'Delete display' button.
This will remove all items from the display, which reverts them to their permanent shelving location, item type, and other details, and deletes the display itself.

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