Alert or automatically unfreeze holds
Customers have the ability to freeze holds currently, but after the time has elapsed from them to be frozen, there is no message or alert, or automatic way for the holds to be "unfrozen".
Make a way for the holds to automatically unfreeze, or at the least for the customer to get a notice that the time has expired, so that they can unfreeze the hold themselves.
Idea Value
Our staff look at holds and how they are progressing as an indicator for purchasing additional items. the frozen holds show up in this list as well, and it is challenging to find the items that really need some help. Customers forget they have frozen holds, and the holds just hang out there. This would be a good way to get a better handle on holds maintenance.
Lisa Sampley
shared this idea
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Susanna Aakko
commented
I guess this is related to idea "Allow patron to set thaw date of frozen holds". Patrons love the functionality and staff has problems with long frozen hold queues. I'm not sure what would be the best resolution.
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Alison Pruntel
commented
There already is a way to make this happen but it is manual - you have to manually cancel hold that have expired (we have a "zombie frozen hold procedure"), confirm they get the appropriate hold cancellation notice, and then when you run cancelled holds/clear holdshelf, expired holds, they will get a notice for that. Having Sierra do that automatically, like any other notice (overdue, courtesy, etc.), would certainly save time.