Ability to update inventory date from "checkin no patron" function
We are needing a way to update the inventory date field when an item is checked-in using the "checkin no patron" function.
When an item that is already in "-" available status, and you check-in the item, there is no field in the item record that records the date of this transaction. We are wanting a checkbox on the screen in that function that when checked, will update the item inventory date so that we can then see the last time that item was scanned.
This will help us with our inventory projects, as we do a full scan of our collection every year over the course of a month, but can only tell the item was scanned if something in that item record changed, not that the item was scanned for inventory purposes.
We tried to just use internal use count field, and then update the inventory date in create lists, however, when we do scan items that are on the shelf and need the status adjusted, it is easy to miss the status on the "internal use count" screen as it is not a pop up, and then we have to flip to the "check-in no patron" function anyway to update that record. The volume of items we scan prohibits flipping screens all the time.
Jennifer Nicolotti
shared this idea
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Brian Jones
commented
This would be a useful option to have, and be applicable to projects outside inventory. Or even for libraries without the inventory module.
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Phil Shirley
commented
This would be useful to us occasionally, and I can certainly see how this idea uncovers a hole in doing a thorough inventory. Another use case would be in tracking down an item, apart from an inventory: It would be useful to know when the item was last seen, to figure out if it was lost or stolen long ago or if it's still around somewhere. I'm not sure if we'd want the checkin to be reflected in the inventory date, or maybe in the last checkin date (though there might be a reason to not have checkins of an item with status - get a new checkin date).
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Sarah Peterson
commented
This would not only be huge for our annual inventory day, but could have uses throughout the year for various projects.
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Rebekah Cowan
commented
This would be amazing to have! We could easily identify items that weren't checked in during our inventory period. This would be a huge time saver for us.
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Bob Gaydos
commented
I support this idea. Currently the only way the Inventory Date field gets updated in our library is when we wand items with our RFID wands. Having the item in hand during checkin is a very sensible reason to update the Inventory Date field.
Since one size does not fit all, I like Jennifer's idea of the checkbox but I would relocate that to one of the tabs in the Settings dialog, perhaps a new "Inventory" tab. I see the choice to update the Inventory Date as a policy decision and not one to be made by individuals working at the returns station.
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Beata Panagopoulos
commented
This would be useful for us also.