Suggestions from our customers have resulted in new and improved features on our website. When a customer calls or e-mails with suggestions for simple changes to make their jobs easier, I always think “why didn’t I think of that?”
Here are some recent changes we implemented due to customer suggestions:
1. When adding items to your shopping cart, the user now has the option to save the titles to an Excel file. Customers use this feature to import the ISBN# column to Connexion to search the numbers and download the records. The records can then be exported to their ILS and then the order can be sent EDI/Edifact. It is also useful if you need to place your orders through your purchasing department. You can save items in a Shopping Cart over a period of time, and then when you are ready to order, save to an Excel file and give to purchasing to place your order.
We figured if we are going to add this feature to the shopping cart, we may as well add it to the Bookshelf feature too. Thanks for the suggestion goes to Julie Christerson from Pacific University.
2. I was giving a presentation to a library once and was discussing all of our website features. I told them about our “keyword” search feature which allows you to search for a word or string of words in a book title. They explained to me that is not a “true” keyword search. For it to be a true keyword search, you need to be able to search all the fields. Of course I agreed, and as soon as I got back, I submitted the programming change request. I am happy to announce that you can now search keyword in title, table of contents, abstract, and subject definition/MeSH heading. This feature is very helpful when trying to find books on very specific subjects.
3. We offer a service where customers will receive an e-mail with a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly list of new books. The list can be titles in specific areas like consumer health, orthopedics, pediatrics, or everything we receive. I have a customer at the University of St. Francis in Ft. Wayne, Indiana who thought it would be nice if we could include the hyperlink for the book. That way, if the e-mail is being forwarded to faculty members, they could click on the link for more information (cover scan, table of contents, abstract, etc.). I thought it would be difficult to program, but it’s a great idea. It turned out to be a simple request and was done the next day. I think many of my customers who receive these e-mails will benefit from the request. Thanks Lauralee!
4. At the NCNMLG/MLGSCA joint meeting this past February, a customer asked if we could improve the website by allowing a search for more than one Doody Star Ratings. A user could choose to see all the 4 and 5 star titles, etc. Previously, you could only search by one star rating at a time. I am happy to announce that you can now search by multiple star ratings. Thank you for the suggestion Kathy Stemmer-Frumento.
If you can search by multiple star ratings, I thought we should do something similar with the Doody Core Title ratings (you need to be signed in and be a DCT subscriber to see this feature). This improvement was completed and you can now put in the word “orthopedics” in the keyword search, then go down and click 3.0, 2.0-2.9, and a list pulls up of 22 titles. This is a great feature if you are looking to fill areas of a collection.
We are also in the process of doing some website changes for our new ebrary ebook titles based on some suggestions from customers. Those should be completed soon. Stay tuned…
I could go on and on and have already gone on long enough. If anyone else has a suggestion on how we could improve something, please let me know!
