Query to Patron Letter
- Chris Lee
The default Send Query to Patron function in Rapido at the CSU is outdated and will not be included in future versions of Rapido. We can currently send a message to the patron, but we need to type in the whole message every time instead of using quick templates for common messages. Ex Libris has already put the new Send Query to Patron options in place, which are the default for all new Alma customers, they just need to be turned on.
Configuration
To activate the new options first go to Configuration → Fulfillment → General → Other Settings and search for send_query_to_patron_use_xsl and set it to true. Congratulations! The Send Query to Patron function will now use the new interface, Patron Query Types, and Query To Patron Letter. Unfortunately, for this to be effective you need to customize the Patron Query Types and the Query To Patron Letter.
Adding Patron Query Types
The Patron Query Types are the options for different messages staff can select to send to the patron. To customize the Patron Query Types go to Configuration → Fulfillment → Resource Sharing → Patron Query Types. By default there will only be one option enabled, the generic Regarding Your Request message. You may want to replace that option and add other Patron Query Types. To add an option, simply enable it and edit the description. For example, if you want to add a message to recall items change a description to Item Recalled.
For the next step you will want to note the code with each description you add. in this example the recall message code is Type_2_query_name.
There currently isn’t a suggested list of options. Our recommendations will be available soon.
Configuring Query To Patron Letter
Once you have your desired Patron Query Types for staff to select from the Send Query to Patron options in Rapido, you will need messages to match with them. To add messages go to the Query To Patron Letter. The letter can be customized at Configuration → General → Letters → Letters Configuration. Search for the Query To Patron Letter and select it.
Adding the messages to the letter does not require changes to the Letter XSLT. You can add the message in the Labels tab. Search for the query line that matches the code from the previous step. In the example from the last step the code for the recall message was Type_2_query_name, which matches with Type_2_query_line_1, Type_2_query_line_2, and Type_2_query_line_3 in the Labels tab. Edit the description to add the message you want. For example, I added This item has been recalled by the library that loaned it. Please return it to the library as soon as possible to Type_2_query_line_1. This will now appear in the message when staff select Item Recalled when sending a patron query.
If you do not need Type_2_query_line_2 and Type_2_query_line_3 you can disable them to remove them from the email sent to the patron.
Letter XSL
By default the letter only contains the code for the first to “Types.” There are 30 options in the labels and Patron Query Types but they need some additional code to work properly. You can copy and past the following code into the letter XSL to enable all 30 options.
Workflow
Once you have added all the Patron Query Types and updated the Query To Patron Letter you will be ready to send messages to patrons in Rapido. To send a message, find the Borrowing Request you want to query about and send the query. For example, I want to recall a book titled “California State University, Northridge” checked out to Christopher Lee. After finding the title in my Borrowing sets I would click the ellipses (…) and select Send query to patron.
I would then select Item Recalled from the email template drop down. Finally, I would click Send Email.
The patron will then get an email with the message configured in the Query To Patron Letter. The email will also contain all relevant information about the book by default.