TUG Initiatives

Please note that during this time, some functions in Primo will be down.

You will not be able to:

• Place holds and recalls
• Check your library account
• Check the availability of items. Availability information (in library, checked out etc.) is accurate as of Dec. 15th and will not be updated until after the upgrade.

This message applies to both Primo and TRELLIS.

We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

Problem: In Primo, items that are on order will show up as “1 copies claimed.” Not only is this poor grammar as the subject does not agree with the verb, but its meaning is obscure. “1 copies claimed” means the item in On Order.
Solution: This is a bug in our Voyager/TRELLIS system and the information that it sends to Primo. This will be fixed when our vendor fixes the bug in Voyager and we upgrade our Voyager system. A note has been added to Primo Fast Facts.

Problem: I want to print a list of the items in my e-shelf, but I can only print the entire record, including all the subject headings and call numbers. Can’t I just print the basic bibliographic citation?
Solution: We are investigating whether we can configure this, or whether we need to ask Ex Libris to incorporate this option.

Problem: I want to sort my results by title.
Solution: Ex Libris is working on this for the next version release.

Problem:
I want to be able to go to a specific page of results or to the last page of results, not just next/prev page.
Solution: We will submit an ehancement request to Ex Libris.

Problem:
I want to be able to select all the results on the page, rather than checking off each item one by one.
Solution: We will submit an ehancement request to Ex Libris.

Problem: When I sign in to place hold, should default to my institution not UG.
Solution: Currently we cannot tell this screen which institution to show to the user. We will work on it.

Problem: When I sign in to place TUG Doc, it should default to my institution, not UG.
Solution: Currently we cannot tell this screen which institution to show to the user. We will work on it.

UPDATE: this issue has been resolved.

Primo is currently experiencing a problem accepting new connections. We are actively working to solve this issue. If you receive the Primo error page, click on the TRELLIS link to access TRELLIS.

Otherwise, you can access TRELLIS at the following URLS:
Waterloo: http://trellis1.tug-libraries.on.ca/
Laurier: http://trellis2.tug-libraries.on.ca/
Guelph: http://trellis3.tug-libraries.on.ca/

Thank you for your patience.

I taught a Primo class yesterday using the following script for hands-on workshop. Got lots of questions and students seem to get Primo by the end. If you want a Word doc version, email me. Robin Bergart.

Primo *fun* for students.

At present, users with double-barrelled last names (e.g. Robin Glaxo Smith Kline Bergart) are not able to place holds and recalls on items in Primo. Direct these users to TRELLIS to place holds and recalls until this is fixed.

Items with temporary locations (like books on Reserve) are showing up with their usual, permanent locations in the holdings pop-up window. So make sure you’re looking at the brief display or detailed display to get the accurate location.

Where’s RACER? You can find a link to RACER at the bottom of the screen after every search. It’s in the blue section entitled “Haven’t found what you’re looking for?” We are experimenting with different ways of making this link more visible and obvious for our users who may be used to the tab in TRELLIS “Request Item NOT in TRELLIS.”

Some people have noticed that their search alerts from Primo include annoying html coding. We’re looking into this.

We’ve received some comments about the paleness of the font colours used in Primo. We’re doing some experimentation on the test server to improve this.

Feel free to use this handout in classes. It’s a quick overview of Primo functions. Created by Alison Hitchens at UW. The class that accompanies this handout follows this plan:
1. Introduction. 2. Overview of library website and connect from home. 3. Basic search. 4. Advanced search. 5. Using facets to refine a search. 6. Availability and location and placing a hold or recall. 7. E-shelf. 8. Print/save/export from Primo and Refworks. 9. Search alerts. 10. Accessing your library account. 11. Finding course reserves. 12. Getting help.

Primo handout for students.

These are the notes and screenshots for a training session Alison did for UW circ staff on Sept. 10. It’s a good overview of Primo basics.
Primo basics.

Welcome back to the thick of things and Happy September!

Here we will keep you up to date with some of the comments that come to us about Primo and how we are responding.

1) Response time.
It’s been slooooooow today. We did a fix at 3 PM which seems to have helped, and we’ve got a call into the company, Ex Libris, for a more permanent fix to this problem.

2) Searching for journals from the libraries’ home pages.
It’s been suggested that we offer a drop down menu like we had for TRELLIS from the library’s home page so users can specify a search for journals right off the bat. We’re exploring whether this can be done.

To keep you in the loop, these are some of the outsanding issues in Primo. The Primo team will continue to prioritize these issues and work on them with the vendor to make an even better Primo experience.

1. The holdings of multi-volume sets are shown in a pop-up window called the ‘holdings window.’ When a volume of a multi-volume set is checked out, the holdings window doesn’t show which volume it is. A link back to TRELLIS will be provided for this information.

2. Likewise, when an item is checked out, users can’t see the due date. A link back to TRELLIS will be provided. The due date issue should be resolved with the next upgrade to our Voyager system.

3. Book holds/recalls and TUGDoc requests are found in two different places. Holds and recalls are made in the holdings window; TUGDoc requests are a link on the detailed record.

4. Search alerts are picking up both new items added to the catalogue (as they should) but also older items whenever a catalogue record is modified. This will be fixed in an upcoming release of Primo.

5. Guelph users accustomed to signing into TRELLIS using LDAP (username/password) must use their barcode/last name in Primo for the time being. This is a high priority item and we are working on a solution.

6. When off campus, users must use off-campus login (proxy) before starting their Primo search if they want to be able to export records to RefWorks.

7. Sometimes an item on order shows as 1 copies claimed instead of 1 copies on order.

As always, you can leave your feedback through the link on the Primo homepage.

To add to a repertoire of teaching materials on Primo, this is a ppt (converted to a pdf) that was done at UW in the spring called Find Books and more in Primo.