Koha › Add to Virtual Shelf

Q: What are "Virtual Shelves"?

Virtual Shelves are editable, permanent book lists. If the Systems Preference for Virtual Shelves has been enabled, both staff and patrons may create Virtual Shelves. An item included on a Virtual Shelf is directly linked to that item’s bibliographic record in the Online Catalog. Clicking on the item will take you directly the the item’s “Details Screen” and allow you to check for availability, find the item’s location or reserve the item.

IMPORTANT: Patrons must be logged in to their account online to create and edit shelves.

TIP: Why staff might use Virtual Shelves

Virtual Shelves are a great tool for Reader’s Advisory. Staff can use Virtual Shelves to create a variety of reading lists for borrowers (for example, according to age and reading level, or on specific topics).

TIP: Why educators might use Virtual Shelves

Virtual Shelves can be used by professors to create a bibliography/ reading list for class assignments. Clicking on an item in a Virtual Shelf connects directly to the details page of that item in the Online Catalog. Students can easily see where the item is in the library and whether or not ist is available for checking out.

Q: What types of "Virtual Shelves" are there?

Koha supports three types of virtual shelves:

Public Shelves: Anyone may view a public shelf, but only the person who created it may edit it.
Private Shelves: Only the person who created the shelf may view and edit it.
Free Shelves: Can be added to and changed by any user (not available when a shelf is created in the Staff Intranet

TIP: Borrower uses for Virtual Shelves

Borrowers can use Virtual Shelves to share their reading favorites/ preferences with other borrowers by creating one or more “Public Shelves”. By creating “Private Shelves”, borrowers can keep lists of what they’ve read, or what they want to read for research or recreation. “Free Shelves” are a great way to create an evolving, community-based reader advisory.

Q: How do I create a new "Virtual Shelf" from the Staff Intranet?

To create a new Virtual Shelf:

Click on “Virtual Shelves” (You should see a list of shelves that have already been created)
Click on “Add or Remove Book Shelves”
Under “Add Shelf”, enter a name for your new shelf in the “Name” field.
Choose a “Category” (”Public” or “Private”)
Click on “Add New Shelf”

Q: How do you add items to a "Virtual Shelf" from the Staff Intranet?

A: You can add items to a Virtual Shelf in one of two ways: by barcode OR through a search in the online catalog.

To add items by barcode?

Click on the Virtual Shelf you wish to add items to.
In the “Barcode” field, scan or type the barcode and click “Save”

To add items through the online catalog?

Search for the item/s using the Quick or Advanced Search
Click on “Brief Display” in that item’s Details Screen
Click “Add to Shelf”. A pop-up window will open.
Choose an existing shelf in the pull-down menu (”Add to virtual shelf”) OR Create a New Bookshelf at that time by entering a name for the shelf and choosing a “Category” (”Public” or “Private”)
Click “Add to Virtual Shelf”

IMPORTANT: No Bulk Additions

At present, there is no option to add a list of items to the Virtual Shelves in ‘bulk’. You must search on the item and add in via the “Brief Display” or enter the barcode.

TIP: Staff Accounts

Staff may login to their own account and add/create Virtual Shelves from within their account, though it is not necessary.

TIP: Easy to remember

The “Brief Display” of an item in the Staff Intranet is the same display as the Details Screen of that item in the OPAC. This is an easy way to remember that you add to the virtual shelf from this page.

Q: How do you add items to a "Virtual Shelf" from the OPAC (the publicly accessible catalog)?

Log in to your account
Search for the item/s using the Quick or Advanced Search.
Click on “Brief Display” in that item’s Details Screen
Click “Add to My Virtual Shelf”. A pop-up window will open.
Choose an existing shelf in the pull-down menu (”Add to virtual shelf”) OR Create a New Bookshelf at that time by entering a name for the shelf and choosing a “Category” (”Public”,”Private” or “Free”)
Click “Add to My Virtual Shelf”

IMPORTANT: No Bulk Additions

At present, there is no option to add a list of items to the Virtual Shelves in ‘bulk’. You must search on the item and add in via the “Brief Display” or enter the barcode.

Q: How do you delete an item in a Virtual Shelf?

Check the box next to the item/s you wish to delete.
Click “Remove Selected Items”

Q: How do you delete a Virtual Shelf?

Click on Shelf you wish to delete.
Click “Delete this Shelf”

Click on “Add or Remove Book Shelves”
Under Delete Virtual Shelves, Check the box next to the item/s you wish to delete.
Click “Remove Selected Items”

Q: What are "Lists"?

Lists are used to store selections you find interesting. If the Systems Preference for 'Virtual Shelves' has been enabled, both staff and patrons may create Lists. An item included on a List is directly linked to that item’s bibliographic record in the Online Catalog. Clicking on the item will take you directly the the item’s “Details Screen” and allow you to check for availability, find the item’s location or reserve the item.

IMPORTANT: Patrons must be logged in to their account online to create and edit shelves.

TIP: Why staff might use Lists

Lists are a great tool for Reader’s Advisory. Staff can use Lists to create a variety of reading lists for borrowers (for example, according to age and reading level, or on specific topics).

TIP: Why educators might use Lists

Lists can be used by professors to create a bibliography/ reading list for class assignments. Clicking on an item in a List connects directly to the details page of that item in the Online Catalog. Students can easily see where the item is in the library and whether or not ist is available for checking out.

Q: What types of "Lists" are there?

Koha supports three types of Lists:

Public: Anyone may view a public list, but only the person who created it may edit it.
Private: Only the person who created the list may view and edit it.
Free: Can be added to and changed by any user (not available when a shelf is created by Staff

TIP: Patron uses for Lists

Patrons can use Lists to share their reading favorites/ preferences with other patrons by creating one or more “Public Lists”. By creating “Private Lists”, patrons can keep lists of what they’ve read, or what they want to read for research or recreation. “Free Lists” are a great way to create an evolving, community-based reader advisory.

Q: How do I create a new "List" from the Staff Client?

To create a new List:

Click on “Lists” (You should see the Lists that have already been created)
Click on “Add or Remove Lists”
Under “Add List”, enter a name for your new List in the “Name” field.
Choose a “Category” (”Public” or “Private”)
Click on “Add New List”

Q: How do you add items to a "List" from the Staff Client?

A: You can add items to a List in one of two ways: by barcode OR through a search in the catalog.

To add items by barcode?

Click on the List you wish to add items to.
In the “Barcode” field, scan or type the barcode and click “Save”

To add items through the catalog?

Search for the item/s using the Quick or Advanced Search
Click on “Brief Display” in that item’s Details Screen
Click “Add to List”. A pop-up window will open.
Choose an existing list in the pull-down menu (”Add to List”) OR Create a New List at that time by entering a name for the List and choosing a “Category” (”Public” or “Private”)
Click “Add to List”

IMPORTANT: No Bulk Additions

At present, there is no option to add a list of items to Lists in ‘bulk’. You must search on the item and add in via the “Brief Display” or enter the barcode.

TIP: Staff Accounts

Staff may login to their own account and add/create Lists from within their account, though it is not necessary.

TIP: Easy to remember

The “Brief Display” of an item in the Staff Intranet is the same display as the Details Screen of that item in the OPAC. This is an easy way to remember that you add to the list from this page.

Q: How do you add items to a "List" from the OPAC (the publicly accessible catalog)?

Log in to your account
Search for the item/s using the Quick or Advanced Search.
Click on “Brief Display” in that item’s Details Screen
Click “Add to My List”. A pop-up window will open.
Choose an existing list in the pull-down menu (”Add to List”) OR Create a New List at that time by entering a name for the list and choosing a “Category” (”Public”,”Private” or “Free”)
Click “Add to My List”

IMPORTANT: No Bulk Additions

At present, there is no option to add a list of items to Lists in ‘bulk’. You must search on the item and add in via the “Brief Display” or enter the barcode.

Q: How do you delete an item in a List?

Check the box next to the item/s you wish to delete.
Click “Remove Selected Items”

Q: How do you delete a List?

Click on the List you wish to delete.
Click “Delete this List”

Click on “Add or Remove Lists”
Under Lists, Check the box next to the item/s you wish to delete.
Click “Remove Selected Items”