Requesting Library Items

Making a request for a library item is done entirely by library users, with no administrator intervention necessary. From the CML application's home page, the user clicks the link Search for Library Materials, which runs Library.asp.

On this page you can search for library items, as described in Searching for Library Materials. A list of titles that match your search criteria is displayed. Clicking a title displays more information about the title, including authors' names and a description. Now, clicking the Request Title button displays a request confirmation screen on which you can execute the request, after specifying where the item should be delivered and any special instructions the librarian should know.

This procedure is conducted by logic on the Library.asp page, which uses the UserInfo COM component to identify you, and then invokes other ASP pages, including DFilter.asp, DSearch.asp, Ddetails.asp (to search for and display information about library items), and Request.asp and RequestOK.asp (to submit requests).

Request.asp is the first page invoked after a checkout request is made. This page creates a User object and invokes its UpdateInfoFromExchange method to retrieve up-to-date information about you from the Microsoft Exchange Server directory. In particular, your location (office number) is retrieved to be later displayed. You can also change the location or enter comments for the request.

Request.asp also invokes the Position method of the User object (which in turn invokes the Position method of the TableQueue object) to find the position in the request queue that your new request occupies.

Finally, Request.asp sends request information to RequestOK.asp, which actually makes the request. It checks to see if you have already requested this item and notifies you if you have; otherwise it submits your request. If the request is successful (at least one item of the requested title was available), a message to that effect is displayed. If the request failed, an appropriate message is also displayed.