We would like to see a function in Koha where the hold limit is separated into two limits. One limit for on-the-shelf holds and another limit for holds on items checked out. Currently, we can allow or not allow on-the-shelf holds. We would like to see this expanded to specify the number of holds allowed if we have on-the-shelf holds turned on. Then there would be a separate limit that is for items that are checked out or on order. The reason for separating these is so we can manage staff time on the holds to pull list and still allow patrons to put holds on popular items and items that are new to the library. Our plan would be to allow something like 7 holds for on-the-shelf holds and allow unlimited holds for checked out and on order items.
Our library is interested in this development as well. The new rule allowing a separate limit for on shelf items means less pulling holds for our hardworking Pages. Plus the hold shelves fill up so quickly. We can't keep up without a limit! We've been doing this manually so far, but a development in Koha would help us tremendously.
As Koha's hold data exists now, an on-shelf hold really forgets that it was on-shelf once it gets checked in -- the hold doesn't remember whether the book came from a return or from the stacks. That makes it hard to set a limit like "a patron can only have 5 on-shelf holds at a time" as the patron's count of current on-shelf holds would go down each time a hold goes to Waiting. This could be a time-based limit, sort of like we do with purchase suggestions? Patrons can only submit X on-shelf holds within a window of Y hours? Or we could add something to the reserves table to record that a hold was on-shelf when it was placed.
We thought about this and the option to add something to the reserves table to the record to indicate that a hold was a on-shelf hold when placed would work best for us.