A: 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.

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).

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.

A: Koha supports two 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

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.

A: To create a new Virtual Shelf:

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

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

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

1. Search for the item/s using the Quick or Advanced Search
2. Click on “Brief Display” in that item's Details Screen
3. Click “Add to Shelf”. A pop-up window will open.
4. 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”)
5. Click “Add to Virtual Shelf”

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.

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

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.

1. Log in to your account
2. Search for the item/s using the Quick or Advanced Search.
3. Click on “Brief Display” in that item's Details Screen
4. Click “Add to My Virtual Shelf”. A pop-up window will open.
5. 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”)
6. Click “Add to My Virtual Shelf”

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.

A:

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

A:

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

OR

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