Improve Item Search and Reservation Based on Limited Patron Information

[mgajkiewicz]

Description:

Currently, the system struggles to accurately identify and reserve items when patrons provide limited information such as vague descriptions or uncertain publication dates. This issue aims to enhance the system's ability to:

• Leverage keyword matching: Implement a more robust keyword matching algorithm to find items based on partial or incomplete descriptions.
• Consider publication ranges: Allow users to specify a range of publication dates rather than exact years.
• Prioritize availability: Prioritize items that are available for loan over those that are currently checked out or on hold.
• Suggest similar items: If no exact match is found, suggest similar items based on topic, author, or publisher.

Expected Behavior:

When a patron searches for an item using limited information, the system should:

• Return a list of potential matches, sorted by relevance.
• Indicate the availability status of each item (e.g., available, checked out, on hold).
• Allow the patron to reserve the nearest available item.

Acceptance Criteria:

• The system can accurately identify items based on partial or incomplete descriptions.
• The system can handle publication date ranges.
• The system prioritizes available items for reservation.
• The system can suggest similar items if no exact match is found.
• The system provides a user-friendly interface for searching and reserving items.

Additional Considerations:

• Data quality: Ensure that the underlying item data is accurate and up-to-date.
• Performance: Optimize the search algorithm to handle large datasets efficiently.
• User experience: Design a user-friendly interface that guides patrons through the search and reservation process.

By addressing these issues, we can improve the overall user experience and make it easier for patrons to find and borrow the items they need.