This is an important warning for library staff who use Reserves List ...
We have received a few reports of citation requests that can't be displayed in the Library Tool. The symptom: user clicks a request's title on the reading list and gets a generic "error has occurred in the tool" message. This problem is usually caused by a single-word title that occurs with very high frequency in the RList database (we call these "prolific" words). For example, the words "Sourcebook" or "Coursepack" – when used alone in a citation request title – will cause this problem.
OIS is working on fixes for this problem. Until we can implement these fixes, here are some work-arounds for library staff:
1. Do not create request titles which contain only the word "Sourcebook" or "Coursepack". Always add additional text to make the title more unique. For example, you could include the course number or name ("Sourcebook English 286b").
2. If you accidentally create a request of this type in the Library Tool, you can:
a) Delete the bad request and create a new request that has a longer title.
b) Or, edit the bad request in the Course Tool. Go to the "Student View" for the course, click the pencil to enter Edit mode, and edit the request title to add more text.
3. If instructional staff send a request of this type from the Course Tool, you have the same options as #2. But if you're squeamish about deleting a request sent by faculty, try 2b (edit bad request in Course Tool).
If you have questions or if you find that the above work-arounds don't help, please contact the Reserves List support team:
Thanks very much for your attention. Regards. –julie
Julie Wetherill
Office for Information Systems
Harvard University Library