How do I check out and check in items?
Answer
For all circulation activity, check to make sure your Alma location shows that you are at the appropriate Circulation Desk. To change your location, select the location menu and choose from the I am physically at drop down menu.
Loan an Item
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Go to Fulfillment > Checkout/Checkin > Manage Patron Services
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Scan or manually type patron barcode or ID number (if manually typing, click on Go)
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By default you will be in the Loans area
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Scan/enter item barcode into Scan Item Barcode field (if manually typing barcode, click on OK). Item is loaned to patron's account.
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Continue scanning additional items, if needed
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The loan(s) will appear in a list on the screen
- Click Done when finished loaning materials to that patron
Returning Items
- From the main menu, select Fulfillment > Return Items
- Scan barcode into the Manage Return Items field
- Watch for any notifications on where an item should be sent to and route or reshelve as indicated
Routing returned items
If an item needs to be sent somewhere, a pop-up message will indicate next steps.
If an item has a hold request in the current library, a hold slip prints automatically.
Best Practices for Returns
When an item that has a hold request for a patron is scanned in via Return Items at the library that patron selected for pickup, an email notification will be sent to the patron telling them the item is on hold for them.
If an item’s record needs work - for example, cataloging work by technical services - and it has a work order request on it, returning the item generates the message Item is requested by another patron. In this situation, the word "patron" includes both individuals and library departments, such as technical services
The Scan in items function is used primarily to manage work orders on items, and used by departments when they have completed their work on an item. While this feature can also be used to return items, it is not the recommended workflow.