Status for returned items changed to Awaiting shelving then changed to item in place after specified period
When an item is returned at the Library Desk Alma instantly changes the status to "Item in place", leading a user looking at that status in Primo to believe that the item is on the shelf. However when an item is returned at the Library Desk it is not instantly returned to the shelf - often it is placed on a returns trolley and reshelved later in the day or the next day.
What would be more useful would be for Alma to automatically assign a status of 'awaiting shelving' to an item when it is returned, and then after a specified amount of time, automatically change the status to 'item in place' This functionality was present in Voyager (it was called shelving interval).
Time to reshelve (hours) is now available on the Organization Unit Details (when configuring a library), Circulation Desk, and Reshelve Without Transit Rules Editor pages. When configured, items that are marked as reshelf or reshelf without transit, will be displayed as Awaiting Shelving, instead of Item in Place, for the period of time configured. The item is considered as available, but appears as being reshelved in Alma and Primo so students and librarians know not to search for it on the shelf. Alma removes the ‘Awaiting Reshelving’ indication when the configured time since the item return has passed.
You can configure Time to reshelve once for the entire library, or override for a specific circulation desk.
For more information please see August Release Notes:
https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/010_2019/Alma_2019_Release_Notes?mon=201908BASE#reshelving_items
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Anonymous commented
Just an FYI, I suggested we add the option to manually scan items out of "Awaiting Shelving" status into "In Place", if anyone would like to vote on it!:
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Sanne van Poppel commented
Glad to hear this idea will be implemented.
Instead of the base status ‘not available’ with a status of ‘Rehelved’, could I ask for a third option (besides available, not available), namely 'reshelving'?Also, is there a limitation to the number of minutes? Could this go as high as half a day, a full day?
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Corinna Baksik commented
Also this text should be customizable in Primo so we could choose what is most appropriate for the institution such as "Reshelving, "In reshelving area," etc.
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Johnny W commented
Books that have just circulated have a much higher chance of circulating again within 10 days. Listing these as on-shelf immediately after discharge would be a fail in my opinion. Having procedures for recalling books is evidence for the high turnover of certain library materials. I would think the guaranteed frustration and time wasted by patrons alone should make this a high priority.
"Ideally, each library could set their own time parameters based on their internal shelving process." <-- Yes to this.
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JMC commented
I wholehearted support this idea, despite having no votes to give at the moment.
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Scott Pfitzinger commented
My main concern is that patrons are being told the items are "in place" when we all know they're not yet. It's misleading and can cause more work and frustration for the patrons and the staff.
Ideally, each library could set their own time parameters based on their internal shelving process.