Experience of Libraries allowing "On shelf" holds

["Alicia Abramson" <aabramson@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Can a few III libraries that currently allow patrons to place holds on items which are on the shelf  answer a few questions for me?  

Berkeley Public Library currently allows "on shelf" holds only for patrons calling the library directly.  If a patron calls the Information desk asking if an item is in the library, a shelver is asked to check for the item on the shelf.  If it is there, it is placed on the hold shelf for the patron.  In the III system only allow patrons to place holds on items that are checked out.  

We are thinking of doing away with taking telephone holds and allowing users to place holds on either on shelf or checked out items through III. 

The questions I have are mainly related to workload:

1.  How would you compare the workload of processing on shelf holds vs. processing only holds for checked-out items?  (This may sound like an obvious question, but right now, some people feel that the work involved with processing telephone holds for on shelf items is more than it would be if we limited to placing them only through the III system.)
2.  What processes have you put in place to streamline the process and best use the time of the staff who are retrieving the books from the shelves?
3.  How do you notify a patron if the item can't be found?  
4.  How long does it generally take from the time of the request to the time the item is available on the shelf?  I'm especially interested in hearing from libraries with multiple branches on this one (we have 5 locations).

Thanks for any responses in advance.

Alicia Abramson
Manager, IT
Berkeley Public Library
aabramson@xxxxxxxxxx 
(510) 981-6131