RE: Experience of Libraries allowing "On shelf" holds

["Janet Fine" <jfine@xxxxxxxxxx>]

12/16/03
Hi Alicia,
We are a midsize suburban library (Main building and 3 branches) with an
annual circulation of about 750,000 and we process about 7,000 reserves a
month. We allow patrons to request all items even if on shelf, lost and paid
claimsret, etc.  We read through the requests twice a day--morning and late
afternoon.  Any requested items that are listed as on shelf are searched
and,if located, are placed on a truck with other reserved material.  We
telephone our patrons to inform them of items ready for pickup. Our patrons
love this--they love the convenience and the freedonm to place reserves any
hour of the day.  Usually, there is no rush on the material, they just want
it at some point.   Any direct telephone requests are handled by the
Information Desk who respond to about 20 such requests a day. To answer your
questions:

-----Original Message-----



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.)

 ----They are correct.  It is easier to sort your slips and look for the
titles in groups than to look for each title as the calls come in.----

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?
----We print the request file, sort the slips by call number and search as
time allows.----

3.  How do you notify a patron if the item can't be found?

 ----We telephone patrons when items are ready for pickup.  If an item is
unavailable, we either place a reserve or interloan it.----

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).

----We have interbranch deliveries once a day in the morning.  We fax
requests to the Branches and they search their shelves.  If an item is not
located, the Branch calls us.  If material is located, the material is
placed in a special bin and brought to the Main Library where we process all
reserves/requests.  Depending upon staffing, it could take from 24 to 48
hours for a patron to be notified--

hope this helps.
Janet


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