Tip of the Week - #047 (Checking out to Patrons)

Keywords: receiving, check-in

When you receive requested materials for your patrons, the appropriate action is to check them in (which will automatically change the status to 'on hold') and then place them on the hold shelf. Some folks have been routinely going one step further and checking out materials to patrons before putting them on the hold shelf. This is discouraged except in exceptional cases (such as you are routing or delivering the material to them). When you checkout the time before the patron receives it, you are shortening their loan period by the number of days it takes them to pickup or receive it. For the 7 day media loans this could be a critical issue.

Check them out to the patron when you see them!