Differences between Bibliographic or Title Level Holds and Item Level Holds
This document explains the difference between a bibliographic or title-level hold and an item-level hold on a patron’s record.
Table of Contents
Title Level Holds
A title-level or bib-level hold refers to a hold placed on an entire work, such as a book or a DVD, while an item-level hold refers to a hold placed on a specific copy of that work, such as an individual book or DVD.
In the Summary tab, select the entry for the item. Select the Bib-Level Holds tab.
Title-level hold - With the title-level hold, a person will place a hold on the first available copy of a title. A title-level hold attaches to the bibliographic record for the desired title; hence, title-level holds are sometimes referred to as "bibliographic-level holds." A title-level hold can be satisfied when any eligible item, based on loan rules, is returned to the library system.
When libraries place a title-level hold for a patron from the Holds tab, Sierra automatically uses the pickup location, not-wanted-before date, and not-wanted-after date specified for any subsequent holds you place for a patron. Note: Sierra does not retain these settings after you close the patron record.
Not Wanted Before - The patron can specify a date Sierra should not place the hold. The Not Wanted Before date can be up to 180 days from the day the patron places the hold.
Not Wanted After - The patron can specify a date after which the hold request will expire. If the hold is still active after this date but is not yet on the holdshelf, Sierra removes this hold when you clear expired holds.
Clear Holdshelf does not clear in-transit held items with an expired Not Wanted After date. These items are cleared the next time they are checked in.
Title-level hold queue -- A list of patrons that have placed a hold on the bibliographic or title record.
To learn more about placing bibliographic or Title-level holds
The most important button for placing a bibliographic or title-level hold in Sierra is the Hold Copy Returned Soonest. This button places the hold on the bibliographic record, not an individual item.
In the Summary tab, select the entry for the item. Select the Item-Level Holds tab.
Item Level Holds
Item-level hold: You place a hold on an item record for a patron (e.g., a specific copy of a book). An item-level hold can be satisfied when that item is returned to the library system.
Item-level
hold queue -- A list of patrons who have placed a hold on an item record attached to this bibliographic record.
To learn more about item-level holds
The most important button for placing an item-level hold in Sierra is the Hold Selected Item. This will put a hold on a specific item record, not the bibliographic record.
Issues with an item-level hold in Sierra
Item-level holds do not appear in the Item Paging Notices unless you click the Place hold; print paging slip button. This will page for the item the next time you run your Item Paging Notices. However, this will only work if the item is checked out or if another library places an item-level hold.
If you do not page for the item, one way to find your item-level holds is to run the Manage Holds report for your library or branch. Toggle the Hold Status to show all the item-level holds.
More Hold Information
Sierra
Pika
FAQs
Can I copy holds from one bib or item record to another?
No, copying holds from one bib or item record to another is not possible. Sierra allows transferring the hold queue for an item to another item on the same or linked bibliographic record but does not copy it. See Transferring an Item Level Hold to a Bib Level Hold for more information.
If a title has both bib and item-level requests, in what order do they get filled?
Usually, the system fills the hold at the top of the queue (oldest placed) first, unless the hold has a Not Wanted Before date that has not yet occurred, or it is a Frozen hold.
Related Documentation
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System Generated Review Files (Create Lists) (Marmot Knowledge Base)
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Manage Holds (Sierra) (Marmot Knowledge Base)
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Holds Process for Sierra, Pika, and Prospector (Marmot Knowledge Base)
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Library Courier Codes, Prospector Codes & Pickup Locations (Marmot Knowledge Base)
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Transferring an Item Level Hold to a Bib Level Hold (Sierra) (Marmot Knowledge Base)
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Staff Placed Holds (Search / Holds) (Sierra) (Marmot Knowledge Base)
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Clear Expired Holds and Holdshelf Report (Sierra) (Marmot Knowledge Base)
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Service/Topic and Roles Label Key (Marmot Knowledge Base)
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Resequencing a Hold Queue (Sierra) (Marmot Knowledge Base)
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Holds Progression (Sierra) (Marmot Knowledge Base)
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High-Demand Holds Reports (Marmot Knowledge Base)