Visiting Patron Check-Out (INN-Reach)
This documentation explains Sierra's INN-Reach - Visiting Patron Check-Out function.
Table of Contents
- 1 Function Explanation
- 2 MLN1 Library Virtual Patron Check-Out Process
- 3 MLN2 Virtual Patron Check-Out Process
- 4 Verifying Patrons for INN-Reach Requests
- 5 Possible Messages (Checking Out an Item to a Visiting Patron)
- 6 Creating INN-Reach Circulation Records
- 7 Creating Virtual Records
- 8 Viewing Virtual Items
- 9 Creating INN-Reach Hold Records
- 10 Creating INN-Reach Message Fields
- 11 FAQs
- 12 Related Documentation
Function Explanation
The INN-Reach - Visiting Patron Check-Out function allows patrons who belong to another INN-Reach site (such as an MLN1 library patron visiting an MLN2 library) to check out materials at your library. This function eliminates the initial steps of requesting, printing paging slips, and shipping materials. Once the book is checked out to the visiting patron, the patron can return the item to either the checkout library or their home library. Full patron verification is performed, and checkout is denied if the patron is blocked at their home library or the INN-Reach loan rules governing the material type and patron type do not allow the checkout.
When visiting patrons check out an item, they must volunteer the information that they are patrons at a different site. To be considered an INN-Reach patron, the patron must belong to an INN-Reach site on a server different from yours. If the visiting patron belongs to your local server, use standard circulation processes to check out materials for the patron.
When you check out an eligible item to a visiting patron, the system creates INN-Reach circulation records at your and the patron’s libraries. The system completes the following steps:
Changes the item’s status to ‘@’ (PRSPCTR OFFCMP)
Adds a virtual patron and an INN-Reach message field to the item record.
Sends a circulation message to the patron site, which causes the system to add a virtual item with the status ‘-’ (checked out) to the patron’s record.
MLN1 Library Virtual Patron Check-Out Process
To check out an item to a visiting patron, navigate to the function using the Function drop-down menu and choose INN-Reach - Visiting Patron Check-Out.
The drop-down menu has all the INN-Reach/Prospector locations for your specific Sierra server.
If you pick one of the locations from the drop-down, you will see the text in the box next to search changes depending on the location chosen. Here are some examples of the text associated with some of the locations.
Check Out Items for Visiting Patrons
Choose a location from the drop-down menu. Once you scan or type the patron’s barcode into the system, you may get the Visting Patron PIN, depending on the rules associated with their library’s ILS. If the patron cannot be verified or cannot make INN-Reach requests, the system displays a message indicating the patron cannot check out the materials. You cannot continue to the next step. If the patron can be verified, their information will be displayed in that patron display area.
Once you enter the patron’s barcode, their information will be displayed. You can scan or type the item's barcode.
Note: Any material checked out by visiting patrons must have a barcode.
If the patron is verified, scan the item or items to check out or enter an indexed item field and choose Search. The checked-out item will display the Barcode, Title, Due Date, and Status.
Here is the transaction from the other library’s system that uses the Sierra ILS.
Here is what the Prospector Off Campus item from the home library with Sierra as an ILS looks like.
When you check out an item to a visiting patron, the system creates INN-Reach circulation records at both your and patron sites.
MLN2 Virtual Patron Check-Out Process
To check out an item to a visiting patron, navigate to the function using the Function drop-down menu and choose INN-Reach - Visiting Patron Check-Out.
The drop-down menu has all the INN-Reach/Prospector locations for your specific Sierra server.
If you pick one of the locations from the drop-down, you will see the text in the box next to search changes depending on the location chosen. Here are some examples of the text associated with some of the locations.
Check Out Items for Visiting Patrons
Choose a location from the drop-down menu. Once you scan or type the patron’s barcode into the system, you may get the Visting Patron PIN, depending on the rules associated with their library’s ILS. If the patron cannot be verified or cannot make INN-Reach requests, the system displays a message indicating that the patron cannot check out the materials. You cannot continue to the next step.
Once you enter the patron’s barcode, their information will be displayed. You can scan or type the item's barcode.
Note: Any material checked out to visiting patrons must have a barcode.
The checked-out item will display the item's Barcode, Title, Due Date, and Status.
Here is what the transaction looks like from the other library’s system. In this example, the other library patron is from the MLN1 library.
Here is what the Prospector Off Campus item looks like from the home library. In this example, this home library is an MLN2 library.
When you check out an item to a visiting patron, the system creates INN-Reach circulation records at both your and patron sites.
Verifying Patrons for INN-Reach Requests
Uses the NAME and ID the patron entered to locate the patron record at the patron's site.
At the patron's site, verify the following information in the patron's record:
that there are no manual or automatic blocks on the patron record
that the patron record has a P TYPE
the patron's PIN (if a PIN is required by the patron's site for INN-Reach requests)
Maps the patron's Local P TYPE to an INN-Reach Central Server P TYPE and verifies that the patron is allowed to make requests.
Verifies the requested item's STATUS and INSTITUTION CODE.
Consults the INN-Reach Central Server Loan Rules Table to ensure the selected item is requestable and that the owning site participates in INN-Reach Circulation.
The INN-Reach Central Server Loan Rule Determiner Table and the Loan Rules Table are used to verify that the item can be borrowed by the requesting patron.
Check if the patron has reached the maximum number of requests for P TYPE specified by MAX ITEMS in the Central Patron Blocks Table. When calculating the number of INN-Reach Circulation requests a patron currently has, the system includes requested, checked out, and returned items that have yet to be received by the owning site.
If the patron is blocked at any point in the request procedure, the transaction automatically stops and does not proceed further.
Possible Messages (Checking Out an Item to a Visiting Patron)
You might see the following messages when attempting to check out items to a visiting patron:
Borrower cannot check out items.
You retrieved a visiting patron record for patron who is blocked from checking out items.
Browsing for INN-Reach visiting patrons is not available. You must key a valid patron ID.
You chose the Search button without first entering any data.
Cannot establish a connection to <Local Server>.
You entered a patron ID for a patron who belongs to a Local Server to which the INN-Reach Central Server cannot connect. Contact your Central System Administrator.
Multiple patrons with <Patron ID> <number> at <site>.
You entered a patron ID for which the patron's site has multiple matches.
No patron with <Patron ID> <number> at <site>.
You entered a patron ID for which the patron's site has no matches.