Visiting Patrons

When a borrower and lender are members of a pod with Visiting Patron enabled, visiting patrons from the borrowing library can walk into the lending library and borrow a resource directly from the lender.

The lending library circulation desk can search for the visiting patron using the Find user in other institution checkbox. 

The Institution drop down list includes all members of the Visiting patrons pod. Select the member and search for the patron. Once the patron is identified by the circulation desk, the circulation desk can loan the patron items from the participating items (Configuration > Resource Sharing > Configuration > Members > Physical Items Lending Policies) in the Visiting patrons pod. After selecting the Institution, scan in the Patron ID at the Remote Institution. The patron ID must be a unique ID at the chosen remote institution.

If the desired items can be checked out, a lending request with a status of 'Received by partner ' is then created at the lending institution, and a borrowing request with a status of 'Loaned item to patron' is created at the corresponding borrowing library. The Due date is determined by the pod. The patron can return the resource to either the borrowing library or lending library. If returned to the lending library, the request status is updated to Checked in.

Pickup Anywhere

If two institutions are part of the same pod and the Pickup Anywhere option is enabled, and one of those institutions is prioritized in the pod settings, then when a patron places a request, the system indicates that the item can be picked up from multiple institutions. Pickup anywhere is not available on blank form requests. Only for requests made via offers.

For more information, see Borrowing Policies.

The request form includes options for both Pickup Location and Local Pickup Location. The Pickup Location drop down list includes all locations of lenders who are part of a Pickup anywhere pod. If the patron selects a pickup location that is not their home institution, they are prompted to refine the offer to update the terms of use and confirm that they are still interested in the selected location.

If no offer is available after refining the offer, the patron must reset the form and select a new Pickup Location.

The Lending library and Pickup location are displayed on the Request Information on the borrowing request right pane. Additionally, a Pickup Location - Out of Institution facet is available on the Borrowing Requests facets list to filter requests by an alternate pickup location.

The Shipping Destination facet is available on the Lending Requests facets list to filter requests by an alternate pickup location.

Members who are part of a Pickup anywhere pod can view all requests that were requested to be picked up at their location, rather than from the patron borrowing institution, from the Pickup Requests screen (Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Pickup Requests). This list is updated as a lender uses the Ship action. When the pickup institution uses the Receive action to receive the item, the Borrowing Request status updates to Physically received by library, the Lending Request status updates to Received by partner, and the patron receives notice from their borrowing institution that the item is available for pickup at the requested pickup location.

The pickup institution uses the Loan action to check out the resource for the patron. The Borrowing Request status updates to Loaned item to patron. When the patron returns the item, the pickup institution uses the Return action to check in the resource and return the item to the lending institution. The Borrowing Request status updates to Returned item to partner. When the lending institution checks in the item, the request status on both the Borrowing Request and Lending Request updates to Request Completed.