Handy Library Manager
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Help, how to topics > Library items > How can you track missing and lost items in the Check In window?


How can you track missing and lost items in the Check-In window?

If patrons return books and inform the librarian that one of the items is missing and they are unsure about its whereabouts, there is an easy way to mark the item as missing in the check-in/out window. Here are the steps you can follow:

  1. First, select the patron in the check-in/out window.
  2. You will see the list of all loaned-out items for the selected patron at the bottom of the window.
  3. Find the missing item in the list and select it.
  4. Finally, click the Is Missing check box for the selected item.

If an item is marked as missing, it will still appear on the patron's active loans list. This way, the librarian can keep track of the missing item and take necessary steps later, such as moving it to the lost items table.

It is important to note that marking an item as missing should only be done if the patron has reported it missing. If the item is found later, the librarian can simply unmark it and finalize the return transaction.


missing, check in window, select borrower

Missing Items

  1. Select the patron in the Check In/Out window.
  2. Review items in the Active Loans section.
  3. Select the missing item.
  4. Click the Is Missing check box.

  1. Review the warning message.
  2. Click Yes.
  3. The item is marked as missing.

Lost Items

The patron is confident that the item is lost.

  1. First, mark it as missing, select the Is Missing option.
  2. Then, click Lost.
  3. Review the warning message and click OK.

Confirm Action:

  • Doing so will remove the item from the library's main catalog and move it to the lost items table.
  • Important, all loan transactions related to the item will be deleted.
  • If any fines were applied, they will be calculated and added to the borrower's account.

You can review lost items in the LIBRARY_LOST table.



Question:

Feature Request / Handling Missing and Lost books:
Category: Lost
My Definition: I don't put a book in this category unless the student tells me with absolute certainty it is gone forever.
Examples: Burned in a house fire; Left it behind on a vacation; One student actually saw the book fall off the boat and sink under the waters of Lake Michigan
How I handle it: I start the multi-step process to get the non-existing book checked back in, remove the associated overdue fine that pops in there, add the replacement fine to the patrons account, then go to the catalog and move the book to the lost category. It would be so nice to be able to streamline this process.

Category: Missing
My Definition: The vast majority of the "seriously overdue" books fall into this category. The student has no clue where it is. I am used to hearing things like, "I think it might be somewhere in my room". Frequently they will not remember having checked it out at all. Books in this category have sometimes been found over a year later;
Examples: In an ex-girlfriend's car; In the barn hay loft; Holding up a wobbly table leg at their grandmother's house. You get the idea...
How I handle it: Iit would be great if I had the ability to designate a book as “missing” on the students account, and have that reflected in the catalog as well as have the ability to call up a list of all the books that are also in this category.


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