How ASRS Items Are Processed
This page provides a brief overview of how your Innovative system will interact with the ASRS machine and how ASRS items are processed. For more information on using the ASRS machine, contact HK Systems.
Adding and Removing Items from the ASRS Machine
Library staff can add or remove items from the ASRS machine by using the ASRS Maintenance function. At the ASRS machine, the procedure to add and remove items may vary from one library to another.
Placing and Fulfilling ASRS Requests
ASRS requests are requests for items that belong to ASRS locations (i.e., storage bins in the ASRS machine). Patrons must use WebPAC to place ASRS requests. Library staff can request items that are in ASRS storage by using WebPAC or the Sierra Desktop Application.
The process for placing and fulfilling ASRS requests is:
- A patron or library staff member places an ASRS request.
- The system indicates whether the request was successful. The system then sends a transaction request message to the ASRS system.
- The ASRS machine sends the system a responding message indicating that the request has been made. Library staff use the ASRS machine to retrieve the item and send it to the specified ASRS pickup location.
(Version 2 only) After receiving the responding message from the ASRS machine, the Sierra system changes the STATUS of the item to 't' (IN TRANSIT) as it is transported to the specified ASRS pickup location.
- After the item arrives at the ASRS pickup location, library staff must notify the patron who, or for whom, the request was placed. This procedure varies according to which version of the ASRS Interface your library has acquired:
- Version 1
- Library staff must view the ASRS message log to determine which patron requested the item. Staff must not check in the item. If staff check in the item, the system will send a message to the ASRS machine indicating that the item is being returned to the ASRS machine.
- Version 2
- Library staff use the Sierra Desktop Application to check in the item. The system changes the STATUS of the item to the ASRS Pickup code customized for your library and displays a message indicating that the item was sent to fulfill an ASRS request. Staff must view the ASRS message log to determine which patron requested the item.
- When the patron arrives to pick up the item, library staff check out the item to the patron. (If the patron never arrives to pick up the item, library staff check it in and send it to the ASRS machine.)
- After the patron returns the item, library staff check in the item. The system's behavior varies according to which version of the ASRS Interface your library uses:
- Version 1
- The system sends a message to the ASRS machine indicating that the item is being returned to the ASRS machine.
- Version 2
- The system sends a message to the ASRS machine indicating that the item is being returned to the ASRS machine. After receiving a responding message from the ASRS machine this message, the system changes the STATUS of the item to 't' (IN TRANSIT) as it is transported back to its ASRS location.
- When the item arrives at the ASRS machine, library staff use the ASRS machine to return the item to its storage bin.
Unprocessed Items Returned to the ASRS Machine
If staff return an item to the ASRS machine while it is still checked out or has a STATUS other than '-' (AVAILABLE), the system checks in the item or resets its STATUS.