Checking In Items

You can check in items in either of the following ways:

• If the item is checked out, the patron is present, and you want to perform other functions such as collecting or waiving fines, use the Circulation Desk function.
• If the patron is not present, or the item is not checked out to a patron, use the Check-In (No Patron) function.

When you check in an item, Sierra takes the following actions:

1. Determines whether the item is a standard circulation item, an ILL item, or an INN-Reach item. For more information about checking in ILL and INN-Reach items, see the following:
   • Checking In ILL Items
   • Receiving an INN-Reach Item from the Owning Site
   • Checking In an INN-Reach Item from a Patron
   • Receiving an INN-Reach Item from the Patron Site
2. Displays any messages in the item record.
3. (Optional) Looks for and alerts you to any bookings on the item. For more information, see Checking In a Booked Item.
4. (Optional) Alerts you if the item must be placed on reserve for a course. For more information, see Checking In an Item on Course Reserve.
5. Evaluates whether the checkin can fill a hold. To do so, the system checks for holds at the item, volume, and title levels and does the following:
   1. Determines the sequence in which to fill the holds.
   2. Evaluates each hold in sequence to determine whether any of the holds can be filled.
   3. Satisfies the first fillable hold in sequential order.

   To avoid filling holds on checkin, use the Check-In (Do Not Fulfill Holds) function.

   If your library keeps certain copies of popular items on circulating shelves for patrons that come in to browse, Innovative can modify your system to not check for holds on those items during checkin. See Skip Hold Check for more information.
6. Checks the value in the item's STATUS fixed-length field. If the item's STATUS is not '-', the system takes special action upon checkin. For more information, see Checking In an Item whose STATUS is Not '-'.
7. Determines whether the item is currently checked out to a patron. If the item is checked out, the system does the following:
   • Updates the patron and item records. For more information, see How Records Are Updated at Checkin.
   • Determines whether the item is overdue.
     • If the item is overdue but not yet billed, the system assesses any overdue fines or penalty points the patron has earned.
     • If the item is overdue and billed, the system prompts you to update the bill and the item's status. For more information, see Checking In a Billed Item.
   • (Optional) Determines whether the item is a rental item. For more information, see Checking In a Rental Item.
   • (Optional) Determines whether the item is being checked in from a homebound patron. For more information, see Checking In Items from Homebound Patrons.
8. Determines the item's destination. Depending on the destination, the system may take special action or prompt you if any of the following apply:
   • The item belongs to another location.
   • The item satisfies a hold.
   • Your library has set up floating collections.
   • The item is an ASRS item.

See also:

Using the SIP2 Circulation Interface for Checkin

Check In with Circa Wireless Assistant (barcode)

Check In with Circa Wireless Assistant (RFID)

Checking Out Items

Renewing Items