Checking In Items with Floating Collections Enabled

If your library uses Floating Collections, Sierra consults the Float Determiner table when an item is checked in at a non-owning location. The system reads through the Float Determiner table from the bottom to the top until it finds an entry that matches the item's LOCATION, its I TYPE, and the checkin location.

If the Shared element of the relevant Float Determiner table entry is set to 'Y', the item floats.
If the Shared element is set to 'N', the item does not float.

Floating Collections and Sending Items Home

The Sending Items Home functionality overrides Floating Collections. If the system is configured to send items home upon checkin, it ignores the setting of the Float Determiner table.

Checking In an Item that Floats

When you check in a floating item at a non-owning location, the system does not offer you the option to set the item in transit. Instead, it updates the LOCATION fixed-length field in the item record to match the checkin location. The new item location depends on whether the system is configured to retain the shelf assignment as part of the new item location:

If the system is not configured to include a shelf assignment, it changes the LOCATION field to match the first location code in the Locations Served entry associated with the login used to check in the item.
If the system is configured to include a shelf assignment, it changes the beginning of the LOCATION field to match the checkin location, but does not update the shelf assignment portion of the original location code. For more information on shelf assignments, see Retaining Branch Information with the Floating Collection Shelf Assignment Feature.

The system does not modify the OWN LOC variable-length field, which contains the branch code (including the shelf assignment) of the item's original owning location.

Checking In an Item that Does Not Float

When you check in an item that does not float at a non-owning location, the system offers the options you see when checking in an item that belongs to another location.

If you choose to set the item in transit, Sierra does not update the LOCATION field. It sends the item to the location in the OWN LOC field rather than the item LOCATION. If the item record does not contain an OWN LOC field, the system sends the item to the item LOCATION instead.

When you check in the item at its owning location, Sierra updates the LOCATION field to match the location in the OWN LOC field.

Compatibility with Automated Clearing of In-transit Status

Automated clearing of in-transit status is incompatible with Floating Collections. When the system automatically clears an eligible item's in-transit status, it does not update the item LOCATION to match the OWN LOC field.