Using Item Status API for Circulation Functions
If your library has acquired the Item Status API product, library staff can use RFID technology to check in, check out, and renew items. To use Item Status API in circulation functions, see the following:
How Item Status API Scans Item Barcodes
When you have set up your library's RFID workstations, your RFID technology constantly scans for item barcodes under the following conditions:
| When you are: | In this function/tab combination: |
|---|---|
| Checking out items | Circulation Desk function, Check Out tab |
| Checking items in with no patron present | Check In (No Patron) function |
| Checking items in with the patron present | Circulation Desk function, Check In tab |
| Renewing an item without using the patron record | Renew (No Patron) function |
| Renewing items using the patron record | Circulation Desk function, Check Out tab |
| Circulation Desk function, Checked-Out Items tab |
Remove Items from the RFID Scanner before Switching Processes
The function/tab combinations listed above describe separate RFID processes. Therefore, if you keep items on the RFID scanner when you change to a different function or tab that is also used for RFID processing, the RFID technology will process the same items under the new condition. For example, if you are using the Circulation Desk function and you use the Check Out tab to check out items and then switch to the Check In tab without removing the items from the RFID scanner, the system will check the items in.
To prevent confusion, clear all items from the RFID scanner before you switch to a different RFID process.
Other Item Record Retrieval Methods Still Functional
Even with the Item Status API product active at your workstation, you can use a barcode scanner or manual input to retrieve an item record.
In addition, when you are using the Circulation Desk function, Item Status API continually scans for item barcodes in order to confirm that the RFID pad server can communicate with Sierra.
Processing Items with Item Status API
To use Item Status API to process items (check out, check in, or renew), follow these steps:
- Switch to the appropriate function and retrieve the patron record.
- Place the items on the RFID scanner. You can place as many items on the RFID scanner as your library's RFID technology allows. The RFID scanner begins to process the items.
- As the system processes the items, Sierra displays an entry for each item using the color set for your login. (See the Sensitization indicator setting for more information.)
If the system encounters a situation that requires an override or other kind of action, Sierra pauses and displays a dialog box that includes the message as well as item information that enables you to remove the item from the RFID pad in order to process it separately, if necessary. For example:
Item belongs at location North Library. Print transit slip?
Title: Magritte: The Silence of the World
Author: Sylvester, David
Call #: 759.9493
Barcode: 37689070104013
After you respond to the dialog box prompt, the system continues to process the items on the RFID scanner.
- After the system processes all items, the items are listed on the screen in which you are processing them, and Item Status API prompts your library's RFID technology to change the items' security bits to the new state as appropriate for your current process. As the security bits change, Sierra displays the item entry in black and changes the entry in the sensitization indicator column (labelled Desensitized/Sensitized) to "OK".
If the RFID technology is not able to change an item's security bit appropriately, Sierra continues to display the item in the sensitization indicator color and indicates the item's sensitization status (for example, Resensitized) in the sensitization indicator column (labelled Desensitized/Sensitized).
The possible sensitization statuses are:
| Sensitization Status | Definition | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desensitized | The item's security chip is not sensitized to the security gate. | ||||||||
| Resensitized | The item's security chip is again sensitized to your library's security gate. | ||||||||
| OK | The item's sensitization status is appropriate for your current process. For example:
|
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| Manual | You are using a barcode scanner (not the RFID scanner) to process the item, and therefore your RFID technology is unable to change the item's security chip. You can use a different device to change the security chip to the appropriate sensitization status. |
Resending Sensitization Information
If the RFID technology does not change an item's security bit appropriately, you can resend sensitization information for the item. To do so:
- Ensure the item you want to update is still on the RFID pad.
- Right-click the entry for the item you want to update.
- Choose the Send Check-in Message or Send Check-out Message option from the right-click menu. If the system detects a change in sensitization information, it updates the sensitization indicator color and status of the item entry.
You can resend sensitization information as often as necessary.
Viewing RFID Alerts
If the system is unable to successfully complete an RFID processing request, the item is added to the RFID Alerts list. To view RFID Alerts:
- If you are in the Check Out tab of the Circulation Desk function or the Renew function, choose the View RFID Alerts button.
- If you are in the Check In tab of the Circulation Desk function or in the Check In function, choose the View Alerts button from the RFID area.
The system displays the list of items that were not processed.
If the system is unable to successfully process a request, the system does not change the item's security chip, so the item remains in the state it was before you attempted the RFID process. For example, if you attempt to check out an item and the system is unable to complete the checkout process:
- the item retains its previous status (for example, "lib use only")
- the system displays the item information in the RFID alerts list
- the item's security chip remains sensitized to your library's security gate
Successful Process, Unsuccessful Sensitization Status Switch
If the system is able to successfully process a request but the item's sensitization status does not change to the appropriate state, the item is not added to the RFID alerts list. The system displays sensitization information on the screen in which you are currently processing that item.
If the system is able to process all items as requested, the View RFID Alerts button is deactivated as there are no alerts to view.
- See also:
- Possible Messages