Sorting Checked-in Items with SIP2 Automated Materials Handling Systems

To use the features on this page, Innovative must configure the SIP2 Circulation Interface to check in items with special conditions.

Innovative can configure the SIP2 Circulation Interface to interact with a third-party automated materials handling (AMH) system. The SIP2 Circulation Interface includes optional features for enhancing Autosort functionality. This includes additional information for centralized third-party batch machines used to check in and automatically sort items.

The features are:

Sending additional information about an item's hold and transit status to the AMH machine upon checkin.
Enabling the patron alias field on hold slips printed by the AMH machine.
Updating the STATUS field upon checkin of items that are not checked out.
Flagging items in transit to fill holds.
Flagging items that have previously been identified as "problem" items.

Your library can enable any or all of these features during the set up process.

Your library's AMH system might not require all the sorting features in the SIP2 Circulation Interface. Contact your AMH manufacturer for more information about which options your system supports.

Sending Additional Hold and Transit Information

If the Send Additional Hold and Transit Information component is enabled, the SIP2 Circulation Interface adds the following information to the checkin response message sent to the AMH machine:

The item's LOCATION and CALL # for sorting items to be reshelved.
The destination location for items in transit. If the item is in transit to fill a hold, the SIP2 Circulation Interface sends the hold pickup location; otherwise, it sends the value from the item's LOCATION field.
If a hold exists, the type of hold. The SIP2 Circulation Interface differentiates between items ready for pickup locally, items set in transit to fill holds at another location, and items that fill INN-Reach holds or Interlibrary Loan requests.
For held items, the name and barcode of the holding patron. The AMH system uses this information to print patron details on hold slips.

Printing Patron Alias on SIP2 Hold Slips

If your library uses the Send Additional Hold and Transit Information component and the Patron Alias feature, Innovative can enable the Patron Alias for SIP2 Hold Slips component. When this component is configured, the SIP2 Circulation Interface substitutes the patron's alias for the patron name in the checkin response. The AMH system uses this information to print the holding patron's alias on hold slips.

Updating Status for Checked-in Items

The Update Status for Checked-in Items component allows your library to specify a list of item STATUS values (for example, "m" (MISSING) that the SIP2 Circulation Interface should update upon checkin of an item that is not currently checked out. By default, when you check in an item that is neither checked out, in transit, or on the holdshelf, the SIP2 Circulation Interface does not update the item's STATUS field to "-" (AVAILABLE), even if the Checkin of Items with Special Conditions feature is enabled.

When the Update Status for Checked-in Items component is enabled and you check in an item with one of the specified STATUS values, the SIP2 Circulation Interface changes the item's STATUS to "-" (AVAILABLE) and sends a "Status change from" message (using the 10 checkin response AF field) to the AMH system indicating that the item's STATUS was updated.

To enable this option, contact Innovative and specify the STATUS values you wish to update upon checkin. You must add these values to the Item Status Codes table (Sierra 4.0 and later) or the Fixed-length Codes file (Sierra 3.4 and earlier) before enabling this component.

Identifying Items in Transit for Holds

When the Identify Items in Transit for Holds component is enabled and a held item goes in transit, the SIP2 Circulation Interface changes the message sent to the AMH system from Item was set in transit to permanent location to Item was set in transit hold. The AMH system uses this message to sort held items separately from items to be reshelved.

Identifying Problem Items on Checkin

If the Identify Problem Items on Checkin component is configured, the SIP2 Circulation Interface alerts the AMH machine upon checkin of an item with a MESSAGE variable-length field containing the word "problem". In response, the AMH system:

Sorts the items separately from other checked-in items so that staff can review them.
Includes the text Message Detected in the AF (message) section of the checkin response.

To use this component, your library must insert a MESSAGE field containing the word "problem" in items that you want flagged (for example, items that have been damaged or incorrectly cataloged). The SIP2 Circulation Interface is not sensitive to case when checking for the term "problem".