Library Priority Table

To view circulation parameters, you must be assigned permission 373 (View Circulation Parameters). To edit the Library Priority table, you must be assigned permission 378 (Edit Library Priority). See Permissions Used by Sierra for more information.

The optional Library Priority table allows you to set a prioritized list of library locations for use when placing requests and title-level holds on available items. For items requested via the WebPAC and for title-level holds placed by staff, if more than one copy is available, the system consults the Library Priority table to determine which branch location has the highest priority. The system then places the hold or request on the item with the highest priority. If two copies have the same priority, the system randomly chooses one for the request or hold.

Title Priority Paging

If your library uses Title Priority Paging, the Library Priority table does not control hold priority, and the system does not allow you to access the Library Priority Table. For information about hold priority and title paging, see Title Priority Paging and Hold Pickup Locations Table.

You can access the Library Priority table via the following menu path:

Admin | Parameters | Circulation | Library Priority

For information on modifying this table, see Maintaining System Parameter Tables and Maintaining Circulation Parameters.

For more information, see Functionality Information and Data Elements.

Functionality Information

When viewing and modifying the Library Priority table, note the following:

Number of Entries
The Library Priority table must contain one entry for each of the Locations Served defined in your system. For example, if your library has set up four Locations Served, the Library Priority table must contain four entries, each one corresponding to a Locations Served entry.
Compatibility with Title Priority Paging
The Library Priority table is not compatible with Title Priority Paging. If you enable Title Priority Paging, the system does not enable you to access the Library Priority table.
Compatibility with Page Pickup Location First Feature
If your library has set up both the Library Priority table and the Page Pickup Location First feature, the Page Pickup Location First feature overrides the Library Priority table. When you place a request or hold and there is an available item at the hold pickup location, the system ignores the priority settings in the Library Priority table and uses the pickup location's item, not the item with the highest priority, to fill the hold.
Compatibility with REQUEST Web Option Settings
If your library chooses to use the Library Priority table, you must enable title-level requesting by setting the second field (the <Hold Level>) in the REQUEST Web option to one of the following values: "bib", "localavailelseany", "denyiflocalavail", or "denyifavail".
Compatibility with Multiple Title-level Holds
If your library uses the Library Priority table, you should set the Holds: Allow multiple title-level holds for one patron circulation option to "NO." You cannot place multiple holds on a bibliographic record for one patron when the Library Priority table is enabled.

Data Elements

Entries in the Library Priority table consist of the following data elements:

Element Description
Library One or more locations from the Branches table. You do not need to list every location. Instead, you must list the first location from every Locations Served entry. For example, if the Locations Served entry "Architecture" includes the locations "ares, dens, sens", you must list the location "ares" in the Library Priority table. Failing to list a location from every Locations Served entry can produce unexpected results.
Priority Priority of the branch location for use when placing requests and holds on available items. Priority can be a number from 0 to 99, with 99 being the highest priority. A value of 0 blocks requests and holds on available items at a particular branch.