A-Z Circulation
Find quick answers to circulation issues.
ALMA OFFLINE
If Alma is not functioning, contact your supervisor. If your supervisor is not present, and someone returns library material, write a note with the date/time and place it with the material on your supervisor’s desk.
BILLED AND RETURNED
When you scan in a book that has been returned, a message may appear indicating that the volume had been billed and that $100.00 (standard book charge) will be refunded to the patron. A pop-up prompts you to select "OK" to proceed. This occurs because a book had been so long overdue that the Library charged the person for item's cost. Click "OK" to complete the transaction. Your supervisor will receive a notice about the return and refund the borrower for it.
BORROWERS: NON-UNIVERSITY
Members of the public can borrow Library materials, but they need to have a borrower’s permit. Direct people who would like to obtain a permit to full-time staff.
FINES
For questions on fines or other charges, refer the patron to your supervisor.
ID CARDS
A person must have a University ID card (or borrower’s permit) in order to check out library materials. Library staff can also use a driver’s license or passport to verify identity. However, NO ID = NO LOAN.
INTERLIBRARY LOAN: LOANS
- Sign on to ILLiad.
- Remove the loose slip from the book and place it in the shredding box.
- Under Check Out scan the barcode from the slip around the book.
- Tell the patron the due date (printed on the outer slip).
INTERLIBRARY LOAN: RETURNS
- Sign on to ILLiad.
- Under Mark Returned scan the barcode on the book slip.
- Place an Interlibrary Loan return slip in the book (service-desk drawer).
- Place the book in the library mail.
INTERLIBRARY LOAN: YELLOW SLIP, "ROOM USE ONLY"
You may find an Interlibrary Loan book on the hold shelf or arriving in the mail with a yellow slip. The slip will have "ROOM USE ONLY" printed on it. Give the material to your supervisor. This type of item has restricted usage; it will be returned to the Main Library for use there.
ITEM NOT FROM U. OF IOWA
Several Midwest institutions that use Alma have a mutual borrowing agreement. These are called Fast TRAC institutions. Materials from these libraries (example: Iowa State) can be directly loaned from and returned to the UI Libraries. For loans, your supervisor contact your supervisor. If an item is returned:
- Alma prints a transit slip with the institution's name.
- Place the slip in the item (with destination visible).
- Give the item to your supervisor.
Learn more about Fast TRAC.
LOAN LIST
Patrons can sign on to InfoHawk+ to view their loans. You can also use Alma to see a loan list:
- Manage Patron Services.
- Scan the ID Card.
- At Loan Display change the pull-down menu to All loans.
MISSING LIBRARY ITEM
If library material is missing contact your supervisor. Note that many title are also online. If an item is not available at the UI Libraries, the person should make a request through Interlibrary Loan.
RENEWAL
Check out the items again; there is no need to check them back in first. If you see a message that the loan is "blocked", simply use the OVERRIDE button or change the due date.
REQUEST LIBRARY MATERIAL
A patron can sign on to InfoHawk+ once they have found the material they need. From there they can request the item be held at a campus library or delivered to a campus office.
You can also use to Alma to locate a book and request it for the person. Make certain first that item is not on loan. For material already loaned, refer the person to Interlibrary Loan. To make a request:
- Use the search box to locate the material ("Physical items" "Keywords")
- Select Request (at the right of the book record).
- For Request Type choose Patron physical item request.
- At Requester scan the ID card.
- At Pickup At use the pull-down to select a campus library or Office Delivery.
- Click Submit.
RESERVE BOOK SEARCH
Use InfoHawk+ to find out which materials an instructor has placed on reserve. Course number or title is a common search. If you do not find the material right away, choose "Course Reserves" from the pull-down at the right of the search bar and try again.
RESERVE BOOK OVERNIGHT LOANS
A reserve book borrowed within 2 hours of the service-desk’s closing time can be kept overnight. The book is not due until the first hour on the next day the service desk opens.
SEARCH FOR LIBRARY MATERIAL
Search InfoHawk+ with keywords. You can then narrow down the list by selecting categories at the left of the screen: Journals, Books, etc.
TRANSIT
When you check an item back in using Alma, "transit" indicates that the item should be transferred to another library on campus.
- Alma prints a transit slip.
- Place the slip in the item (with the destination visible).
- Put the item in the library mail.
When searching for an item using Alma, you might also see the status "In transit". Contact your supervisor. They can determine where the book is going and whether a request can be made.
