Instructions for Placing Holds in Workflows
1. Expand the Holds Information and Maintenance Group Wizard, found on the circulation
toolbar.
2. Click on the Place Hold wizard.
3. You will now see the following screen:
4. Search for the patron record. Either enter the user ID, or search for the user by using the User
Search Helper at the top of the screen.
5. You must now search for the item you wish to place on hold. If the item you wish to place on
hold is in the Current box, you can click on it. Otherwise, use the Item Search helper at the top
of the screen.
6. Search for the title. When you have found it, click on one of the item IDs so that it is
highlighted in blue. Click on Place Hold.
7. Enter the appropriate hold information:
a. Pickup at: It will default to the library where you are logged in (for example, if you
are logged in as ARMCIRC, then the pickup location will be Armada). However, if
the patron wants to pick up the item at another library, select the library from the pulldown menu.
b. Expiration Date: If you leave this blank, it will default to an expiration date of
NEVER. This is acceptable. However, if you want to enter a specific expiration
date, click on the gadget (the button) next to the field. A calendar will pop up. Using
the navigation buttons, select the appropriate date.
c. Comments: Add any comments you would like. These will display at Checkin or at
Receive Items in Transit.
d. Date Suspended/Unsuspended: If the patron will be going on vacation, you can set a
vacation suspension right at this point. Click on the gadget next to the field. A
calendar will pop up. Select the appropriate date.
e. Level/Range: Most of the time, the Level will be Title and the Range will be Group.
If you are placing a copy-specific hold, select a Level of Copy and a Range of
Library.
f. Recall status: This should always be No Recall.
8. Click on Place Hold. If the hold has gone through, then you will see a box stating “A hold has
been placed on the item.” You then have the option to place a hold for another user, to place
another hold for the same user, to cancel the hold, or close the Place Hold box.
NOTE: There are some instances when a hold will not be placed. For example, most libraries do
not allow holds on their feature films (i.e., Hollywood movies) or their reference items. If you
try to place a hold on an item, and you get a message saying, “The hold map does not allow this
hold,” or “User cannot check out this item” then the patron cannot get this item through delivery.
He or she must go to that library to get the item if checkout is permitted, or to review the item if
it is a reference copy and cannot be checked out.
Also, if you are placing a hold and the system tells you that no items are eligible to fill the hold,
but you are given an opportunity to type in a password to override that, DO NOT DO THIS! The
owning library still will not send the item, and your patron will be deceived in thinking that he or
she can get this item.
*Updated December 2005.