Using Alma
Checking items out:
Go to the "Fulfillment" tab on the left-hand side of the screen, and look for "Manage Patron Services" under "Checkout/Checkin":
Ask for the patron's Lewis & Clark ID*, and scan it in the appropriate barcode box.
*Note, if they do not have their L&C ID, try asking for another form of photo ID. If they do not have that either, you can look them up by ID number or name. When looking up by number or name, make sure to click on their account information when it pops up under the search bar before hitting
Go" (demonstrated below). Clicking "Go" before you click on the correct patron will result in an error:
Make sure the cursor is in the "Scan item barcode" box, and scan the item's barcode. Make a note of when the item is due back and let the patron know when that is. For help finding loan periods, check out the chart here.
Finally, hit "Done" on the upper right-hand corner of the page.
Checking items back in:
To return items in Alma, go through the "Fulfillment" tab on the left-hand side of the screen, and click on "Return Items" under "Checkout/Checkin":
Scan the item's barcode, and note the "Next Step" instructions to find out where the item is going next:
Scanning In
The "Scan In Items" function is used for a few different reasons:
- Processing hold items (for our holds shelf or Watzek/Summit)
- "In-house"-ing items that are found on shelving carts or otherwise out of place
- Checking the shelving location of an item (e.g. an item that you believe is on reserve, but the reserve tape may have fallen off)
The tab to the right of "Scan in Items", called "Change Item Information", should only be used under instruction from a supervisor. This function relocates items around the library so that we know where to find them. This relocation can be temporary (e.g. putting items on display), or permanent (e.g. integrating the Study Aid collection into Treatise and/or Environment).
