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Patron Requests -- return

Finding books in the Online Catalog
Borrow Direct
Recall Requests
Annex Requests
In-process Requests

Finding a book in the Online Catalog
You can look up a book in Voyager Circulation to help a patron find who is looking for a book that is not on the shelf.
1. Click on the item icon to bring up the item screen.
2. You can search by barcode or click on the […] to search by call number or title.
3. In the item record you can see the book's location and status: charged, discharged, not charged, missing, lost, etc.

Check to see if the book is charged out to another patron or shelved in a special location such as Theses, Oversize, PAM, etc. Check the call number to see if there is an overflow section set up for that call number range. If it is charged, the patron can place a recall or request through borrow direct. If it is in a special location direct the patron there.

If the book has the status "discharged", it has been recently returned. The patron may want to look in the sorting room or to wait another day for it to be re-shelved. The exact date and time of discharge can be determined by viewing the circulation history. (Be careful, patrons do not have the right to know who has checked out the book in the past. Use this feature only to find out the date and time of previous circulation transactions.)
Tracing a book that cannot be found

If Voyager shows that the book is not charged and should be on the shelf in Firestone, ask the patron to fill out a Trace Slip. Place the completed Trace Slip in the cubbyhole next to the first window. Trace requests will take between one and ten days to process. If the book is found, the book will be placed on hold and the patron will be notified. If the book cannot be found, the book will be marked as missing, and the patron will be notified by mail. At that point, the patron will have the option of requesting the book from another library through Borrow Direct or Interlibrary Loan.

Requesting a book through Borrow Direct
BD is available to Princeton students, faculty, and staff. Materials available through BD include books owned by Princeton but charged out or otherwise unavailable (e.g. on reserve, non-circulating, marked as missing, etc.) as well as books not owned by Princeton. Items not available through BD can be requested through Interlibrary Services. Periodicals, CDs, DVDs and rare books are not available through BD.

Patrons may access Borrow Direct through link in the main catalog. BD materials are usually ready for pick up in four business days. Patrons will be notified by email when their books arrive.

Recalling a book from another patron
If a patron needs a book, which is charged to another patron, he may recall it or request it through Borrow Direct. Recalls may be placed directly in the main catalog by searching for the book's record and then clicking on the recall button at the top of the screen. Recalls can also be requested by filling out an orange recall form at the desk. Request forms should be placed in the cubbyhole next to the first window.

Recalled books are usually due 10 days after a recall request is made. After 10 days the patron holding the book will be charged $1.00 per day. Once the recalled book is returned to the library it is discharged and placed on the hold shelf for the requesting patron. That patron will be notified via email or mail that the book is available.

Requesting a book from an Annex
Patron may fill out an annex request online or by filling out a green annex request form.

NOTE: We do not send notices when these books arrive. The patron should return to pick up their book one to two business days after placing their request.
When the book arrives it can be found on the Annex sheves in alphabetical order according to the requesting patron's last name.

If the book is not on the Annex shelf, check the Annex problem box. Please do not send patrons away if you cannot find the item. Refer them to your supervisor.

Requesting an in-process book
Some books are listed in the catalog as on-order or in-process. On-order books have not yet been received. Patrons can request these and we will notify them when the book is received. In-process means that the book has been received but has not yet been catalogued. Patrons can request that these books be processed for circulation for their use.

In-process request forms can be found in the middle wire basket behind the first window. Completed forms should be placed in the bottom wire basket.

It typically takes one to two business days for the book to be processed and made available for the patron. If the book is not on the hold shelf, check the in-process book request problem box on the corner of Cindy's desk, or consult a supervisor.