searching for missing items
TRANSCRIPT
Searching for Missing Items
PROCESS AND INSTRUCTIONS
What makes an item Missing? Someone has tried to located the book on the shelf and discovered it wasn’t there.
Then, the item status was manually changed to Missing in the Voyager Record.
Search PeriodThree (3) total searches over thirty (30) day span
(1) Search initially in first week (your search, guided by Missing Report)
(2) Search in third week
(3) Search in fourth week
Begin Searching from Missing Report
Find Missing Report on corner of sign-in table in Shelving Room.
First, look in the correct location for the missing item.
Found Item in Correct Location If you find the book in its proper location, mark the list with an F for Found.
Leave it in its place on the shelf.
Next Item with Missing status
Continue to the next item on the list
In this case, we’re looking on the 4th floor for the item:
La bibliotheque du Pape Eugene IV (1431-1447) : contribution a l'histoire du fonds Vatican latin
by the call number: KBR 15.5 B5 F6 2008
Location Display Name Call No Title Item Barcode
Bird-4th Floor KBR 15.5 B5 F6 2008 La bibliotheque du Pape Eugene IV (1431-1447) : contribution a l'histoire du fonds Vatican latin
32911002285484
Item not in correct shelf locationWhere KBR 15.5 B5 F6 2008 should be, but is not.
Check behind the row of books on the correct shelf
Check behind row backing up to the correct shelf
Check behind the row on the shelves directly below the correct shelf
Item not in correct shelf locationLook for both the title and call number of the item on one (1) or two (2) shelves on each side of where the item’s correct location.
KBR 15.5 B5 F6 2008
Item not in correct shelf location Consider possible errors in alphabetic characters.
KBR 15.5 B5 F6 2008
Could be anywhere before
KBP 50
Search in all relevant areas for possible mistakes.
Items not in correct shelf location
Think about errors in transposing numeric characters. For example,
KBR 15.5 B5 F6 2008 could be mistaken for:
KBR 15.5 B5 F6 2008
KBR 51.5 or KBR 155
Search in all relevant areas for possible mistakes.
Item not in correct shelf locationCheck for small errors in shelver focus
KBR 15.5 B5 F6 2008 could be with KBPs
Item not in correct shelf locationLook for deleted or added segments of long call number ranges
KBR 15.5 B5 F6 2008 could be with KBR 195
Item not in correct shelf locationCheck where multiple errors could occur
KBR 15.5 B5 F6 2008
could be with
KRP 155
Searching GoalsThere are no strict rules for searching for missing books.
It’s more of an art than science – and needs creative thinking.
Goal is to predict which common errors might have occurred in shelving that item, efficiently check in those, then move to the next item.
Item Found! Check barcodeCheck the barcode to make sure it matches the one on the list, as the library may own multiple copies.
Checking Barcode If one barcode doesn’t match, double-check the front, interior, or back for another barcode.
Item Found! Check barcodeIf you find a match on either barcode, mark the item as Found with an F next to the line on Missing Report.
Item Found: Misshelved Bring item down to the shelving room.
Place these found books on Lisa or Christina’s desk with a note that they were Missing books which have been found.
Voyager Status Changed Christina or Lisa will change the item’s status in Voyager from
Missing
to
Discharged
Item Re-Shelved Correctly Placed on cart to be reshelved in the proper location.
Back on the shelf in its rightful place!