Library Services Student Assistant Guide

• Log into Sierra
• Select CHECK IN (No patron) from the FUNCTION drop-down menu
• Scan item’s barcode
  • Cursor will need to be in the box for item’s barcode to feed in when scanned
  • Note: before checking in a DVD, open the case to make sure the correct DVD is in the case and that all DVD’s are accounted for
• Verify item has been checked in properly by making sure there were no pop up boxes and that the item’s information is now listed in the row below
• Remove any receipts or paper that might have been left in the item
• Place item in the proper place to be re-shelved
  • Most books and videos—Pre-shelving area
    • The pre-shelving area is where we store items that are waiting to be shelved
    • The shelves are broken up by sections
      • For example: A - BZ, M - PZ, Periodicals, Reference Stacks
    • Items stored on these shelves need to be placed in their correct location and in call number order
      • If people begin placing items on the shelves at random, pre-shelving can become disorganized and it is very difficult for others to…
        • Place additional items on these shelves in order
        • Find a particular book on the shelves
        • Prepare a book truck for shelving
  • Reserves—Place back on reserve shelf in call # order
  • Media equipment
    • If it's a chargeable device, the student who accepted the return is responsible for placing the device and its case on one of the shelves located next to the power strip and connecting the charging cable

• Reserves
  • Sensitize the books before re-shelving in Reserves shelves
• Connect NY books
  • These items follow a slightly different procedure.
  • This type of book can be identified by the sticker located on the front cover that has the CNY logo on it, and the white pull slip taped to the inside cover.
  • When scanning in the pull slip barcode of a Connect NY book, type in a lower case b in the “key or scan item barcode box” and then scan the pull slip barcode.
  • If the scanner is not working properly, type b, followed by the ReShare loan number, then reshr. (e.g. bNSYL-45reshr)
    • When box pops up asking "Check in", click the check in box.
    • Do not print the transit slip.
  • Place the returned item in the CNY/ILL return bin, located below the CNY/ILL hold shelf, or, give it directly to the ILL supervisor.
• ILL books
  • These items follow slightly different procedures.
  • These are not checked in via Sierra. Instead, place the returned book in the CNY/ILL return bin, located below the CNY/ILL hold shelf, or give it directly to the ILL supervisor.
• Pop up messages
  • Occasionally a message will pop up when a book is checked in
    • Do not just ignore the messages, they will need to be acted on
  • Most common pop up messages
    • 2 hour loan
      • Check in
      • Shelve with reserve material
    • Barcode not in system
      • Try scanning barcode one more time
      • If the same error message pops up, write a note on a slip of paper saying “Barcode not in system” and tape to book
      • Give item to supervisor
    • Held item
      • Print out notice
      • Write the date for a week from today on the slip and attach it to the spine of the book with a rubber band
      • Place item on hold shelf by patron’s last name
    • Give to cataloging
      • Write a message on slip of paper and tape to book
      • Place book on desk behind library services desk for a supervisor or take directly to cataloging
    • Do not check in, give to Lisa (or any other staff members name)
      • As the message says, do not check in book
      • Write a message on slip of paper and tape to book
      • Give to the person indicated on the note
    • Item status is MISSING, clear it?
      • Click yes to clear missing status

Sierra misreading a barcode number as a bunch of random symbols

• If Sierra misreads a barcode number and instead of displaying an actual barcode number (ex. 30431....) it displays a bunch of characters and symbols, (ex. ~#&^$@*%#%) hold down the shift key for approximately 10 seconds
• Try scanning the barcode again
• If that doesn't work, press the shift key on the left 3 times, and then the shift key on the right 3 times.
  • If Sierra is still not reading the barcode as a number, please see a supervisor

• The library has four locations where materials can be returned. See the bookdrops page for more information.