Part One – Checking Out Items

First, ask for the patron’s ID card.

They must present their own ID card.

If they don’t have their card:Offer to hold the items on the 24-hour hold shelf

– OR – Ask for a staff member to explain the

one-time exception rule.

If they are a Community Member with a community member card, they must present their blue UNC

Community member card and a photo ID.

WELCOME TO MILCIRC!!

Innovative’s Circulation System

The Identification Card

UNC ID (Bear) Card NUNC (Community) Card

If they are a community member and don’t have a card, ask them if they have a driver’s license with them, hand them a NUNC application, and call a staff member.

Checking Out an Item

1. Make surethis buttonIs selected

2. When you swipe their ID card their name should appear here.

Verifying the Patron’s Account

Note that this personis an undergraduate. Checking their status will help remind youlater of the due date

The “Checked Out”Bar appears in red if the patron might havean item that is overdue.

IMMEDIATELY Give the patron back their card

You may wish to remind this patron that they have an overdue item(s) and you will be glad to renew

it for them if they want to keep it longer (if the item is renewable – e.g. no holds on it)

Scan the barcode into the system

Make sure that the green light is on and that the red laser beam strikes across the barcode. The scanner can “read” the label upside down or right side up. You will hear a “beep” when it reads the barcode.

Watch the screen. If it shows the book added to the list of books checked out, it went through.

If there was a problem, you may get a window such as one of these:

There are many reasons a text box might appear.Always get a staff person to decipher the message.

You can always manually enter the barcode.Press F4 for U18500 and F5 for U18501, then enter the rest of the barcode using the numbers on the keyboard.

It Item’s Barcode is Missing or Damaged

Check Parts Message

This window will indicate how many parts are Included with the item. Be sure to count each part before you complete the checkout process.

Completing the Checkout Process•Double check the due date on the computer screen•Grab the appropriate stamp that matches the due date on the screen•Stamp the date on the next available line on the due date slip•After you stamp it check make sure that you can read it. Sometimes the wheel slips.

Desensitizing a Book, CD, or DVD•Make sure that desensitizer is switched on [in up position]•Hold book with spine label away from you and toward the left•Place the item against the grey device•Slide the item toward the left one time until you hear a click

If you are in doubt or wish to test it, just leave the item where it isand slide it a bit to the right. The red light should remain off.

red light

Desensitizing VHS Videos

DO NOT USE THE SAME SENSITIZER USED FOR BOOKS & DISCS!!!

Use the small desensitizer located on near the Reserve Book and swipe the item once in the direction of the arrow.

Flip it over and swipe again in case the strip was placed on the other edge.

Completing the Checkout Process

Hand the patron their checked out item(s) (with a smile!) and let them know the due date(s)

Closing Out the Account

Always click “close” to close the account when the transaction is finished. Leaving the account open causes various problems.

The Anti-Pilferage System When a person passes through the exit gate, it

interrupts a light beam from the base unit. If an item, which has not been checked out and desensitized at the circulation desk, is carried through the exit gate an alarm sounds.

The signal is completely harmless. It involves a certain type of magnet and does not involve x-rays, radar, microwaves or radioactivity.

If the alarm sounds, consider the following options:

First ask the patron to step closer to the circulation desk out of the flow of traffic.

You might ask any number of the following questions:

•Have you forgotten to check out one of your books?•Do you have any other books to be checked out?•Did I overlook one of your books when I was checking out others?•Do you have any library materials with you?•Will you walk through again please to see if it gives another alarm?•Do you have a book or video from another library with you? Sometimes books from other libraries can affect our system. •Did you accidentally pick up one of our books with your own things?•Do you have a rented video or textbook (these often set off the alarm)?•Do you have a calculator or some other electronic device that may be affecting the alarm?

If they sound the alarm again, have them step to the circ desk and unpack their bag.Do not do this for them.

If the patron maintains that they do not have library materials and does not wish to unpack their bag, accept their story and either get a staff person or let them go.

Remember, the loss of material is less important to the function of the library than possible loss of patron. Try to calm the patron by explaining that although at times it may be a nuisance, the alarm system is necessary to help prevent loss of materials.

There is always a way to beat the system. Don’t worry if people try to do this. Its real purpose is to remind a patron to check something out not to make them dishonest.

Reserve Items • Faculty sometimes place items on Reserve.• They specify the period of time an item may be

checked out by the patron. It is usually two hours, four hours or one day.

• This is so that a larger number of students will have access to an item.

• They are not renewable• Fines are much higher if the item is returned late

so we must check the book drop often in case there is a Reserve return inside.

About Reserve ItemsFaculty place items on reserve to restrict their check out so that an item will be more available for their whole class. Electronic Reserve or eReserve is handled differently. More about that later.

Ask the patron to use the Reserve Book The patron looks up their professor’s name(listed alphabetically in the book)

Checking out Reserve Items Locate the item with the numberthat the patron gives you.

You will need to write in the DATE and TIME that the item is due.

Miscellaneous

Checking In and Out Offline

• Once in a while our Millennium System goes down for awhile. We usually get notified about this from Michener.

• If you are unable to use the computer for checking in or out, you will need to find an Offline Checkout Slip located on the top of the front desk

Using an Offline Form

•Make sure you write down all the information requested on the slip•Write as legibly as possible. Double check all information before the patron leaves•Keep the slips in order if you can.•When the system becomes operational again, process all slips FIRST, in order - before you enter anything in the computer.

Due DatesYou will need to pay particular attention to the statusand type of material checked out so that the date you stamp on the item corresponds with the date displayed on the computer screen when you checked it out.

Undergraduates – four weeks for booksGraduates – 8 weeks for booksFaculty – semester for booksCDs and DVDs are always 1 week for everyone.

Limits

Students/faculty – no limits on booksEveryone – 6 reserve itemsEveryone – 10 CDs/DVDs and other media itemsCommunity Members – 20 items total

Checkin a Patron’s Record

This tabwill show youwhat they havechecked out and when it is due

Miscellaneous Tasks in MilCIRC

(also called Millennium or Triple I)

Expired Patron Account

This can happen for three reasons:• Non-UNC Patron account expired (they are good for only one year)•A Graduate student is finishing their dissertation but is not registered for classes•A mistake in UNC Registration

In any case, if you see thisyou should ask someone from the Staff for assistance.

Fines

• Fines on a student’s account are paid through Ursa or in Accounting at Carter Hall.

• Any other fine questions must be directed to one of the staff members.

If a UNC ID Card Does not WorkThis “on the fly” box will appear for two reasons:

•The patron is new and not entered into the system•The patron lost their card and is using a replacement card

The magnetic strip on their card will need to be “recoded”.Get a staff member to fix this problem

To find a recent patron in MilCirc Checkout…

Perhaps a patron left their id card or some other belonging at the counter.You can always find the person again by clicking the “check-out” tab,

then click and hold the mouse to find who the patron was.

QUICK CHECK(true or false)

1. As an alternative to a student ID, a student can give you their driver’s license to check out a book.

2. You should scan the item right side up or the laser reader may read the number upside down and check a different item to the patron.

3. If you are checking out an item and it has no barcode, it must be sent to the Music Library “mendery” for repair.

4. When, desensitizing a book, slide the book twice, just to make sure it desensitized the item.

5. Use the silver desensitizing bar for CDs, DVDs and VHS instead of the one for books.

6. A student can renew a Reserve item one time.

7. Student employees may help patrons identify basic fines on their account.

• If a student does not have their ID with them they may use their “ID exception one time, but a staff person must ok it and enter the exception into the account.

• False. The scanner does not differentiate between upside down and right side up.

• This only pertains to when an item is being checked in. If you are checking it out,use the F4 (or F5) key and the last seven digits of the barcode.

• False. This creates unnecessary wear on the machine. One time is enoughproviding you are watching the machine, you make sure the switch is on the correct procedure and the light stays on or off as you slide the itemaway (depending on if you are sensitizing or desensitizing).

• There is no need to slide it twice, but you should slide the item out (to the right) to see if the light verifies the operation you were attempting.

• False. The silver block is used only for VHS. The regular machine is safe for both DVDs and CDS as well as books.

• Reserve items may not be renewed under any circumstances. However, if no one is waiting for the item, you may check it in and check it out tothe same person.

• False. Get a staff person to decipher their fines. Some may not be accurate orapplicable if from a previous semester.

ANSWERS!!