School Libraries and Information Literacy FAQs

Loans

How many books do I have on loan?

Select <B2-E1>Circulation Loans option

Wand the borrower’s barcode
Wand <BORROWER> from the Circulation Control Card or type <BORROWER> in the Command space on the option bar
A list of currently borrowed items is displayed
If you wish to print out this information, select <L>ist from the option bar; then <P>rint or <Esc>
If you do not wish to print out this information, press <Esc>.

How many people are ahead of me on the reservation list?

Select <B2-E1> Circulation Loans option.

On the blank loans screen, wand <ITEM> from the Circulation Control Card or type <ITEM> in the Command space on the option bar
Type the title in the space on the option bar. Typing just a small part will find an approximation in a lookup window
In the lookup window, move the curser next to the title required; press <ENTER>
Select <R> from the option bar to display the reservations for the title.

How can a reservation be cancelled?

Select <B2-E3> Circulation Reservations option.

Wand the borrower’s barcode
A list of the reserved items is displayed with the allocated expiry date for the reservation
Move the curser next to the item that you wish to remove from the reservation list
Select <D>elete from the option bar to cancel that reservation
<C>onfirm the delete command if this is correct. The reservation is now cancelled.

How do I change the Master Due Date?

Select <B2-D2> Borrower Loan Categories
You will see each borrower category assigned. eg teachers, students etc
Put the curser next to the category you wish to change.
Press <E>dit
Enter until you reach the Master Due Date Column; overtype a new master due date.

I want staff to borrow some items for the whole year. How do I do this?

Select <B2-D2> Borrower Loan Categories

You will see each borrower category assigned
Put the curser next to the category you wish to change. (eg Staff or Teachers)
Select <L>oan from the option bar. A list of Resource Loan Categories is displayed along with a period of time for which they can be borrowed
Move the curser next to the Resource Loan Category that you wish staff to borrow for a whole year
Select <E>dit; press ENTER until the Period (Days) is highlighted type 0 (zero) in this space
The Due Date field will now be available and you can type a due date here manually (i.e. probably the master due date or a date in the final week of school). NOTE: Performing this task is not retrospective – it only applies to those loans which take place after the changes have been applied. So make sure after you have finished this operation, the circulation workstation(s) are returned to the main menu for the changes to be archived before proceeding.

Can books be renewed without returning them?

Select <B2> Circulation •Select <A1> Borrower Details

Select <F>ind
Choose <B>arcode (if borrower’s barcode is available) or <S>urname (Type in first 3 letters of surname<Enter>
Select <N>ext for required name
Select <L>oans
Place cursor against resource to be renewed
Select <R>

During a process of a loan the message “Note: Item marked as missing on the -------- <C>ontinue”. What does this mean?

The item has been identified by the Stocktake process as missing or manually changed to missing status
If you select <C>ontinue this will enable the loan to proceed
When you next run a <B4-N4> Weekly Housekeeping the status of the item will change from M for missing to F for Found
It will remain at the found status until the next Stocktake. It will count towards the total number of items recovered for the Stocktake
After the Stocktake is completed, the item will revert to the C for catalogued status when Weekly Housekeeping is once again processed.

How do I find out who has a specific resource on loan?

Select <B2-E1> Loans option
Wand or type in the <ITEM> command and <Enter>
At the title prompt type in the title name you are seeking the loan information about and press <Enter>
From the title window select the appropriate match by pressing <Enter> with the arrow pointing at the correct title
The details of the borrower who has the title on loan will appear along with the date due reservation details.

How do I change loan types temporarily, e.g. a teacher wants some resources limited to overnight loan only until a particular date?

If you have the resources on hand.
Select <B2> Circulation
Select <L1> Change by Barcode
Type in the Loan Category to which items are to be changed to (e.g. O - overnight, X - not for loan), <Enter>
Select <T>emporary, <Enter>
Type in the date when the items are to revert to their original loan categories, <Enter>
Wand-scan in the barcodes of the resources <Esc>when finished
If you don’t have the resources on hand
Select <B2> Circulation
Select <L2> Change by Enquiry
Select <A>dd this will take you to enquiry
Type in the subject-title-author-series that you want to change the loan type on, <Enter.>
You can <M>ark the subject-title-author-series OR press <Enter> and then <M>arkindividual items. You can continue “marking” as many subjects, etc as you like by just moving through enquiry in the normal manner
To return to the list that you have created press the <F2> key.
Select <C>hange. Type in the loan category that the items are to be changed to, e.g. O - overnight, <Enter> Select <T>emporary, <Enter>
Type in the date at which the items are to revert to their original loan categories, <Enter>. <Esc> when finished
NB Items will revert to their original loan category when <B4-N4> Weekly Housekeeping is run after the nominated expiry date.

Mine is a very busy school library and I can't always be at the circulation desk. What processes can I put in place to ensure effective loan and return of resources?

In many schools, teacher-librarians have trained both classroom teachers and selected students in circulation procedures. This enables the teacher-librarian to work with students, and is an effective way of providing access to library resources when the teacher-librarian is not available.

I am unhappy with the message on the overdue notes to families. How can I change it?

A more appropriate message for your school’s particular circumstances can be typed in the field Message to put on overdue to family.
It may be wise to select the wording for these external notes with reference to your Library Committee or Principal.
The field is found by selecting <B1> Management from the OASIS main menu, <C1> System Parameters, and then <C>irculation.

Back to Circulation FAQs

Back to FAQ List

Conditions of use | Help | Contact us
Report incorrect, out-of-date or missing information

NSW Department of Education and Training