Handling MeLCat Items Received with No Virtual Item Records

The MeLCat item will have a paging slip with the patron and item information on it; however, when the borrowing library tries to receive the item, there is no virtual item record in MeLCat. The borrowing library will not be able to "add a barcode" to a non-existent virtual item record.

Sometimes, lending library staff accidentally check an item back in before they send it to the borrowing library. This deletes the virtual item and patron records for that request.

In these cases, the borrowing library should:

1. re-request the item on behalf of the patron. This way, if the request attaches to the item in hand, the borrowing library can insert the barcode to receive the item and then be ready to check it out to the patron.
2. if the request attaches to a different item or if the library is unable to re-request the item for the patron, return the item in hand to the lending library.
3. (Optional) the library can contact the patron to re-request the item, e.g., if a PIN is required.

Recommended by the MeL Resource Sharing Policies Committee, June 2005.