Hold Receipt Update

Thank you to the libraries and staff at the Service Center who interacted with hold receipts and/or tracked data during the hold receipt tracking period. Here are the takeaways based on the data submitted:

• For pulling holds, 4 to 24 seconds is saved using hold receipts over hold labels per item.
• For processing expired holds, 0-9 seconds is saved using hold receipts over hold labels per item.
• For shelving delivery, 0-3 seconds is saved using hold receipts over hold labels per item.

Larger libraries might have saved a little less time while medium to smaller libraries saw a greater savings of time. Due to this data and based on guest feedback, we want to have a longer testing period to allow time for our hold shelves to be all hold receipts. Once we have all hold receipts, we will solicit feedback from guests as well as track how long it takes us to pull holds, shelve delivery, and process the holds expired list. We will be working with MAC on how we can get feedback from guests. More information will be coming about tracking hold receipts.

All libraries and Collection Processing (CP) will do a 4-week testing period of hold receipts. The testing period will be Wednesday 2/1/2023 through Tuesday 2/28/2023. Library Management Team will have opportunities each week, dates not yet determined, to virtually check in to provide feedback about receipts, ask about workflow, share how staff are handling hold receipts, etc.

Again, the purpose of the 4-week testing period is to allow our hold shelves to be all receipts to allow staff and guests to see how this would fully work as well as give staff time to establish a workflow. The files below include the two folded test receipts all libraries and CP will be using, the initial data for all libraries for staff to review, and a takeaway document with the overall averages.

Our goal is to have a decision made mid-March/early April, so we know how to move forward with fiscal year 2024 budget. We do have information on the hold printer and hold labels the Pioneer Library System uses. If the hold receipt testing period does not go well and/or we receive an overwhelming number of negative responses from guests, we can make the decision to keep our current hold labels or make the investment into what the Pioneer Library System uses. However, if we get positive feedback from guests and staff and the data shows we’re saving time, the trial period will become current practice and we will no longer use hold labels.

Managers at Libraries and SC: What we need you to do is to look at your current set up to see where your hold label printer is. Do you have a receipt printer in your building you can repurpose and move during February? Please notify IT at [email protected] by this Friday, January 20 if you need a receipt printer or if you are able to move a receipt printer. That will give IT one week to install / move printers so we can launch hold receipts on February 1.

More information will be coming soon.