From carlsoa at tblc.org  Wed Jul 16 15:32:34 2008
From: carlsoa at tblc.org (Al Carlson)
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:32:34 -0400
Subject: [iBorrow] Alleycat & iBorrow Item Labels
Message-ID: <69FDF3BECCCBAB41ABBCD23E235852940530A8A5@EXCHANGE.tblc.local>

Alleycat and iBorrow Users,

If Emily Post were still alive, she would put on her white gloves, sit
down at her Smith-Corona laptop, and write some instructions on Alleycat
and iBorrow delivery label etiquette.
She's no longer with us, but I've got her gloves and her Smith-Corona,
so I'll try to write it just the way she would.

When you fill a loan in Alleycat or iBorrow, you put a self adhesive
label on it, before you stuff it into that orange bag.
There are three lines on the tag:  Request #, Due, and Pickup Location.
Filling these lines in correctly will prove that you are a refined and
courteous person.  And nearly as wonderful as your dog thinks you are.

Just to start you off easy, what should you put on the first line?
Did I hear someone say "Request Number"?  Excellent! 
That's correct.

Now, that second line.  The one labeled "Due".  What goes there?
Those of you who kept your mouths shut and said nothing are the winners
this time.
You leave that line blank, because the library you are lending the item
to will put their due date on that line, when they check the book out to
the patron.
Remember, that sticky label is supposed to stay with the book during its
entire visit to the borrowing library.  
If you put your due date on that line, guess when the patron will think
he is supposed to have it back to his own library.
Besides, by leaving that line blank, you will cut your label workload
down by a third.
No, don't gush all over me in gratitude.  A nice, handwritten 'thank
you' note on your best stationery will be sufficient.

Third line.  Almost done.  What do you put there?
Let's not always see the same hands....
The correct answer is:  the destination system and the specific pickup
branch.
That makes it easier on Delivery and easier on any intermediate ILL or
shipping staff who may handle it.
Sometimes the orange bag goes straight to its pickup location, and there
are no middlemen to get confused.  But often the bag goes to an ILL shop
at a library system's headquarters location and has to be sent onward to
the correct pickup location on their own local delivery run.  Having
that branch name written on the label on the front of the book makes
that a lot easier.

Thank you for your attention to today's lesson in proper behavior.
Please share this information with your local ILL staff, if you think
there's any chance they are not on this mailing list.
Please contact me if you have questions.  (Emily is busy spinning in her
grave at the moment.)
And please push your chair in neatly under your desk when you leave work
today.


Al Carlson
System Administrator
Tampa Bay Library Consortium
1202 Tech Blvd. Suite 202
Tampa, FL  33619
813-622-8252 ext. 237

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