[Live Shelf Status] We're currently in the process of setting up Live Shelf Status, via Z39.50 targets, for many libraries so Patron-Initiated Interlibrary Loans can be activated for more institutions and requesting can be streamlined. With Live Shelf Status activated, the Illume system live checks the Lender library's Z39.50 server for the status of the item and confirms that the Lender library owns that exact item.
When should you see the message [Item not available - lender XXXX skipped, retry later]?
The message should only occur when the Live Shelf Status status check/look-up finds that the item is currently not available because it's Checked Out, On Hold or another reason such as it's a Reference item. Check first to see if the status of all copies of the item are showing as "Unavailable" for that Library/Code. For example a request for the item below from North Vancouver City Library (BNV) would be rejected by the system because the item is currently "Unavailable-CheckedOut" when you click on the Check Shelf Status link. If you see the Skipped message when the item is unavailable it's working correctly!
Live Shelf Status checks streamline the requesting process and allow ILL Staff to receive items faster and focus on requests for items that are available. With Live Shelf Status, ILL Staff should no longer have to waste time looking up items and rejecting requests for Unavailable items as the system automatically does it for you!
When shouldn't you see the message [Item not available - lender XXXX skipped, retry later]?
1) This message may occur in error when there are problems with the Mapped Locations (eg. Main Branch Library) and Statuses (eg. Checked In) for the Lender's z-target. If these are incorrect the Illume system has trouble confirming with the Lender's Z39.50 server that the library currently owns the item and that it's available to loan. If you request an Available item from another library and see this message please let us know! Is this happening to your library? Contact us and we can work together to update your current z-target mapped locations and statuses.
2) This error may also occur when the z-target doesn't retrieve any Holdings for that item so it's unable to confirm that it's available. Unfortunately if the Lender's Z39.50 server doesn't return Holdings information for that particular item, the Illume system has no way of knowing if it's available to loan. If you find this occurring for many of your items please contact us to update which MARC tag and subfields (eg. 852a or 949b) your Z39.50 server is using to send Location/Holdings information to Illume.
Everything in your z-target updated correctly and this is still happening? Please contact us so we can have Auto-Graphics investigate the issue.