This page is all about what you'll find on the holds shelf and what to do with it. Most items on the holds shelf need to be checked out to the patron (except for Interlibrary Loan books). I'll be covering normal holds shelf books here. You'll be able to find more info on ComCat (Commonwealth Catalog) and Interlibrary Loan books in the galleries below.
Normal Holds
Normal holds shelf books are Gordon or NOBLE library books that have been placed on hold. They only have a slip that sticks out the top of the book with the person's last name, first name. See examples below.
Here is an example of what ComCats look like. These will always have a bookstrap that says "Commonwealth Catalog" on it. This one is in color, others can be black-and-white, and some can even be stickers on the book, but they all say "Commonwealth Catalog". When they are on the holds shelf they will have the same last name, first name slip that normal holds shelf books have.
ILL books can be a bit trickier. Depending on the institution, there are different bookstraps or pages inserted into the book itself. This first example is what it will look like, despite bookstraps and whatnot, on the holds shelf. Remember, these are the only books that are not checked out to the patron as they have already been checked out to the patron. Please make sure to desensitize them though.
These will also always have a highlighted section that says "ATTN: CIRC DESK". Underneath the highlighted section it says, " This item(s) is already checked out to the patron. It may still need to be desensitized though!" Sometimes this isn't fully visible, so feel free to pull the slip up to double check.
Most times ILL books will be returned with the slip still in the book. However, if it isn't there, here are some of the examples of what ILL books can look like. The one above has a sticker on the cover.
Sometimes a piece of paper that isn't the last name, first name slip is showing.
Sometimes there won't be anything sticking out from the book, but there will be a folded page just inside the cover.
Sometimes ILLs have a scarily similar bookstrap to ComCat books - always double check the name/institution to see if it is a ComCat or an ILL.
Sometimes they are multi-colored. Another example that isn't included is a plastic holder where the bookstrap is inserted.
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