MobileStaff - Circulation Tasks
About
This article covers using the MobileStaff app (or the web browser option) to perform basic circulation tasks like checking in and out, renewing items, recording in-house usage, and checking an item's status.
App-Only Functionality
The following functionality is only available in the MobileStaff app, not the browser version:
- Driver's license scanning
- Receipt printing
- Taking patron photos
- RFID support
- Offline circulation
Scanning
From the MobileStaff app you can scan barcodes with a Bluetooth scanner OR with the camera on your tablet/smartphone by:
- Tapping the barcode icon and scanning the user/item ID with a Bluetooth scanner.
- Tapping the barcode icon and aiming your device's camera over the user/item ID until the red bar turns green and you hear a shutter sound - this means the barcode image has been captured or "scanned".
If you're using the browser version of MobileStaff, e.g. on a laptop, you can use a regular scanner.
For more information on Bluetooth barcode scanners and setting them up in the app, see MobileStaff - Installing, Logging in, and Managing Settings.
Checking Out
When you first log into MobileStaff, the Check Out screen displays by default.
If you want to apply an alternate due date instead of your library's typical checkout period, you'll need to adjust that setting before checking out to the patron. For more information, see the Modifying Due Dates section below.
To check out to a user who has their library card with them, pull up their account by:
- Tapping the barcode icon and scanning the user ID with a Bluetooth scanner OR your device's camera.
- Typing the user ID and tapping Start.
- Scanning the user ID (browser version).
If the user doesn't have their card handy, tap/click User Search.
From the User Search screen you can enter one or more criteria, e.g. Name, Alt ID, etc., then tap/click Search.
Tap/click the account you want. If there are alerts or notes, or the account is blocked, you'll see a pop-up.
After you close the pop-up, the word(s) Alerts, Blocks, and/or Notes will appear in red at the top of the account. Tap/click any of these for more information.
If you chose the wrong account by mistake, tap/click Switch User. You'll be taken back to your search results.
Check out the item(s) by:
- Tapping the barcode icon and scanning the item ID with a Bluetooth scanner OR your device's camera.
- Typing the item ID and tapping Check Out.
- Scanning the item ID (browser version).
If you're having difficulty scanning or entering the item ID, tap/click the Item Search icon (magnifying glass over a book).
From the Item Search screen you can enter one or more criteria, e.g. Title, Author, etc., then tap/click Search.
To see more info about an item in your results list, tap/click it.
Tap/click the item a second time to check it out to the user. You will automatically be taken back to the Check Out screen where the item's due date will be listed.
Modifying Due Dates
Before scanning the item ID, tap/click the Modify Due Date icon (calendar).
Select the due date you want using the Calendar or Date widget. Don't adjust the Time widget - that defaults to 12:00AM.
Tap/click Set.
Choose how you want to apply this modified due date:
- For the next item only
- For this user only
- Until you sign out
Tap/click OK.
Once you've set your modified due date, go ahead and check out to your user.
Checking In
You can't backdate check-ins, e.g. book drop items, when using MobileStaff; if you want to backdate check-ins, use the Checkin Bookdrop wizard in WorkFlows instead. See Circulation - Book Drop Check-In for more information
Tap/click Check In from the left-hand menu.
Check item(s) in by:
- Tapping the barcode icon and scanning the item ID with a Bluetooth scanner OR your device's camera.
- Typing the item ID and tapping Check In Item.
- Scanning the item ID (browser version).
If you're having difficulty scanning or entering the item ID, tap/click the Item Search icon (magnifying glass over a book).
From the Item Search screen you can enter one or more criteria, e.g. Title, Author, etc., then tap/click Search.
To see more info about an item in your results list, tap/click it.
Tap/click the item a second time to check it in. The item will route to be re-shelved, fill a hold, or go into transit.
Renewing Checkouts
You can modify due dates from the Renew by User/Item screens using the same procedure described in the Checking Out - Modifying Due Dates section above.
Renewing by User
Renew by User works well when a user has a checkout(s) they want renewed but they don't have the item(s) in hand.
Tap/click Renew by User from the left-hand menu.
Scan, enter the user ID and tap Renew by User, or perform a user search if they don't have their library card.
Once you've pulled up the account, you'll see a list of the user's current checkouts. Overdue items will appear in red.
All the items will be marked for renewal (as seen) by default. In the MSC, it doesn't matter whether an item is renewed as seen or not, so you can leave the Seen column alone.
In the Renew column, uncheck any items you don't want renewed.
Once the items you want renewed are checked, tap/click Renew Items.
You will automatically be taken back to the Renew by User screen where the new due date(s) will be listed.
Renewing by Item
Renew by Item works well when a user has a checkout(s) in hand that they want renewed.
Tap/click Renew by Item from the left-hand menu.
Scan or enter the item ID and tap Renew by Item. If you're having difficulty scanning or entering the item ID, tap/click the Item Search icon (magnifying glass over a book).
You will automatically be taken back to the Renew by Item screen where the new due date(s) will be listed.
Marking Items Used
To record in-house usage, tap/click In-house Use from the left-hand menu.
Scan or enter the item ID and tap Mark Item Used. If you're having difficulty scanning or entering the item ID, tap/click the Item Search icon (magnifying glass over a book).
Checking Item Status and/or Searching
The Item Status search works well for:
- Checking an item's status, e.g. you're unsure whether a book left on a table is someone's checkout or an in-house use.
- Searching the catalog in general, e.g. you're at an outreach event and someone asks whether your library owns a title. You can do this from other pages in MobileStaff, of course, but you're less likely to accidentally check an item out/in when starting from the Item Status page.
To check an item's status, tap/click Item Status from the left-hand menu.
Scan or enter the item ID and tap Display Item Status. If you're having difficulty scanning or entering the item ID, tap/click the Item Search icon (magnifying glass over a book).
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