In-House Lending

Use Reading Room > In-House Lending when a checked-in member uses a Reference Only item inside the library.

Assign an item

1. Check the member in through Visitor Desk or into a Reading Room position.
2. Open In-House Lending and find the member by name or Member ID. Members currently inside through either workflow are available.
3. Scan the item's barcode, QR code, RFID tag, or accession number. You can also search by title or call number.
4. Review the matches in the Select item window. It shows the cover, title and publication details, accession number, barcode or RFID value, status, and the member currently using the item when applicable.
5. Select an eligible row to add it to the assignment queue. The window closes after selection. You can queue more than one item for the same member.
6. Select Assign all. Successfully assigned items appear in the active in-house list.

On desktop, Select item opens as a centered window with its own scrolling results. On a phone or narrow app window, it uses the full screen so every result remains readable. The page behind it cannot be used until you select an item or close the window. Press Escape, use the device Back action, or choose Close to leave without selecting. Choose Result settings to change the item lookup options.

The assignment queue shows the item identity, location, and readiness only. It does not show a circulation Return date because the item must remain inside the library and be returned or cleared before the member leaves.

The item picker shows only copies whose lending restriction is configured as Reference Only. Normal circulating items and copies with any other lending restriction stay out of the results and continue to use their appropriate circulation workflow.

Use the settings button beside either lookup to choose searchable identifiers, visible item details, and duplicate/eligibility checks. Lookup preferences are saved for your user account and do not change another staff member's layout.

When Show member photo is enabled, the member's current profile photo appears in the search results and remains visible after selection. If the member has no photo, the standard member icon appears instead.

If an item cannot be queued or assigned, the page explains whether the member is not checked in, the item is already assigned, no enabled field matched, or the item is not eligible for in-house use. Correct that condition and try again; items already in the queue remain available unless you clear them.

Return or clear an item

Find the assigned item and select Return / clear item. Do this before ending the member's Reading Room session or recording their Visitor Desk exit.

If Exit or checkout reports that an in-house item is still assigned, return or clear every assigned item and try again. The Visitor Desk visit or Reading Room session stays active until every attached item is cleared. This protection applies in both Cloud and Local setups.

Screenshot To Add: Active member selector, scan field, assigned-item list, and Return / clear item action.

Screenshot To Add: Desktop Select item window and the matching full-screen mobile layout.