Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery - Staff Wiki


Rush Ordering Procedures

Rush Ordering and processing is one of our most service-oriented processes. All rushes should be approached with the assumption that the requester really needs the item NOW. Everything in our power should be done to get rush items in the hands of the requester as soon as possible. Our service commitment is to whenever possible:

  1. Place rush orders within one working day.

  2. Receive rush items within two weeks.

  3. Process received rush items within one working day.

Pre-order Searching:

  1. Search all orders in Catalog USMAI in accordance with regular catalogusmai searching procedures. If the item is held by UMBC, no further searching is necessary. Resolve the ticket and let them know the item is already held. 

  2. Search the items in Amazon.com in accordance with regular searching procedures. If the item is available in three days or less, we'll order it from Amazon.com and no further searching is necessary.

  3. Search Barnes and Noble.com in accordance with regular procedures. If the item is available in three days or less, we'll order it from Barnes & Noble.com and no further searching is necessary.

  4. If neither Barnes & Noble nor Amazon have the item, search the publisher's website. If the item is available from the publisher, we'll order it direct from them.

  5. Create the PO in Aleph in accordance with regular procedures

  6. Group orders from the same vendor and place orders in accordance with regular procedures

  7. Resolve the ticket in the RT system

Summary of Vendor Selection and ordering for Rush Orders

              Books (in-print, published or distributed in North America)
  1. Barnes & Noble.com if available in 3 days or less, Visa orders placed on web.

  2. Amazon.com if available in 3 days or less, PO placed via the PAW procurement system.

  3. Direct from the publisher. VISA placed on the web. 

Books (foreign)
  1. Barnes & Noble or Amazon if available. Check appropriate Amazon sites (i.e. Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de etc)

  2. Source given on the order. VISA orders if possible.

  3. Any other source we can locate. VISA orders if possible.

    Books (out-of-print)

  4. Amazon.com used. VISA orders placed on the web.

  5. Vendor selected from Addall in keeping with normal out-of-print searching procedures. VISA orders placed via phone.

  6. Source given on the order. VISA orders placed via fax.

Videos, DVD's or Music CD's:
  1. Barnes & Noble.com if available in 3 days or less. Visa orders placed on Web.

  2. Amazon.com if available in 3 days or less. VISA orders placed on the web.

  3. Source given on the order. VISA orders placed via phone.

  4. Any other source we can locate. VISA orders placed via phone.

    Music Scores:

  5. SheetMusicPlus.com. VISA orders placed on the web.

  6. Source given on the order. VISA orders placed via phone.

  7. Any other source we can locate. VISA orders placed via phone. |

Review and Vendor Decision

  1. If the item is "Already in Library:", respond to the RT that the item won't be ordered because it is already held by UMBC. Including the call number if the item is available. If the item is not available, suggest that they recall the item.

  2. If the item is "Already on Order:" check the vendor. If YBP, consider cancelling and reordering. If cancelling is not possible, make sure the item will be rushed when it arrives and go on hold for the requestor, if not already on hold. Reply to the RT and describe the situation.

  3. Search any series in accordance with the series searching procedure.

  4. Perform Complex Searching/Special Handling procedures as appropriate.

  5. Review all records selected to insure that they match the order.

  6. Review the vendor assignment to verify that it is correct.

If items can't be obtained within the rush timeframe, (Not Yet Published, Unable to Locate, Out-of-Print or Out-of-Stock Indefinitely and no used copies available), notify the requester, via RT, of the status of the item and what action will be taken. Not Yet Published and Out-of-Print or Out-of-Stock Indefinitely (unable to locate) items are held in the appropriate slots in the rush area, for review and searching on a weekly basis, until found and ordered.

Order Creation

If there is no bibliographic record already in the system, export a bibliographic record from OCLC. If you can't or don't know how, give the order to someone who does. Create orders as usual in accordance with normal order creation procedures, with the following exceptions:

  • Put the word "RUSH" and the word "Hold" in the library notes field (unless the item is for reserves).

  • The requestor must be in the requestor field. They may not be put in the notes field. See the Acquisitions Librarian if you're unable to find the requestor.

  • Click the "Rush" box on tab two.

  • Set the claim date to two weeks.

  • If the item is to go on reserve, it cannot be put on hold.

    • The collection code is STCK, not RSRV.

  • Additionally, items that will go in reference or special collections are non-circulating and can't be put on hold--also notify the requestor in these circumstances that the item can't be put on hold.

  • Put the completed order in a manilla folder labled with the vender name, order number and initials. Put the folder the open orders file. 




Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery . University of Maryland, Baltimore County . 1000 Hilltop Circle . Baltimore MD 21250
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