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Recall items

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Find information about recalling items in WorldShare Circulation that are currently checked-out.

Items can only be recalled if they are checked out by a patron.

Recall an item

  1. On the left panel, use Discover Items to retrieve the item. For details on retrieving an item, see Look up item.
  2. If you searched for the item (did not scan or enter the item's barcode):
    1. On the search results page, click the item's title.
    2. On the Copies screen, in the row for the item you want to recall, click View/Edit.
  3. On the Item Details screen, in the upper right corner, click Place hold.
  4. On the Place hold window:
    1. Use the Patron field to retrieve the patron you are recalling the item for.
    2. Fill in the following fields:
      1. Pickup: If the patron prefers a different location, select the preferred library from the list.
      2. Hold: To set an expiration date, click the calendar button and select a date.
      3. Suspend (Optional): If the patron does not need the item between certain dates, specify the starting and ending dates using the calendar button.
      4. Move patron to top of queue: Makes the patron the first person in the holds queue for the item.
      5. Notes (Optional): Provide additional details about the patron's request before and/or after the hold has been fulfilled. Patrons are able to view and update notes when signed in to WorldCat Discovery>My Account. 
    3. Check the Recall item from: box.
  5. Click Save Changes.

For more information on statuses, see Item statuses.

  • The item record’s Status field indicates the item has been recalled for the patron you specified.
  • The patron record’s Hold tab indicates a new item-level hold request.

 Note: If an item that is long overdue is manually recalled, overdue fees, including partially resolved bills, are automatically canceled per the long overdue and lost policies. Refer to Long Overdue and Lost Policies for additional information. 

Change the due date of a recalled item

If you need to give a patron more time with an item but still want recall penalties and notification policies to be applied, change the due date of a recalled item while leaving the loan in a recalled state.

  1. From the Checkout tab in the patron account:
  2. Select the check box (first column on the left) for the recalled item for which you would like to change the due date.
  3. Select the Change due date button in the bottom, left corner of the screen.
  4. From the Choose due date dialog, type in the desired due date or select a date using the calendar widget. 
    • If you select a due date that exceeds policy, you will be forced to acknowledge the policy conflict before being allowed to proceed, depending on your role. Student Workers will need a senior staff member to override/approve the due date change. See the Circulation roles documentation page for information about Override credentials.
  5. Select Choose due date. 

 Notes: 

  • For overdue or long overdue loans, you cannot manually change the due date regardless of recall status. To change the due date of an already overdue loan, use the renewal option. Renewing the item will, however, release it from its recalled status. 
  • For Circulation groups, any staff user can renew or change a due date for any group loan.
  • If automatic checkout receipt notifications are enabled, be advised that changing the due date of a loan will send a receipt to the patron.  If you aren't sure if this receipt is enabled for your institution, circulation administrators can check the setting in the Due Date Receipt Notification Policy of the OCLC Service Configuration.

Refer to Change due date for more information.

Release recalled items 

Recalled items can be released from the recalled state by:

  • Checking in the item once it has been returned.
  • Renewing the item if the recalled materials are no longer needed to fulfill item requests.
    •  The item will then transition to the correct status (on loan, overdue, etc.).

To renew the item:

  1. Navigate to the Checkout tab for the patron.
  2. Select the check box (first column on the left) for each item to renew.
    • To renew all items, select the check box at the top of the column.
  3. Click Renew (lower left).
    • Optional. Use the Renew W/Due date option to specify a due date before or after what your policy would usually allow.  If you select a due date that exceeds policy, you will be forced to acknowledge the policy conflict before being allowed to proceed.
  4. An override is required to renew items that have been recalled. Student Workers will need a senior staff member to override/approve the renewal.  See the Circulation roles documentation page for information about Override credentials.

After acknowledging any overrides, the loan will be released from the recall and the system will recalculate the loan's due date based on your loan policy's renewal period.

Refer to Renew items or Check in Items for more information.