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Resource Sharing for Groups release notes, April 2026

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Release Date: 17 April 2026

Introduction

This enhancement helps Resource Sharing for groups (RS4G) libraries that use enhanced requestability work more efficiently when they are not the first library asked to lend. RS4G uses a Z39.50 connection to each lending library’s catalog to determine whether a copy is available and requestable, and to retrieve shelving location and call number for use in staff workflows.

Now, each RS4G library in the lender string can see its own shelving location and call number, as long as the borrowing library sent the request using the Automated Request Manager. You do not see the previous library’s shelving location information in the request.

Previously, that requestability-derived shelving location and call number were shown only to the first library in the lender string (when the borrowing library used the Automated Request Manager). If the request continued to another RS4G library, staff at that library did not see that information on the request and had to look it up in the local catalog.

Important: If the borrowing library does not use the Automated Request Manager to build the lender string or send the request to lenders, RS4G lending libraries do not see their call number and shelving location on the request—this behavior is unchanged.

Recommended actions

We recommend that you review the following and complete any steps that apply to your library.

Administrative and training actions

These items require immediate action or decisions.

Action
  1. Confirm whether your library participates in RS4G with enhanced requestability and whether your borrowing workflows use the Automated Request Manager.
  2. Train lending staff that Local ID (and, for some libraries, Borrowing notes) will show your library’s shelving location and call number when you are the active supplier, not only when you were first in the lender string—for requests sent by the borrower through the Automated Request Manager.
  3. If your library uses OPAC integration, remind staff that choosing a copy through that workflow still controls what appears in Local ID when they use it, ahead of the stored requestability values.

New features and enhancements

Resource Sharing for Groups: Shelving location and call number for every supplier in the lender string

Before and After

Topic/Question Before this release After this release

Who sees the requestability-derived shelving location and call number?

Only the first RS4G library in the lender string, when the borrower used the Automated Request Manager

Each RS4G library in the string, when that library is being asked to lend, when the borrower uses the Automated Request Manager

What if the borrower did not use the Automated Request Manager to send the request or build the lender string?

No requestability-derived call number/shelving location on the request for RS4G lenders

Unchanged—still no requestability-derived call number/shelving location on the request for RS4G lenders

Will I see other libraries’ shelving location data on the request?

—

You never see another library’s shelving location or call number; prior supplier values are not carried forward for the current supplier

Where you see the information

Resource Sharing for Groups libraries that also use Tipasa or WorldShare Interlibrary Loan:

  • The Local ID field now shows the requestability-derived shelving location and call number for all suppliers in the lender string. 
  • Previously, only the first supplier saw their shelving location and call number.
  • Previously, this information was only displayed in Borrowing notes.

Resource Sharing for Groups libraries that also use ILLiad:  

  •  If your library uses ILLiad with Resource Sharing for Groups, the shelving location and call number are written to Borrowing notes regardless of where your library is in the lender string.   
  • Previously, only the first supplier saw their shelving location and call number. 

What your staff should do when your library is the supplier

  1. Open a lending request.
  2. Review the Local ID field for the shelving location and call number from requestability (appears only for your library as the active lender and when the borrower used the Automated Request Manager).
  3. If you are an ILLiad library, continue to use the Borrowing notes field to obtain shelving location and call number information.
  4. If your library uses OPAC integration and staff use the holdings selection flow (for example, when multiple copies are available), complete the selection as you do today; that choice continues to drive Local ID when used, ahead of requestability-derived values.

Real-time Availability

Real-time availability behavior—including when a loan request is not assigned to a lender because no available copy is found—is unchanged by this enhancement.

Who does this impact?

  • Applies to RS4G with enhanced requestability, when the borrowing library used the Automated Request Manager to build the lender string or send the request to lenders.
  • Off-system lending is not included as part of this enhancement.
  • One shelving location and call number per supplier from requestability remains the model for this release (not a full list of every available copy from requestability).
  • Print layouts and other outputs that already display Local ID continue to show whatever is in that field; no print layout change is part of this release.

Important links

More information about Resource Sharing for Groups

Support website(s)

Support information for this product and related products can be found at: