What should I do if I have set an item to shipped, and then find out it is being lent to a patron of a non-certified library?
Check with your supervisor if you do not know your library's official position on lending to that library or patron.
When processing Virtual Catalog requests, it is often not possible for staff to view the patron information prior to setting an item to shipped. This can be problematic if your library’s Board has made a policy not to lend to non-certified library patrons, as you will be unable to determine where the patron is coming from until you have already processed the request.
If you have set an item to shipped that you cannot lend due to policy restrictions, please contact the Mass. Virtual Catalog Helpdesk (contact information listed below) and provide the request number and title information, so that the status of the request can be set back. This will enable the request to continue through the system.
If you are not sure which libraries in Massachusetts are not certified, a list of libraries receiving State Aid and a list of libraries not receiving State Aid can be found on Mass. Board of Library Commissioners website.
Please see a related FAQ and see Massachusetts regulations concerning borrowing between public libraries receiving funds under the State Aid to Public Libraries program.
Need further assistance? Contact the Helpdesk: