FAQs

Hold notification delays can be used to prevent the FulPlaceOnHoldShelfLetter from being sent to patrons the moment a requested item is scanned in.  Configuring hold notification delays can help prevent situations where users try to pick up requested items before staff have had an opportunity to place them on the hold shelf.  Hold notification delays can be configured in two different ways.

• If you want a single hold notification delay to be applied to all circulation desks attached to a library, you can configure the hold notification delay at the library level.
• If you want a different hold notification delay to apply to each circulation desk attached to a library, you can configure the hold notification delay at the circulation desk level.
• If you configure hold notification delays at both the library and circulation desk level, Alma will apply the delay that was configured at the circulation desk level.

Configuring a Hold Notification Delay at the Library Level

1. Go go Configuration, select the library you wish to configure, and then click the Library Details link.

2. In the General Details section of the Summary tab, enter the number of minutes you would like the hold notification to be delayed into the Delay for hold notification (minutes) field and then click Save.

Configuring a Hold Notification Delay at the Circulation Desk Level

1. Go go Configuration, select the library containing the circulation desks you wish to configure, and then click the Circulation Desks link.

2. Click the ellipsis next to the circulation desk you wish to configure and then click the Edit link. 

3. In the General Details section of the General Details tab, enter the number of minutes you would like the hold notification to be delayed into the Delay for hold notification (minutes) field and then click Save.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the rest of the circulation desks attached to the library.