The Ohio State University

Background Information

The following description of rush processing pertains to monographs, though its basic principles apply also to serial processing. In all cases, there are but three causes for an item to be designated for rush cataloging: (1) designation for reference; (2) designation for reserve; or (3) to meet a specific request from a user. (Items may be rush ordered for additional reasons, typically to obtain a special price discount or to obtain an item listed in a bookseller's catalog.)

The text which follows was prepared by an ad hoc working group: Olga Beshers, Harry Campbell, Marsha Hamilton (chair), Heidi Hanson, Catherine Jack, and Effie Spillman.

1. RUSH books are not left for a person who is absent --for any reason: vacation, sick leave or research leave.

2. RUSH books are intended to be forwarded to the next unit for processing within four hours after being received.

3. RUSH titles are intended to be processed through Technical Services and Preservation within 3 working days (72 hours). Some materials will take more or less time depending on availability of cataloging copy, whether the title is a duplicate, if the title was ordered RUSH or a RUSH was placed on the title in-process, etc. In cases of urgent need, RUSH titles may be moved through processing more quickly by hand-carrying and very special handling. This is possible but disrupts all other processing and should be used infrequently. Time estimates do not include transit time from Main Library to other locations.

   
   

1. Firm Orders.

   Shipping boxes marked RUSH are opened in the Mail Room and hand delivered throughout the day to the RUSH table in Receiving. Receiving will pull slips from the dealer's file as RUSH titles appear and will process on INNOVACQ with LCS=n. RUSH titles will be RUSH streamered, and manually charged on LCS to Copy Cataloging (CF611123) for seven days. Titles are then counted for statistics and placed on RUSH-ACQ shelf in the Search Section of Cataloging by 9:30 a.m. and by 3:00 p.m. daily.

   Titles not identified as RUSH in the Mail Room will go on trucks with the regular flow of materials. When slips are pulled from the dealer's file, staff will check to see if a title is marked RUSH CAT. If so, the title will be RUSH streamered and given to a Receiving staff member to process immediately.

2. Approval Titles.

   Books will be RUSH streamered by selectors on the review shelves. Those titles will remain on display (unless by special arrangement) for other selectors to view until Wednesday at noon. All RUSH streamered pieces will then be separated and given to staff to process immediately on INNOVACQ with LCS=n. Pieces will then be manually charged on LCS to Copy Cataloging (CF611123) for seven days. They will then be hand-carried to the RUSH-CAT shelf in the Search Section of Cataloging, by 3:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon or by 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

3. Gift Titles Processed Through Monograph Acquisition Division.

   Gift titles and other titles sent direct from locations to MAD with RUSH streamers or RUSH indications on the slips will have records built on INNOVACQ within four hours after being identified. Slips will be printed and matched to books. Records will be built with LCS=n. Books will be streamered with a cherry manual streamer and hand-carried to the RUSH-CAT shelf in the Search Section of Cataloging by 9:30 a.m. or 3:00 p.m.

4. Save Placed on Title in Process or in Backlog.

   LCS will generate notification slips or printouts for titles upon which saves have been placed. When the Search Section in Cataloging receives notification that a title has a save, staff will immediately locate the title and place it into the RUSH processing flow. If the title is in the backlog (CF951949), staff from Cataloging will retrieve it and place it in the RUSH flow in the Search Section. If titles cannot be located, they will be searched two more consecutive times before being snagged and given to a supervisor for problem-solving/possible replacement decision (as in cases of closed reserve requests).

5. Search/Copy Cataloging

   At 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., staff will pull, count and sort titles on RUSH-ACQ shelf. Duplicates and added volumes will be sent to the Duplicates Unit after search on LCS and/or the Shelf List to verify that a title is truly an added volume or duplicate. Titles will be searched on OCLC. If copy is available, catalog copy editors will handle as the next book. If copy has a problem, the book and OCLC printout will be given to an appropriate person for solution. The catalog copy editor will then complete editing the title and place it in the basket for Labeling. Search staff will go through all titles in the basket and charge them on LCS to RESXBBB. All saves will be transferred at this time. Books will be carried to Labeling daily at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

   If no copy is available, titles are charged to CF612111 and hand-carried to the Head, Monographic Cataloging Section, or an appropriate designated person.

6. Original Cataloging.

   The Head of Monographic Cataloging (or designated person) distributes original RUSH cataloging to appropriate catalogers. The cataloger will catalog a RUSH book as soon as received and will give to another cataloger to check. If no corrections are needed, the cataloger (checker) will place book on RUSH FROM CAT shelf in the Search Section of Cataloging as soon as completed. If corrections are necessary, the checker will return to the first cataloger for further work. The first cataloger will then return each RUSH item to the Search Section of Cataloging.

7. Books Returned to Copy Cataloging from Original Cataloging.

   Titles placed on the RUSH FROM CAT shelf which are call number or subject heading problems corrected in original Cataloging will be given to the first available catalog copy editor for editing. Books will then be placed in the RUSH basket to be charged to RESXBBB and sent to Labeling. Books with original worksheets will be charged to RESXAAA and sent to Labeling; the worksheet will go to the next available inputter.

8. RUSH Processing of Added Volumes and Duplicates.

   RUSH added volumes or duplicates will be forwarded to the Duplicates Unit from the Search Section throughout the day. The first available staff person will search on LCS to verify whether the title is a duplicate or added volume. The same staff person will pull the shelf list card, process the added volume or duplicate, keep statistics and hand-carry the item as soon as processed back to the Search Section.

   If a search of LCS identifies only a short record (short records without FBR's), an added volume or duplicate will be considered a problem and given to the Head of the Duplicates Unit. The Head of Duplicates Unit will search LCS, Shelf List, OCLC and INNOVACQ, as appropriate, to verify whether the item is an added volume or duplicate. If the title is not actually an added volume or duplicate, it will be hand-carried to the Search Section to be placed back in the copy cataloging RUSH flow.

   If an order record on LCS is charged to Copy Cataloging (CF611123) or original Cataloging (CF612111), staff will hand-carry to the appropriate unit and unite it with earlier volumes or copy. All will then be processed through the RUSH flow.

   If an order record on LCS is charged to RESXAAA or RESXBBB, OCLC and the Shelf List temporary slip will be checked to determine the correct call number and copy number. Duplicates Unit staff will make added volume or copy notes to the temporary slip in the shelf list and will finish processing.

   If above information is not available to process a title as an added volume or duplicate, it will be referred to a supervisor for possible special handling (i.e., sending a title to a location for closed reserve using an x-number).

9. Titles Sent to Labeling.

   RUSH titles are brought from the Search Section of Cataloging twice daily to Labeling, at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. RUSH titles will be kept together and labeled immediately when received. After Labeling, titles will be hand-carried twice daily either to Circulation or to the Mail Room at approximately 12:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. This will allow a few minutes for Mail Room staff to sort quickly and ship out RUSH titles to locations for the 7:45 a.m. shipment and the 1:00 p.m. shipment. (Titles for certain locations can be delivered only once per day.)

10. Main Circulation Desk.

    Titles delivered to Circulation which are RUSH, are sorted, charged manually, and sent to patrons on campus (mail option) via the Mail / Room between 12:30-1:00 p.m. daily. Titles for patrons off campus are held while a notice is sent via U.S. mail. Titles for locations in Main Library are either hand-delivered, placed in mailboxes in ASD, or sent to the Mail Room, by arrangement.

    
    

1. Location staff are to send the item or notify patrons immediately on receipt of RUSH titles.

2. Saves should be placed on LCS to designate titles that are already in process to become RUSH.

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