Q. I looked up an item in the catalog and instead of "item in place" or"unavailable" it says something else. Is it available or not?

There are a number of phrases employed in the catalog that tell library staff where an item can be found. For your purposes, these items are in one of two categories:

1. Can be requested directly through the catalog:

In transit – Item is being transported between libraries or library departments. 

On Loan – Item is in use by another user. 

In process of Acquisition Technical Processing – Staff are in the process of adding the item to the libraries inventory. 

Offsite - Item is located in a warehouse.

2. Cannot be requested directly through the catalog (use other options):

Missing – The library is in the process of searching/replacing this item.

Lost – A patron has been billed for non-return.

Claimed Returned – Patron has disputed return, library staff are in the process of investigating.

In process of Catalog Maintenance – Item is currently unavailable.

In process of External Digitization – Item is currently unavailable.

In process of Interlibrary loan – Item is currently unavailable.

In process of Preservation – Item is currently unavailable.