MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Policy and Procedure Statement 2.4.3

Rush Service

October 2004

 

I.       General

A.   Rush materials are those materials for which the library has an urgent need.

II.      Requests for Rush Service

A.   Rush service is requested at the time that an order request is submitted. As noted in statement 2.2.1, order requests may be submitted to Collection Management by any library patron or staff member. Rush service may be requested for any order request; but it is expected that restraint and discrimination will be used in requesting this service.

B.   Although requests for rush service are made at the time that an order request is submitted, requests for uncataloged materials (see statement 1.3.17) are often rush cataloged. There is no limitation placed on the number of requests submitted in this manner.

III.     Considering the nature of rush materials as outlined in I (above), the processing of rush order requests and newly received rush materials is given the highest priority. (As noted in statement 2.2.3, the processing of assigned reading order requests and newly received materials also is given the highest priority.) In order to implement this policy the procedures listed below are followed:

A.   When an order request for a rush item is filled out, "Rush" is marked in red in the "rush" box.

B.   When an order request for a rush item is received in Monograph or Serials Acquisitions it is searched and verified before regular order requests.

C.   Each morning Monograph and Serials Acquisitions inputs order records on Innopac for rush monograph requests including assigned reading. The order is coded "rush" on the order record.

D.   When a rush or assigned reading item is received in the Current Processing Team it is flagged so as to indicate its status: a rush item receives a red flag and an assigned reading item receives a yellow flag.  Monograph rush items are placed on the rush shelf and are prepared for cataloging within 24 hours. Serial rush items are delivered to the appropriate cataloger immediately after receipt on Magic.

E.   Monographs not ordered rush may be so designated by bibliographers after they have been received. This is accomplished by placing a red flag in the item while reviewing new receipts on New Acquisitions review. Monograph Acquisitions removes all items from New Acquisitions review every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Therefore, any monographs designated as rush after being received arrive in the appropriate cataloging team one or two days after being flagged.