Inventory

=toc ** Q: How do I perform an inventory? **= A: Download the Real Time Inventory Handout for step-by-step instructions. You can also watch a video here.



=** Q: What is Real Time Inventory(RTI)? **=
 * A: **Real time inventory lets you know as you scan an item whether or not it is in the collection or not. Instead of waiting for a report at the end of the inventory to provide a list of barcodes (no titles!) that are not in the system, RTI immediately informs you of the status of the item so that you can enter the item (or change the collection) while you have the book in hand.

=**Q: How do I access the Inventory module?**= A: Inventory can be accessed from LS2Staff via the Inventory tab or directly at @https://catalog.library.cps.edu/rti/

=**Q: Why can't I login to RTI with my user ID?**= A: Be sure to include the domain, the same way you have to in LS2Staff. For example: instr\jdoe.

=** Q: Do all checked out items needs to be returned to the library before starting an inventory? **= A: No, the inventory process will take into consideration any items that are checked out. You do not need to scan an item into inventory if it is checked out or checked in during the inventory process.

=** Q: Do I need to stop circulating books? **= A: No, the inventory process will take into consideration any items that are checked out.

=** Q: Can I have multiple people scanning at the same time? **= A: Yes, you can have as many people scanning items that you have equipment for.

= **Q: When logging in to perform an inventory, do I select Scan Items or Identify Missing Items?** = A: When scanning barcodes for an inventory, you select Scan Items and then select the collection that you would like to scan. This is the first step. Once you have finished scanning all of the items in the collection(s) you are inventorying, you will log in and select Identify Missing Items.

=**Q: Do I have to inventory the entire library collection at once? Or, can I inventory one collection at a time, e.g. fiction, non-fiction, easy?**= A: You can inventory one collection at a time, or all of the collections at once. Since some items may be misshelved, for instance fiction shelved in the non-fiction section, I would inventory the entire collection at once so you do not inadvertently mark an item missing that is in the library just in the wrong location.

= Q: I scanned an item and got the message "Not in database". How do I correct the error? = A: Not in database means that the item has not been cataloged in the SOAR system. Add the item in LS2Staff or set it aside to be entered later. Once the item has been entered it does not need to be scanned in inventory.

= Q: I scanned an item and got the message "Item should be moved to..." How do I correct the error? = A: "Item should be moved to..." indicates that the item is incorrectly shelved or has been entered into the wrong collection in SOAR. If the item is misshelved, move the item to the correct shelf location. If the item is in the wrong collection in SOAR, change the collection by editing the item in LS2Staff.

= **Q: What is the purpose of the record button?** = A: The record button is akin to the enter button. If you are using a scanner, you do not need to click the record button after each scan. You only need to click on the record button if you have manually entered a barcode number.

A: No. Just pick up where you left off. When you are done for the day, click Finish or just log out. You can resume the inventory the next time you log in.
 * Q: My inventory was interrupted several times. Do I need to start over each time I log back in to Inventory? **

=** Q: What do I do when I have finished scanning all of the items in the collection? **= A: Select Identify Missing Items from the login screen to mark missing any items not accounted for. After you have marked all unaccounted for items missing, you may want to run the "Inventory Identify Missing Items Log" report for a list of the items that were marked missing during this inventory.

=** Q: When running the "Inventory Identify Missing Items Log" report, why I am not seeing any items? **= A: You must first run the Identify Missing Items process in RTI, Be sure to set the time in the report to a time prior to running the process.

= **Q: After completing the inventory and marking unaccounted for items missing, I found some items on my shelves. How do I change the status from missing back to available?** = A: If it is just a few items, you can check them in. If it is more than a few items, then you should perform another inventory.

=**Q: I checked in some items that were marked missing but they are still showing as missing in the Inventory Identify Missing Items Log report.**= A: That report lists items that were marked missing by the Identify Missing Items process. It is not a current list of missing items. You should use " Items by Location, Borrower Type, Holdings Code(s), and Status(es) w/Borrower Info in Date Range - Excel" for a list of all items with a status of missing.

=**Q: I have inventoried all my non-fiction books. I am confused about what date/time to enter when I run the "Inventory Identify Missing Items Log" under "Select Latest 'Identify Missing Items' Date/Time." Is that the date/time I began my inventory, or is that the date/time I finished inventory? **= A: It's the date that you ran the identify missing items process in inventory (the orange screen).

=**Q: Does it matter if a book is scanned more than one time during the inventory process? **= A: No, it will not cause an issue to scan an item multiple times.

**Q: What date do I enter when running the Identify Missing Items process?** A: You should enter the date that you first started scanning the items in the collection(s) you are reconciling.

**Q: What date do I select when running the Identify Missing Items Log report?** A: This is the date you ran the Identify Missing Items process.

= Q: What do I do with items say that No Call Number when I scan them? = A: These should be added to the database using LS2 Staff or MARC.Set Go.

= Q: What do I do with items that say they should be moved when I scan them? = A: If the item is in the correct location, edit the item in LS2 Staff. Otherwise move the item to the correct location in the library.