FAQs

SUNY policy allows library users to return checked out library materials to any SUNY library. If a user from another SUNY returns an item to your library, please use the workflow detailed below to remove the loan from their account and place the item in transit to the owning library. 

In order to check in items returned by users from other SUNYs, you will need the Circulation Desk Operator role scoped to the Returns from Other SUNYs circulation desk (the name of this circulation desk may vary slightly from SUNY to SUNY).

When an item checked out from one SUNY library is returned to a different SUNY library:

• the item is immediately removed from the user's account
• no return receipt is generated
• the item is placed in a transfer status to the owning library
• the Ful Transit Slip Letter will print

Once you switch to the Returns from Other SUNYs circulation desk, return anywhere functionality is available in the following interfaces:

• Scan In Items
• Return Items
• Manage Patron Services

Please note the following:

• Items returned to other SUNYs are immediately removed from the user's account, but the user will not receive a return receipt email.
• If you are checking in an Alma resource sharing item, Alma may place the item in transit to either the borrowing library or the lending library depending on where it first finds the item barcode as it queries the entire SUNY system. Please ship the item to the library Alma places it in transit to regardless of whether that library is the borrowing library or the lending library.
• Please refrain from using the return anywhere feature for ILLiad resource sharing items. Instead, send the borrowing library an email that the item has been returned to you and then ship the item to the borrowing library.

1. If a user from another SUNY returns an item to your library, click the Location icon at the top of your Alma window and select the Returns from Other SUNYs circulation desk (the name of this circulation desk may vary slightly from SUNY to SUNY) from the "I am physically at" dropdown. 

2. Go to Fulfillment | Scan In, enter the item's barcode into the Scan Item Barcode field, and then click the OK button. The campus you should ship the item to will appear below, and the Ful Transit Slip Letter will print. 

3. Click the Location icon at the top of your Alma window and select your previous circulation desk from the "I am physically at" dropdown.