Regarding privacy, the self-serve hold arrangements I have experienced have generally had a hold slip that only included something like the first three letters of the patron's last name and the first initial of their first name, which is enough for someone to identify their own item but not for someone else to figure out what any specific person is reading, mitigating the need to worry about book titles being visible. One library I worked circ for back in the day did include the full last name plus first initial, but the hold label was attached on the page side and the item was shelved spine-side in so the titles weren't visible unless an item was removed from the shelf. 
My employing library keeps holds behind the desk, but I've used self-serve hold shelves as a patron at multiple libraries, and from the patron perspective it worked fine. I think in all cases the hold shelf was in view of the circulation desk, which seems like a good idea. I think all those libraries also kept MeL items behind the desk still.
Rebecca Stout
Youth Librarian
Berkley Public Library

*Please note: my email address and our website have changed to berkleymi.gov.*

248-658-3440

3155 Coolidge Hwy
Berkley, MI 48072


On Sat, Mar 14, 2026 at 4:07 PM dreid reeseunitylibrary.org via Michlib-l <michlib-l@liblists.org> wrote:
Hi Zackery, 

Maybe someone will be able to correct me on this, or perhaps things have changed over the years, but I was under the impression that our hold shelves had to remain behind the desk for privacy purposes. I would be curious to know, along with your questions, what libraries that are implementing this system do to keep the book titles on the hold shelf hidden. Are they being wrapped, put in bags, etc....?

Thank you,


Danielle Reid, Director

Reese Unity District Library

2065 Gates St., PO Box 413

Reese, MI 48757

Phone: (989) 868-4120

Fax: (989) 868-4123


From: Zackery North via Michlib-l <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2026 1:02 PM
To: michlib-l@liblists.org <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Subject: [Michlib-l] Self-Serve Hold Shelves
 

Hello hive mind!


I'm exploring a future service modification to our holds. Specifically, I'm exploring the steps necessary to implement a self-serve hold shelf. I was hoping to get some idea of what the process was like for other libraries and address some of the questions I've already had. We're not an RFID library so we're not looking for those solutions. 


  • When did you implement self-service holds?
  • How well did your patrons transition to the new hold system?
  • What have you modified since implementation to make the process easier for patrons and staff?
  • Do you place MeL items on your self-service hold shelf? If so, how do you process those titles to get them ready for the shelf?
  • What procedures do you have in place for patrons that need to receive phone calls for holds? We don't have an automated phone system.

Thank you in advance for the insights you provide. 

Kind regards,


Zack North (He/They), MLIS

Assistant Director

St. Joseph / Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library

500 Market Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085

Main #: 269-983-7167

Direct #: 269-408-4560

librarybythelake.org



 


_______________________________________________
Michlib-l mailing list -- michlib-l@liblists.org
To unsubscribe send an email to michlib-l-leave@liblists.org