Using Borrow Direct for "Requested" or "On Hold" Items

Usually, if an item in the Harvard Library collection is not available, patrons can use Borrow Direct to request a copy from another participating library. At present the Borrow Direct system can detect if a Harvard item is available, checked out, missing, and a variety of other statuses; but it can NOT detect if the item is Requested or On Hold. Once the borrower who requested the local copy of this book comes to the library to check it out, the title will become requestable in Borrow Direct.

This is due to restrictions in the way the Z39.50 protocol (which BD uses to search our local catalog) is defined. The folks in Library Technology Services have brought the issue to the attention of the system vendor, but they don't expect a solution in the near future.