October 2025

Quick Facts

• 'Pick lists' in IMMS are used to pull order types such as Holds, Weeding, Error Correction, and Rotation. This is different from Symphony, which only uses 'Pick list' for holds.
• 'Picking' is the activity of searching for and processing items from pick lists.
• All picking will happen in the IMMS Mobile Client.
  • Volunteers who pull pick lists will be trained to use the IMMS mobile app and will have an individual login.
• IMMS pick lists are dynamic: items are added to (and removed from) the list in real time.

Quick links

• IMMS Quick Guide - Pick lists, general
• IMMS Quick Guide - Pick Lists, Holds
• IMMS and access/circulation
• Need help? Contact an IMMS Champion at your branch, or the IMMS Training Team at imms-training-team@multco.us.

General information

• Branches will search their Hold pick list at least once each day, unless there are extreme staffing shortages or other emergencies.
  • Staff and volunteers will access their branch’s list, scan a transport unit which will store the picked items, select an item, and scan it to fill the hold.
  • If an item on the list is not found, you can choose 'Scan later' to pass over it until later, or choose 'Not found' to mark it Missing. Choosing 'Not found' sets the item to Missing automatically. You do not need to check it out to Missing in Symphony.
• Pick list criteria and order of branches are set by Regional Librarians, Integrated Services-Access Services staff, and Collection Management staff.
  • The Sort Center is assigned Hold picks first. They have the largest collection, so they fill the most holds.
  • If an item on the Hold pick list is not found at one branch, the next day it will be on the pick list at another branch that has an available copy.
  • Unfilled holds stay on pick lists until the hold is filled or there are no available copies on the shelf at any branch.
  • Items will show as in a transport unit (crate or cart) until they are moved to the holds shelf. Patrons will get a hold pickup notice the next day.

Types of pick lists and what's on them

• Holds: Items at your branch that have holds on them.
• Error Correction Order: Items that are shelved at your branch but shouldn’t be. This list populates by reviewing branch parameters and item life cycles. For example, if you’re supposed to have a maximum of 2 copies of any given title, this pick list will direct you to pick any 3rd or 4th copies in your collection for redistribution.
• Exhibition Order: Items that are in current Exhibitions. These items will be used to fill display spaces at your branch or at other branches around the system.
• Rotation Order: Items on your shelves that have been selected for Automatic Rotation. These items haven’t circulated in a specific period of time (6 months is the default, but Regional Librarians can adjust the period if needed). Items on this pick list will be sent to another branch or to the Sort Center. If you don’t pick this list, it refreshes overnight with a different set of items.
• Manual List Order (only as assigned): These pick lists are manually created by librarians or administrators to deal with specific situations such as Call Number changes. Do not search Manual list orders unless you receive a direct request.
• Weeding Order (currently in development): This pick list is being tested. Please do not use it at this time unless you are testing. In the future, this is where IMMS will identify items that can be weeded based on circulation rules. There will be more communication and training before we use this pick list.

Rationale

Holds are a popular service. In order to fill holds in a timely manner for patrons and not have holds work backlogs for staff, holds are searched every day, except when staff are not available or emergencies.