October 2025

Quick Facts

Standing orders are automatic orders for reference books that are updated frequently (usually annually). Most of these go to Central, but Oregon Revised Statutes, Literary Market Place and other titles are also held at branches.

New reference books and Standing Order books usually arrive in black crates from OPS and have the Home Location A-R (Adult Reference). Some may arrive in mixed crates and go into an exceptions bin when run though the AMH. 

Processing Procedure - Branches

If a new Reference item is sorted onto a Transport Unit:

• Treat the Reference book like the other items on that cart.
• Use the IMMS device to click  “Shelve Items” and scan the Transport Unit barcode.
• Shelve the book on the reference shelf
• Remove the old edition from the shelf and discard it, or circulate it (if applicable).

If a new Reference item goes into an exceptions bin:

• Make sure your branch has an IMMS location and Item grouping for Reference books
• If you don’t, your regional librarian needs to edit your branch’s IMMS configuration first
• If you have a bay/shelf designated, click “Shelve Items” on the IMMS device and scan the book(s)
• You don’t need to move the book to a transport unit first.
• Remove the old edition from the shelf and discard it, or circulate it (if applicable).

Processing Procedure - Central

Most Standing Orders arrive in crates labeled “Baron STOs”. These can be delivered directly to Baron, or any other adult services librarian if Baron is unavailable. Central librarians will sticker the book with a red “R” sticker if the location is Room Reference. The librarian will discard, circulate or archive the previous edition, according to the instructions for that title.

Central does not use the AR home location; any Reference item that comes to Central with this code will need to be changed by a librarian to an active code. The most frequently used codes are 005 (Room reference), 002 (Oregon Collection) or 004 (Basement reference), though others exist for oversize reference items, reference maps, etc. 

A new reference item that is not a standing order will often come to Central in a regular crate. If it has the AR code, the item will go to the exception bin. It will need a code change before it can be shelved. Please check exception reference items out to the problem shelf card and either route it to a librarian, or leave it on the problem shelf for librarian review. Do not attempt to guess where it ought to go and place it on a Transport unit to be shelved.This will result in “Illegally placed” and missing items.

Rationale

Standing orders are books sent to the library automatically without needing to be re-ordered each year. There is a procedure to make sure they are placed properly in IMMS and the old editions are removed.