Busy / In Use Records

What are "Busy" or "In Use" records?

• "Busy" and "In Use" records are records that are locked by another process on the system in order to prevent simultaneous access to a record (patron, item, bib, etc.). They are a normal occurrence on the LION system.

Why do they happen?

• They happen when a system process locks a record to prevent two people from modifying it simultaneously. This is done to ensure data integrity on the system. It can also occur if you are in a record and the application crashes while you still have the record on the screen. One more reason why this may occur is in the case of a heavy system workload, or as the result of other system problems.

What should I do when they occur?

• When you receive the message that a record "is busy" or "in use" wait a few minutes to see if the record will clear by itself. If after a few minutes the record doesn't clear, you should report the problem to the ERS Helpdesk via e-mail. When reporting the problem to the helpdesk, ALWAYS include the record number.

Can I clear "busy" or "in use" records myself?

• No

When reporting a busy record, what information do I need to send to the ERS Helpdesk?

• Anytime you receive a "busy" or "in use" message, the system will display the record number assigned to that item. You'll need to send the complete record number, with its prefix, to the ERS Helpdesk. If you do not send the complete record number, we cannot clear the record. Below is an example of the most common record prefixes (in bold) and their meanings:
  • .b1234567 = Bib Record
  • .i1234567 = Item Record
  • .p1234567 = Patron Record
• For example, if you receive the message, "Record b1234567 in use by system". You would send the record number "b1234567" to the Helpdesk.

How soon will the Helpdesk clear the "busy" record(s)?

• Records are usually cleared as quickly as possible upon receipt. The typical response time is usually within 5 minutes after we receive it. Notification will be sent back to you, via e-mail, once the record has been cleared.

I've reported a "busy" record to the Helpdesk, and I've received notification that it has been cleared, but I keep getting the busy message. What should I do?

• We'll usually verify access to the record before notifying you, but if this does occur, you can either re-submit the record number to the ERS Helpdesk via e-mail, or give us a call at 720.423.8130.