Refer to a library in a group

To refer a question to a library in your cooperative group:

1. Go to the Full Question.
2. In the Refer To drop-down list, select one of the following options:
   • Select Partner (Cooperative) if you want to consider libraries that are members of any of your cooperative groups, including your subscription group
   • Select Partner (Subscription) if "Partner (Cooperative)" is not available or you want to consider only libraries that are members of your subscription group
   • Stop. If neither of the options above is available, you cannot refer a question to a library in a cooperative group.
3. Click the arrow for the drop-down list. Question displays a Refer Question to Partner page.
4. Optional: To view all information about the question:
   • Scroll to the bottom of the page to view it in the same window.
   • Or, click the Full Question View link to view it in a separate window. Resize and position the window as needed.
5. Optional: View information about a group, if a Group drop-down list is available in the Show Only Partners with Expertise In area:
   1. Select a group in the Group drop-down list.
   2. Click the Information (i) icon.
   3. View the information in the separate window that appears.
   4. Click Close Window.
6. Optional: Limit the libraries that you consider:
   1. Select one or both of the following options in the Show Only Partners with Expertise In area:Select
      • a Subject Area and a Subject Broad Class in those drop-down lists if you want to limit the libraries by subject expertise
      • Select a Group in that drop-down list (if available) if you want to limit the libraries to a particular group
   2. Click the down arrow above the drop-down lists.
7. Optional: View information about a library:
   1. Select a library in the Select Partner drop-down list.
   2. Click the Information (i) icon.
   3. View the information in the separate window that appears.
   4. Click Close Window.
8. In the Select Partner drop-down list, select the library to which you want to refer the question.
   (If you did step 6 and cannot find a library to select, repeat step 6 with All selected in each list.)
9. Optional: Provide additional information about the question in the Reason for Referral box.
10. Click the Refer button.

QuestionPoint:

• Adds information about the referral to the Question History
• Changes the question's status to "pending"
  
• Changes the question's status to "referred out to group"
  
• Places the question in your library's Active, Pending, and Referred Questions lists
• Assigns the question to you if it was unassigned
• Sends an e-mail notice to the other library's e-mail notification address

Notes

If you select Partner (Cooperative) in step 2, the question and its answer are automatically submitted to the Global KB after the patron receives the answer and the patron or a librarian closes the question.

The Partner (Cooperative) option is available in step 2 if all of the following are true:

• Your library's profile is active in the Global Network.
• Your library joined a cooperative group online.
• The group administrator activated your library's membership in the group.
• The group administrator activated the group.

The Partner (Subscription) option is available in step 2 if all of the following are true:

• Your library participates in a subscription group.
• Your library's profile is active in the group.
• The group administrator lets group members refer questions to each other.

Related topics

• Send message about referred question