we just booked a 10 day trip that's a couple of months from now, and i was thinking about how to manage my account.  we'll be gone a little longer than would be nice in case someone requests a book from me (though with 5+7 it's possible to do it within the time limits), but we'll have internet access enough that i'd rather not put my WL requests on hold or auto-request.

i know with vacation hold your posted books retain their spot in the FIFO queue.  what if you just put all the books on your bookshelf on hold?  does anyone know if you retain your place in the FIFO queue when they go back to posted again, or does it treat that like taking removing them from the shelf and reposting them?

I don't think you get to keep your spot in FIFO when you put books on your bookshelf on hold.  I was wondering this myself and although the help center doesn't come right out and answer the question, it does say that you can put your books on hold and then "repost" them later.  Because they use the word "repost" I'm inclined to believe that it puts you back to the end of the line.   HTH!

thanks Amy!  i had read through the help center things i could find, but i couldn't find much about putting individual books on hold, so i didn't see that 'repost'.  since it says that, i'm inclined to agree with you.

Putting books on hold puts you at the end of the Fifo line.

Putting your account on hold does not put you at the end of the FIFO line.  You might get passed by someone if the book is requested and it's your turn. But when you take your account off hold you'll resume your place in line.  If you decline requests or let them time out then you have to repost the book and start at the end of the line again.  If you know you'll have internet access and a request comes in, you'll have 5days to respond.  So you can wait until it's almost up to accept, then choose the last possible mail by date.  You'll actually have 2 days after that to mark the book as mailed.  I personally would put my whole account on hold so I wouldn't have to worry about it while on vacation.  It's better to put your account on hold than to let requests go unanswered.

From the help center: 

The FIFO order of each book will be preserved during the Hold; it will not "lose its place in line" to get requested.