I think it was polietly worded and I would have appreciated getting the notice.   Just having a hold on your shelf does not mean you are without a computer.    I have also been on vacation hold since Sept 27th.   I had ordered several books.  After a reasonable amount of time, I logged on and marked the books received.   Do I KNOW they are at my home?  Nope - but I trust the good people on here and it certainly isn't fair to the sender to make them WAIT for weeks just because I'm out having fun on a vacation.

I wonder if the book you ordered would have gone lost/times out during the time you are on hold?  If that's the case then this seems like a very fair and polite email.  Check the dates on the book you are waiting on. 

As per the Help Center:

• All ongoing (active) requests will still generate the normal emails
  • This means that you will get auto-email reminders about books you have requested that are en route, asking if you have received the books
    • Just mark the books received when you get home, if they have arrived
    • If they have been declared lost in the mail before then, mark them received from your Transaction Archive
    • If you will be away for a prolonged time, you might want to send a Personal Message before you leave to any members from whom you requested books, to let them know you will mark the books received when you get back.
  • You will also get any auto-emails about books that were requested from you before your account Hold began
• All clubwide emails (these are rare) will still be sent
• If you are subscribed to the Newsletter, this will still be sent to you
• All auto-emails you have not opted out of in the Email Settings will still be sent to you.

So, Charlie, I get "why" the email was sent, but I don't get "why" the email was sent.  huh?  Bear with me.  :>)

If she still had time, after returning from the vaca hold, before the book would be marked lost, then why the 5 day limitation?  What if someone put their account on hold for a week, knowing there'd be time to mark the book received when they got back (if indeed the book was there when they got back) and went hiking and camping, sans computer, only to find this email?

I'm confused, but it's late.  It's probably staring me in the face, huh?

Julie....

The Help Center explains that auto-generated e-mails will be sent out BEFORE the book goes lost (off hand I don't know the time frame for these -  I think it is approx  14-20 days after the date the book was marked mailed). It is just a reminder to mark the book received if it has been.

• USPS Media mail packages can take a variable amount of time in transit.
• The average is 9 days; some books travel much more quickly, some take longer
  • If a book is travelling further (ie, being sent from the Continental US to Hawaii, AK, PR, GU, VI, or an APO/FPO address), it will usually take longer to get where it is going.
• You will receive reminder auto-emails to mark your book received at regular intervals after it was marked mailed:

Well I still don't get it either, even with the Help Center info. Why send an automated e-mail like that if the account is on hold, asking someone to log in within the next five days? As Linda said, isn't the fact that the account is on hold enough to tell the PTB that "I'm not active right now?" And yes, I know that people put their accounts on hold for all kinds of reasons, but if the person hasn't logged in for several days AND their account is being held...HELLO! Maybe she really IS on vacation or away from her computer for some other reason? 

I could see an automated e-mail that said something like, "We know you have your account on hold, and we see you haven't logged in for some time. One of the books you requested (insert book info here) has been marked as 'lost' in the mail during your absence. We have given this sender their credit in your stead. When you return, please don't forget to mark the book received if you have received it. Thank you."

Cheryl

Right Cheryl, that's what I mean.  I do really understand what Charlie is saying, and I know the reminder emails start to come after a certain amount of time.  That's all good.  

However, I still am not understanding the 5 day limit if that limit is WITHIN their vaca hold and if the book WILL NOT time out before then.  If one is really away from the computer during that time, AND they will be OFF vaca hold BEFORE the last day of delivery times out, then I don't understand why PBS takes that out of the members hands.  The member needs to be given the opportunity to use PBS as it is allowable to do so.   If PBS gives credit before a book times out, and the member comes home only to find the book has not arrived, nor does it arrive, then what.  I know, you'll say PM R&R and let them know.  Ok, that's fine, and I'm sure it will work out, but why the hassle when if just left alone the system will allow the member to take care of it him/herself within the time limits and all is well.  Why stir a pot that doesn't need stirring?  Let them operate their vaca hold within the time constraints of PBS and a certain book delivery. 

Poor Charlie, are you slapping your forehead with your hand yet? 

(Caps are for enunciation, not yelling)  GOT IT!!!  (kidding)