The lock need feature is a way to notify the other admins in the system that you are currently working on a specific NEED. It is designed to prevent multiple people from working on the same NEED at the same time.

To use this feature, follow these steps: 

1. From the needs database view, click on a specific NEED to see its specific page.

2. To notify other admins working in the database that you are currently working on this need, click the button that says "Lock Need".    

3. This places a small "locked" graphic on both the NEED page and the NEEDS database page to let all other admins know that the need is currently being worked on.

 4. When you are finished working on the NEED (whether it is MET or UNMET), click on the "Unlock Need" button.    

5. This will remove the "locked" graphic from both pages so that other Community Admins know that you are no longer actively working on this NEED.