| Circulation Control Parameters |
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Overview
This form controls several aspects of the Circulation processes and is dependant on values assigned to different attributes.
Detailed instructions
The screen is divided into the following group areas;
General
Default Loan Time (Days)
If no other settings exist to define the loan time for the Patron & Item, then this value will be used to calculate the return Due Date.
Renewal maximum per item. (0=No limit)
If an Item is available for Renewal, then this number defines how many times a renewal can be made before the Item cannot be renewed and must be returned. (If an Item is Reserved by another Patron, then it cannot be renewed.)
Renew Overdue Items only
This settings controls whether an Item may be renewed before its due date.
Renew policy applied to 'Issues & Returns'
This item indicates whether the circulation desk 'Issues and Returns' process is affected by the 'Renew Overude Items only' setting. If unchecked, then the Circulation Desk can always renew an Item. (However, the Circulation Desk can never renew an Item beyond the 'Renewal maximum per item' limit.)
Default Fine
If the 'Fines' module is used, this represents an additional charge to the Item replacement. Some call this amount an 'Admin Fee'.
Duration overdue before Patron is suspended
This represents the number of days after the issue of a Demand Notice is printed for the Patron. The Demand Notice is printed after the generation of Invoices for the replacement amount of an Item. If the account is suspended. The 'Cancel Suspension' date will be set to 99/99/9999. If a Patron Account has a 'Never Suspend' setting, then this field will not apply.The process to apply the suspension will be an overnight process or triggered the next time the Patron attempts to Borrow an Item.
If a Patron is suspended, access to electronic downloads such as eBooks will be affected.
Days to retain circulation records (0=forever)
This controls the duration for which the Circulation History of a Patron is retained.
Use Patron Password
If this field is checked, then Patrons can/must use their own allocated password when accesses external electronic media, access to the Patron Portal and when requesting a Reservation on an Item.
Use Multi-site tracking for returns
This is used to check whether an Item is Issued or Returned from the correctly nominated site. For instance, if an Item is returned using a 'Issues and Returns' device that is not registered for that site, then an alert message will display advising the operator that the Item belongs to a remote site.
Allow override of Issues restrictions
If an Issue is denied, a field on the 'Issues and Returns' screen; 'Ignore loan limits' ignores the reason and completes the Issue transaction.
Overdue Notices
This group is used during the generation of 'Overdue Notices'.
Salutation details for O/Due Notices
The Overdue Notice is formated like a letter. If nothing is entered in this field, then the default is to use the Patron's othernames. You can enter text like "Dear @othernames" to prefix the name with 'Dear '. Other useful keyterms are @surname. So, a value of 'Dear @othernames @surname' would print 'Dear John Smith' for a patron called John Smith.
O/Due notice margins
- Top Margin (mm)
The number of additional mm from the top of the page. Used for paper printing to align the address and envelope address windows.
- Left Margin (mm)
The number of additional mm added to the left margin. Used for paper printing to align the address and envelope address windows.
Reservation Controls
Reservation Collection Time
This allows the calculation of a collection date for the Item. The collection date is printed on a ticket when the Item is returned and is included in the cover of the Item. If the Item is NOT collected by that date, Library staff will delete the Reservation for the first Patron and either return the Item to the shelf or allocate the next in line Patron.
Reservation Retention Period
This represents the number of days a reservation can exists on the system before being marked for deletion. There are two deletion processes;
- Admin functions->Circulation Special Processing.Delete reservation entries (BULK)
This process allows the retention period to be specified.
- Admin functions->Circulation Special Processing.Delete available reservations queue
This process uses the 'Reservation Retention Period' value specified in the control parameters, and does not allow manual override.
Reservation Retention Notices
This option is used by the 'Delete available reservations queue' process as an additional filter before deleting the Reservation Collection record for the Patron.
Maximum Local Reservations Allowed
The number of Reservations a single Patron may enter. The reservation count includes ILL requests, Reservations, and Reserved Items not collected from the collection queue. If the Item does not allow reservations, (GMD Maintenance) then this reservation count has no meaning.
Allow reservation of Available Items
If checked, then reservations can be placed on items that are available on the shelf.If a reservation is made, the Item is issued to a special Patron code, and an email is sent to the Library advising that the Item needs to be removed from its location and placed in the Reservations area.
The item is then returned from the special Patron code, and place on the Reservation Collection Queue by the system. (Contact LMSi Support for the 'Special Patron Code').
If not checked, reservations are only permitted on Items that are either Issued or Reserved.
Enter the number of days where a pre-booked item cannot be issued
The is when Issues will be blocked, ensuring that the Item has been returned to the Library ready for the Booked reservation to be satisfied.
Enter the number of additional days where a reserveration cannot be made against a pre-booked item
This period prevents other reservations being applied to this Item and jumping the queue before the 'Booked' reservation. This period should be longer than the loan duration plus the number of days where a pre-booked item cannot be issued.
Membership Controls
Membership controls provide a means to check Patron details, and for non-active Patrons to have external borrowing rights restricted, should the Membership expire.
Activate Membership Options
Activates this option or not. It will also Add/Remove the fields from the 'Patron Details' form.
Membership Period
How long the membership lasts. Some common values are 365 0r 1098 days.
Membership Reminder Period
The number of days prior to the Membership expiry where the 'Issues and Returns' form raises reminder alerts requesting a Membership renewal.
Press the Process button to save the values.