Updates Newsletter

Some helpful circulation module definitions

Owning library: Library that owns an item. This is now a default field in the patron billing screen.

Circulation library: Library from which an item is currently checked-out.

Checkout or renew library: Library from which an item was renewed or checked-out. This field reflects the library where a particular item was checked out or renewed. Online renewals default to the patron’s home library. This is the field which will indicate which library receives the overdue fines. This is now a default field in the patron billing screen.

Current method for collecting payments from patrons:

a. Damaged Materials
-Consists of the amount assessed by the library which owns/owned the damaged item.
-Owed to and collected by owning library only
-Where to find this information: Owning library field OR Highlight the billing > Actions for Selected Items > Full Details > Library to which payment is owed is listed on the top of the screen in large bold letters

b. Lost Materials
-Consists of both the lost processing fee ($10 per item) and the item price.
-NOTE: If the owning library has not entered either a price on the item record or a default item price, the cost of the item will have to be assessed by the owning library, preferably before the patron pays the lost processing fee.
-If the item is returned before any fees are paid, the owning library only may decide whether or not to forgive the lost material fines.
-Owed to and collected by owning library only
-Where to find this information: Owning library field OR Highlight the billing > Actions for Selected Items > Full Details > Library to which payment is owed is listed on the top of the screen in large bold letters

c. Miscellaneous Fees Collected
-Consists of staff generated fees, most often for copies or print outs
-Owed to and collected by library who creates billing
-Bill will be listed as Billing Type: Grocery.
-Where to find this information: Highlight bill > Actions for Selected Items > Full Details

d. Overdue Fines Collected
-Consists of the system generated overdue fees ($0.25 per item per day)
-Owed to and collected by circulating library only
-Where to find this information: Checkout or renew library field OR Highlight the billing > Actions for Selected Items > Full Details > Library to which payment is owed is listed on the top of the screen in large bold letters

Patch applied to system

A patch was applied earlier in the week that allows staff to view the last time a patron’s record was edited. This date appears in the left gray column of the patron record. The caveat, however, is that “updates” have only just begun being logged. It may take some time before dates begin appearing.
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