NExpress FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
November 12, 2009
Today’s discussion topics
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Fines/system preferences
Holidays
Overdues
Email notifications
Renewals
Holds
Catalog system preferences
(one rule for all libraries)
• Maximum fine for a single late item: $3.00
• Maximum amount a patron can owe
before holds are blocked: $10
• Maximum amount a patron can owe
before checkouts are blocked: $10
• Maximum number of holds a patron can place: 100
• Number of days a hold remains reserved for pickup: 7
• Whose circulation and fine policy applies to materials
from another library at first checkout? Pickup Library
Circulation periods and details
• Calendar settings: Library can define weekly, yearly
repeatable or unique holidays on a calendar. Loan
periods will skip holidays, and fines will not accrue on
holidays.
OR
• Library can leave calendar holidays undefined, resulting
in loan periods that will include every calendar day, and
fines will accrue every calendar day, regardless of
whether or not the library is open.
• Patron categories can affect certain circulation details,
like the number of items of any given type that can be
checked out (for example, 2 movies for Children, 4
movies for Adults; no fines for Outreach patrons;
extended checkout for teacher, etc.)
Overdues
• Library must define the time frame for
sending overdue notices. A library can
define up to three notices, and can block
checkouts at any time after an item is
overdue. Default notices have been set up
for use, but a library can create its own
customized notice if it wants.
Notifications
• Libraries must define e-mail notification options
at the time a patron record is established, or add
them subsequently upon request. E-mail
notifications options include: Hold Pickup Notice
(default ON), checkout and return notifications,
and Advance Notice of item due notifications
(days in advance can be selected). All
notifications depend on a valid e-mail address in
the Primary E-Mail field of the patron record.
Renewals
When an item is renewed, the renewal period begins on the
date the renewal takes place. It is NOT added on to the
end of the initial checkout period. This is a global system
preference.
There is also a current Koha bug around renewals
that allows a renewed item to obtain renewal rules
from the OWNING library of the item, rather than
from the TRANSACTION library. This has caused
some discrepancies when people renew materials
sent from other libraries that they've checked out
their home library
Hold policies
From Any Library: Patrons from any library may
put any eligible item on hold. All OPAC holds
are Title level holds, meaning the patron cannot
choose a specific copy or library from which the
hold will be filled. (They can, however, always
designate their Pickup Library). On the staff
side, holds can be specified at the Copy level,
but this capability should be used rarely.
Special hold policies
1.From Home Library: Only patrons from the
item's home library may put this item on
hold.
2.No Holds Allowed: No patron may put this
item on hold.
These policies are enabled by circulation rules
that must be set up for your
individual library.
Special hold policies
There are five separate Item Types that govern special holds.
Three Item Types restrict holds based on the patron's home branch:
• LOCAL HOLD BOOK
• LOCAL HOLD MOVIE
• LOCAL HOLD ONLY (for items other than books or movies, such as
cake pans or videogames)
Two Item Types disallow holds, regardless of patron's home branch:
• WALK-IN BOOK
• WALK-IN MOVIE
OPAC Logins
You can log into your
account from the OPAC
using your library card
number and PIN
(password), even if you
have another OPAC Login.
Both the account number
or the OPAC Login in
conjunction with your PIN
will work.
Other topics
1. Using the CATALOGING Shelving
Location
2. Search the catalog – tips and pointers
about Koha's relevance algorithm, and
why it doesn't do what you think it does
or what you want it to do
3. Creating ILL accounts for borrowing and
lending items outside of the shared
catalog - tips and suggestions
Things we covered – questions?
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Fines/system preferences
Holidays
Overdues
Email notifications
Renewals
Holds