LINK 2.0 Koha

Printing Pay Fines or Account screens may crash Firefox

If you are trying to print a patron's Pay Fines screen or Account screen using the Firefox Print option, you may crash Firefox. Tests show that this will happen if the patron has more than one screen of transactions. The work-around is to take screen shots of the pages, using Alt-PrtScn, and pasting the screen shots into a Word document. (SCLS Support ticket 42096)

Hold notices via text-messaging - bookmarks and workflow.

Bookmarks are being printed and sent out so that libraries can advertise this new hold notification option.  Each library will receive a packet of 50 bookmarks; we will supply more when requested.

Text hold notices take the place of telephone hold notices in Koha.  It provides an option for patrons who prefer to receive texts rather than a phone call. 

• If a patron activates text hold messages, they will not receive any kind of email notices. 
•  If a patron activates text hold messages, they will receive print overdues and no pre-overdue notices. 
• Patrons can receive text messages on phones with a non-Wisconsin area code.  Text messages are sent via the internet, not telephone lines.
• Any normal text messaging charges apply.
• Patrons will receive one text message for all holds trapped per day (digest format).  The message will be sent around 9am the day after the holds are trapped.

WORKFLOW - How to edit a patron record to receive hold notices via text messages:

• Access the patron record in the Koha staff client.
• Make sure that under "Patron messaging preferences", the Hold filled/email checkbox is checked.
• Remove any email address from the Email (Home) field. (You can store it in the Email (Work) field.)
• Modify the phone number in the Phone (Home) field as follows:
  • Phone number should start with a T, followed by a 1, followed by the area code, followed by the phone number.  Ex.: T1-608-xxx-xxxx
• Save the changes.

Using a Manual Invoice as an informational note

If you are adding a Manual Invoice to explain a payment for a Lost Item, do not enter the item barcode. Adding a zero amount Manual Invoice (with item barcode) to a patron record subsequent to payment for that Lost item will prevent a Refund being generated for that Lost and Paid item if it is returned.  If you want to include the item barcode in the note, enter it in the Description field.  The barcode will be searchable using the CTRL+F function.

Only create a Manual Invoice/Lost Item, including the barcode, when the patron is not otherwise charged for a lost item.

Stop using Manual Credit button

When staff use the Manual Credit button to create a credit on a patron's account, the patron's balance is credited.  However, we are unable to apply the credit to a specific debit in order to resolve the amounts, which leaves the amounts Outstanding in the patron's record.  The amounts also display in the patron's PAC account.  The CSC recommended and the ILS approved banning the use of the Manual Credit button. 

If you have a question on how to resolve a debit amount without using the Manual Credit, please contact Heidi O. and she will assist you.  If you have patron records with manual credits and debits that you would like to see "resolved", email the patron barcode and the specific line numbers in the patron's Account screen to Heidi O. with a request to clear the Amounts Outstanding.

Expiration Date for new patron records - auto-calculation is fixed.

A patch was applied to the production database last night that fixed the auto-calculation of the patron expiration date when adding a new patron record.  Tests for different patron categories show that the auto-calculation assigned a correct expiration date based on the enrollment period in each Patron Category code.  This fix is also true when creating a new patron record using the "Copy Patron" option.  If you do encounter any problems please submit a problem report.

Reminder to check all items for damage and missing parts

Checking the physical condition of items is very important.  The physical condition of items should be checked at Check Out, Check In, when processing to fill holds and when processing incoming delivery items.  If an item is checked in before the damage is noted, or seen to be missing a part, current and/or previous patron information may be removed from Check Out History.

What to look for:

Books:
Binding.
Torn pages.
Stains.
Odors (mold…etc).
Wet or damp.
Chewed corners.
Cover damage.
Patron markings (highlighter, pen, pencil).
Loose or peeling barcodes.
Missing parts (discs included with book…etc).
Remove old date due slips or holds slips and all bookmarks.

DVDs and CDs:
Cracks or deep scratches.
Patron writing on discs.
Discs that are not barcode labeled.
Broken hubs in cases.
Cases that do not stay shut.
Missing booklets or contents pages.
Match multiple TV series discs by barcode (last four digits); match the barcode on the cases with the barcode on the disc.

BODCs, BOCCs, GAMES, PLAYAWAYS, CHILD KITS:
Check for obvious damage and missing parts.

Submitted by G. Hanson, McFarland Public Library

 

Change to Refund Charges screen

This morning the system preference RefundLostReturnedAmount was turned ON.   This preference provides separate Refund buttons for each refund amount a patron may have on their Refund Charges screen, rather than only allowing the Balance to be refunded. Please see patron Darlene Dynix as an example of how multiple Refunds will now be displayed.

Staff are now able to refund individual amounts on a patron's record, refunding only the amount(s) for their Lost/Paid/Returned item(s), instead of being forced to refund the entire balance.  Staff will be also be able to "refund" the amount just to clear it, if the returned item is not eligible for a refund.

If the patron also has other debit amounts on their record, this will affect how the refunds or the last refund will be available.  If there is only one Refund amount on the record AND a debit amount, Staff will only be able to refund the Balance of the two amounts.

Circulation Best Practices - new blog flavor

After months of discussion, the Circulation Services Committee decided that our existing blog, LINK 2.0 Koha, is the most efficient vehicle for circulation staff to ask questions and share best practices about Koha.  We added the category "Best Practices" so staff can search specifically for these particular posts. 

If you want to submit a Circulation Best Practices blog post, please email your information to Heidi Oliversen (hjo@scls.lib.wi.us) with the subject line "Circulation Best Practice". 

Please note: this is a venue for ideas and questions. This is not a venue for complaints and frustrations! Please share work flow ideas, questions, or cool Koha features you've discovered.

Ignore button fix

LibLime has applied a fix to the Ignore button in the Hold Found pop-up messages.  There is still a problem with one check-in scenario but overall the button is working correctly.

When you click the Ignore button in both of the Hold Found pop-up messages ("Hold at" XXX and "Transfer to: XXX" ), the system will

• "keep" the item at your library,
• record your library as the Current Library and
• re-queue the patron back into the holds queue as a "Next Available" hold. 

The Ignore button is freezing when you try to use it for the following scenario:

• An item is sent to you in Delivery and it was not checked in/put into transit from the sending library.
• When you click the Ignore button in the Hold Found pop-up, the Ignore button does not seem respond to your click and remains on the screen.
• You will need to use the back button to get out of the screen.
• However, the actions of re-queuing the patron's hold and "keeping" the item at your library are completed.

We have reported this remaining problem on the original problem ticket, SCLS Support ticket 40636.  As soon as this is fixed we will send out an update.  The Circulation  Services Committee is working on revising the workflows for Damaged, Parts Missing and Defect Reported items to incorporate the use of the Ignore button.

 

 

 

Changes in Placing Multiple Copy Holds Procedure & Staff Use of Other Libraries' Materials

For several months, the ILS Circulation Services Subcomittee (CSC) and the Resource Sharing Work Group have been discussing and fine-tuning the policies and procedures for placing multiple copy holds including book group holds.  The Resource Sharing Work Group has also developed policies for appropriate staff use of other library's materials, including multiple copies of the same title. 

Placing Book Group and Multiple Copy Hold Requests

It is no longer necessary to send an email after placing multiple copy holds. Koha automatically moves the holds through the available copies in the system. This is, however, dependent on each library in the shared ILS running and processing their holds queue report at least once per day. If this is not done, holds may become "stuck" on one library's report. Library staff placing multiple copy holds should 1) place holds far enough in advance that they can all be delivered and 2) monitor the holds and take action if it appears they are not being filled in a timely manner.  This is all explained in the new "Book Group and Multiple Copy Holds" workflow.

Library Staff Use of Other Libraries’ Materials

One of the charges to the Resource Sharing Work Group was to review how materials are circulated between libraries. This was extended to include the use of other libraries' materials by library staff, including multiple copies of the same title.  The Work Group drafted a policy on this topic which has been approved by the CSC and which will be included in the policies to be submitted to the ILS Committee for adoption.  It is suggested that all library staff familiarize themselves with the whole policy, but here is the portion pertaining to multiple copy holds:

• Place all‐copy holds at least a week ahead of when needed, so no email is required.
• Limit to books that are not high demand/new.
• Suspended holds may be used until books are no longer new/high demand.

Since book discussion groups are "events" the following regarding holds on materials for events also applies:

• For single events only, not long‐term or ongoing displays.
• Keep for maximum of one week.
• Send materials back immediately after event.