Loan Rule and Loan Rule Determiner Tables (Sierra)

This document explains the basic elements of the Loan Rules Table and the Loan Rule Determiner Table.

Table of Contents

Loan Rules Table

Table Explanation

The Loan Rules table defines the parameters that Sierra uses for circulating items to patrons. There are a set of variables for each rule that control the various aspects of circulation.

Functionality

The Loan Rules table is used in conjunction with the Loan Rule Determiner table to determine if and how to circulate items to patrons. There is a maximum of 1,800 entries.

Data Elements

Data Element

Description

Possible Values

Examples

Data Element

Description

Possible Values

Examples

Name

A descriptive label for the rule.

Up to 20 alphanumeric characters.

sum 14d N$ (Summit County, 14 day checkout, no fines)

Code

Indicates the time unit used to measure the loan period.

A Absolute (fixed) Julian calendar date

R Days (“Regular” loan period)

H Hours, rounded to the nearest hour, overnight loan allowed

I Hours, rounded to nearest hour, no overnight loan

J Hours, rounded to nearest minute, overnight allowed

K Hours, rounded to nearest minute, no overnight

N Non-circulating (if overridden at checkout, the system assumes units are days)

 

R (Normal Loan Period = 7) Patrons can borrow items for seven days.

K (Normal Loan Period = 2) Patrons can borrow items for two hours or until the library closes, whichever comes first.

Normal Loan Period

The length of time (in units specified by the Code element) that the item is loaned when there are no special conditions for the checkout.

0-999

2 (Code = H) Items can be checked out for two hours.

21 (Code = R) Items can be checked out for 21 days.

135 (Code = A) Items are always due on May 15 (May 15 is the 135th day of the year).

Holdable

Specifies whether holds can be placed on items covered by this loan rule.

y Item is holdable

n Item is not holdable

 

Bookable

This only applies if your library uses materials booking.

Specifies whether bookings can be placed on items covered by this loan rule.

y Item is bookable

n Item is not bookable

 

Home Pickup

Allows patrons to select a pickup location when placing a hold. This does not apply to ILL or INN-Reach holds.

Note: If an item has HOME PICKUP restrictions, pickup location choices may be limited.

y For item-level holds, the system automatically sets the pickup location to match the item LOCATION fixed-length field. For title-level holds, the system changes the pickup location to match the item LOCATION when an item fills the hold.

n The system allows users to select a pickup location.

 

Shippable

Allows requesting patrons to chose for their holds to be mailed. This only applies if the library uses Held Item Delivery.

y Requesting patrons can have their holds mailed.

n Requesting patrons cannot have their held items mailed.

 

Ship Time

Specifies the number of days to extend the due date for shipped items.

Note: This only applies if the library uses Held Item Delibery and the Shippable element is set to “y”.

0-999

3 Extend due date for three days for holds that are mailed.

Time Remaining Before Renew

The maximum number of days/hours that must remain in the loan period for the item to be eligible for renewal.

For an item to be renewable any time after checkout, set this number equal to the Normal Loan period plus one day or hour. For a code A item to be renewable at any time after checkout, set this number to 999.

Note: It is best practice to set this element, even if renewals are not allowed, so that renewal dates can be applied correctly if the library uses staff overrides.

0-999

7 The item can be renewed only if there are seven or fewer days (Code = R) remaining in the current loan period.

First Renewal Period

The duration of the first renewal period that follows the Normal Loan Period. For immediate rental charge items, the system uses the normal loan period instead of this element to determine the due date for a renewed rental item.

Note: It is best practice to set this element, even if renewals are not allowed, so that renewal dates can be applied correctly if the library uses staff overrides.

0-999

2 Two hours (Code = H) for the first renewal.

3 Three days (Code = R) for the first renewal.

 

Additional Renewal Period

The duration of the second renewal period that follows the Normal Loan Period. For immediate rental charge items, the system uses the normal loan period instead of this element to determine the due date for a renewed rental item.

Note: It is best practice to set this element, even if renewals are not allowed, so that renewal dates can be applied correctly if the library uses staff overrides.

0-999

14 14 days (Code = R)

Max Number of Renewals

The total number of renewals allowed, including automatic renewals.

Although the system allows any number between 0-999, an item can only be renewed a maximum of 255 consecutive times by a patron. Therefore, the range is 0-255.

3 An item can be renewed up to three times.

Max Number of Auto Renewals

The possible number of automatic renewals. An item can automatically be renewed if the values in the renewals field in the item record is less than the value specified by this element.

0-255

1 The first renewal can be done automatically.

Minimum Use

The minimum possible number of days (or hours for an hourly loan item) that a patron can have an item.

This is used to calculate due dates for recalled items and calculate a shortened loan period for items that have exceeded the Holds: number of holds before minimum use used for due date threshold.

Note: hourly loans cannot be recalled.

0-999

5 a) If patron A recalls an item from Patron B, the system does not suggest a new due date that causes patron B to have an item for fewer than five days.

b) If a patron borrows an item with the specified number of holds, the loan period is five days.

 

Eligib To Recall

The minimum number of days that must remain in the original loan period for the loan period to be reduced and for the item to be recalled. A value of “0” means that the item is recallable at any time and a value of “999” means that the item cannot be recalled (except when placing holds on overdue items).

Note: This does not apply to items on hourly loan (Code = “H” “I” “J” or “K”), which cannot be recalled.

0-999

6 There must be at least six days remaining before the original due date or the system does not offer the recall option.

Time Return Recall

The number of days a patron has to return an item after it has been recalled.

 

Note: This does not apply to items on hourly loan (Code = “H” “I” “J” or “K”), which cannot be recalled.

0-999

4 Due date is reduced to four days from the date the recall notice is issued (but not less than the Minimum Use period)

Time to Pickup

The number of days a held item remains on the holdshelf. After the item remains on the holdshelf for the number of days specified in this element, the hold expires.

0-999

8 Held items remain on the holdshelf for 8 days and then expires (this is the standard time across Marmot)

Max Number of Odues

The maximum number of overdue notices the system sends for unreturned items. The last notice is a replacement bill, which is generated after you prepare and send the level of overdue notice specified in Max Number of Odues.

The Max number of Odues loan rule can affect when the system blocks patrons.

0-6

3 The system sends two overdue notices and a replacement bill for overdue items.

 

Time First Odue

The number of days (or hours for hourly loans) after the due date when the item is eligible to receive the first level of overdue notice.

Note: for overdue recall notices, they system uses the Time 1st Odue Recall element instead.

0-999

7 If an item is not returned within 7 days (or 7 hours if it is an hourly item) of its due date, the first notice is sent.

Time Second Odue

The number of days (or hours for hourly loans) between first and second overdue notices. This number is not the same as the total number of days since the item was due.

0-999

7 If an item is not returned within 7 days (or 7 hours if it is an hourly item) after the first overdue notice, a second notice is sent.

Time Third Odue

Time Fourth Odue

Time Fifth Odue

Time Sixth Odue

The interval in days or hours between subsequent overdue notices.

0-999

7 (Max number of odues = 3). 0 If an item is not returned 0 within 7 days (or 7 hours for 0 an hourly loan) after the previous overdue is sent, the system sends the next notice, which in this case is a replacement bill.

Text First Odue

The text of the first overdue notice.

The number of a valid entry from the Text of Circulation Notices table, or 0 to suppress the notice.

1 The system prints the first entry in the Text of Circulation Notices table on the first overdue notice.

Text Second Odue

Text Third Odue

Text Fourth Odue

Text Fifth Odue

The text of each subsequent overdue notivces.

Note: you should enter a notice text for each level of overdue that is less than the maximum number of notices specified in the Max Number of Odues element. For example, if the Max Number of Odues is 3, enter an overdue notice text in the Text First Odue and Text Second Odue elements and a replacement bill in the Msg Bill element.

The number of a valid entry from the Text of Circulation Notices table, or 0 to suppress the notice.

2 (Max Number of Odues = 3) 0 The system prints the 0 second entry in the Text of 0 Circulation Notices table on the second overdue notice. The third through fifth levels of overdue notice are not sent. Because the last notice is a replacement bill, only the text of the second overdue notice needs to be specified.

Odue Penalty

The number of penalty points that accrue for each day (or hour for hourly loans) that an item is overdue. A value of 0 means that no penalty points accrue.

0-999

1 Each day/hour that an item is overdue, the patron accrues one penalty point.

Text First OdueR

The text of the first overdue notice for a recalled item.

Note: Set this element even in loan rules that do not permit recalls. The system uses the Text First OdueR notice text in situations that the system treats as recalls, such as when placing holds on overdue items and when an item with outstanding holds becomes overdue.

The number of a valid entry from the Text of Circulation notices table, or 0 to suppress the notice.

1 The system prints the first entry in the Text of Circulation notices table on the first overdue notice.

Text Second Odue

Text Third Odue

Text Fourth Odue

Text Fifth Odue

The text of each subsequent overdue notices for a recalled item.

 

Note: you should enter a notice text for each level of overdue recall that is less than the maximum number of notices specifies in the Max Number of Odues element. For example, if the Max Number of Odues is 3, enter an overdue notice text in the Text First Odue and Text Second Odue elements and a replacement bill in the Msg Bill element.

The number of a valid entry from the Text of Circulation notices table, or 0 to suppress the notice.

2 (Max Number of ODues = 3) 0 The system prints the 0 second entry in the Text of 0 Circulation Notices table on the second overdue notice. The third through fifth levels of overdue notice are not sent. Because the last notice is a replacement bill, only the text of the second overdue notice needs to be specified.

Courtesy Notice Text Number

The text of the courtesy notice. The system will ignore this for hourly loans and if the courtesy notice feature has not been enabled.

The number of a valid entry from the Text of Circulation notices table, or 0 to suppress the notice.

25 The system prints the text of line 25 in the Text of Circulation Notices table on the courtesy notice.

Number of Days Before Odue

The number of days before an item is due that the borrowing patron is eligible to receive a courtesy notice for the item. A value of “0” means that no courtesy notice is generated.

The system will ignore this for hourly loans and if the courtesy notice feature has not been enabled.

0-999

3 The patron is eligible to receive a courtesy notive for the item three days before the item is due.

Additional Courtesy Notice

Determines whether Sierra sends additional courtesy notices.

0 The system does not print an additional courtesy notice.

1 The system prints an additional courtesy notice

1

Additional Courtesy Notice Text

The text of the additional courtesy notice.

The number of a valid entry from the Text of Circulation notices table, or 0 to suppress the notice.

30 The system prints the text of line 30 in the Text of Circulation Notices table on the courtesy notice.

Time 1st Odue Recall

The number of days after the due date when a recalled item is eligible to receive the first level of overdue notice.

Note: this element is used instead of the Time First Odue element for recalled items.

0-999

4 If a recalled item is not returned within four days of the due date, the first overdue recall notice is sent.

Text Recall Notice

The text of a recall notice.

The number of a valid entry from the Text of Circulation notices table, or 0 to suppress the notice.

10 The system prints the text of line 10 in the Text of Circulation Notices table on the recall notice.

Text Pickup Notice

The text of a hold pickup notice.

The number of a valid entry from the Text of Circulation notices table, or 0 to suppress the notice.

11 The system prints the text of line 11 in the Text of Circulation Notices table on the recall notice.

Text Cancel Pickup

The text of a hold cancellation notice.

The number of a valid entry from the Text of Circulation notices table, or 0 to suppress the notice.

12 The system prints the text of line 12 in the Text of Circulation Notices table on the recall notice.

Grace Period for Fines

The number of days (if using Code=A or Code=R) or minutes (if using Code=H, I, J, or K) after an item is due when overdue fines begin accruing. The system excludes closed days and closed hours from the grace period.

0-999

7 The system does not charge overdue fines for items returned within 7 days (or minutes for hourly loans) of the due date.

Number of D/HR 1st F Per

The number of days, or hours for hourly loans, in the first fine period. The first fine period is the number of days the system charges the amount specified in Amount of Fine 1st F Per for an overdue fine.

0-999

30 The system charges the amount in Amount Of Fine 1st F Per for 30 days or 30 hours from the due date (for example, $1.00 per day for 30 days).

Amount of Fine 1st F Per

The monetary amount of fines that the system applies for each day or hour in the first fine period (as specified in Number of D/HR 1st F Per).