Fines and E-Commerce
- Ashley Sneesby
Configuration options for the ‘Fines and eCommerce’ section of the Library System.
Table of Contents
Fines and eCommerce Configuration
Go to Pika Configuration and Library Systems from the left sidebar.
Click the Library Id number or the Edit link to gain access to the Library Systems page.
Click on the Fines/e-commerce tab.
Show E-Commerce
If the Show E-Commerce Link option is enabled, Pika will display a link for payment options in the Fines and Messages section of the patron account if the patron has a fines or fees balance.
Pay Fines Link
The Pay Fines Link should be either the URL for a page of information on your library’s website on how to pay the fines or the URL to the site where your library accepts fines payment.
If the value default is entered, Pika will alert the user with a generic popup window when clicking on the fines link. If you supply a unique URL to your library’s fine payment portal, Pika will redirect the user to the provided website.
Default option
Link to online payment portal
To utilize e-commerce for Sierra systems, the e-commerce module in Sierra needs to be set up, configured, and working with a payment processor to actually collect fines online.
Pay Fines Link Text
The value entered in the Pay Fines Link Text field will display as a button in the Fines and Messages section of the patron account.
You can edit this text to best reflect the option the patron will have once they click on the button. For example, if your configuration links out to your library’s online payment portal, the button text could read: “Click to Pay Fines Online.” If your configuration links to to a page about how to pay fines within the library, the button text could read: “How Do I Pay Fines?”
Minimum Fine Amount
The Minimum Fine Amount value will trigger the display of a link for patrons to pay their fine online. This value should be set to the minimum amount your library allows patrons to pay fees online.
The value required to trigger the Minimum Fine Amount has to be at least 1 cent more than the value entered. For example, if you want your patrons to see the link to pay fines at $2.00 or more, then the Minimum Fine Amount must be set at $1.99 to trigger the link to display.
Fine Alert Amount
The Fine Alert Amount can be set higher or lower than the Minimum Fine Amount. This fine displays as a fine header alert on the patron’s account under the My Account tab.
Minimum Fine and Fine Alert Amount Display Examples
Below is an example of a library that has its Minimum Fine Amount set to $2.00 and the Fine Alert Amount set to $5.00. This library allows its patrons to pay the fine online.
Below is an example of that same library where a patron has a fine below the fine alert amount. There will be no header alert and the amount owed badge in the Fines and Messages section is gray. The fine payment button will be available in the account.
When the patron has fine amount of $5.00 or more, they will see the fine header alert in red. The amount owed badge in the Fines and Messages section is red. The Pay Fines Online link will be active.
Since the Fine Alert Amount is populated with a $5.00 amount, we will see a Pay Fines Online button.
Below is an example of a library that has the Minimum Fine Amount set to $2.00 but the Fine Alert Amount set to $5.00. This library does not allow its patrons to pay the fines online.
The patron will see the fines header alert at the top in red. They will also see the Fines and Messages amount is badged red. You will also notice the Pay Online link is not displaying under the My Account heading.
Below is an example of that same library where a patron has a fine below the fine alert amount. There will be no header alert and the Fines and Messages shows the amount with a badged gray.
Because this library does not allow online payment, the fines page simply lists the fines on the patron account with no option to exit out to a fines payment portal.
Show Refresh Account Button
The Show Refresh Account Button is used when allowing patrons to Pay Fines Online. If you send patrons to a page on your website rather than using the classic OPAC (Sierra libraries), you would uncheck this box. For example, if using a third-party payment system that does not update account information in the ILS immediately.
Once the patron has paid their fines, the Pay Fines pop-up prompt will appear. This has instructions to click the Refresh My Fines Information to update their account information to reflect fines that were paid.
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