2.9.1 Field 1 Loan Units:
27 characters, display only
Purpose: To display the units of time used by the associated field
Loan Period.
2.9.2 Field 2 Function Keys
2.9.3 Field 3 Circulation Class Name:
50 characters, mandatory, tab stop
Purpose: To specify a descriptive name for the Circulation Class.
Format: It is any text.
Discussion: The Circulation Class description should be a name
that describes the loan period and any other special conditions.
For example, for items that circulate for two weeks, use the
description TWO WEEKS.
Examples:
Non-Circulating
One Week
Overnight Until 11:00 AM
Overnight Until 4:30 PM
2.9.4 Field 4 Loan Type:
mandatory, tab stop
Menu Style: Radio Button/Check Box
Menu Values: Non-circulating Daily Business Days Only Hourly Hourly then Overnight
Purpose: To specify the time unit used to calculate the loan.
For the following discussion, note that all loans are automatically recalculated according to the library's standard hours and holiday calendar. For example, if a calculated due date falls on a day where the library is closed, then the item is due the first day the library is open after the closed day.
Non-circulating prevents an item from being loaned via the standard function [Loan Item]. Function [Loan Item with Override] allows an empowered user to loan non-circulating items.
Daily establishes a loan period in terms of days. For example, given a class with a Loan type of Daily and Loan Amount of 7 (for a week long loan), then a borrowed item will be due in 7 calendar days, regardless of the library's schedule. The only exception is if the library is closed on the calculated due date, in which case the item is due on the first day the library is open after the calculated due date.
Business Days is similar to Daily, except that if the calculated due date is a weekend day, then the due date is recalculated to the first day that the library is open after the weekend. If the library is always closed for the weekend, then it is unnecessary to use the Loan type Business Days since Loan type Daily will calculate the due date appropriately.
Hourly sets the loan period in terms of hours. For example, given a class with a Loan type of Hourly, and a Loan Amount of 4 hours, then the item will be due four hours from the start of the loan, or when the library closes, which ever comes first.
Hourly then Overnight is similar to the Loan type Hourly and Daily. It functions as hourly from the opening time of the library until the calculated overnight time commences, in which case a one day loan is applied (i.e., the Loan Amount during the overnight is intrinsically one night until the calculated time due or the close of the library ).
2.9.5 Field 5 Loan Amount:
3 characters, tab stop
Purpose: To specify the number of days or hours that an item may
be borrowed.
Format: It is any non-negative integer. The metric, hours or days, is determined by the Loan Type selection and is reflected in the associated field Loan Units.
2.9.6 Field 6 Start Overnight Time:
5 characters, tab stop
Purpose: To specify when Overnight lending may begin. This value
is used in tandem with the adjacent field indicating whether this
time is absolute or relative to the closing time. Lending cannot
commence prior to this time except for Loan Type Hourly then
Overnight, where the loans prior to this time are hourly, and
after this time the loans are overnight.
Format: It is any valid time except 00:00. Nil would signify the opening of the library, but is invalid for Loan Type Hourly then Overnight.
Examples when the adjoining field is marked Relative:
Value Meaning ----- ------- nil This class may be lent as soon as the library is open 1:00 The loan may begin one hour prior to closing 2:30 The loan may begin 2 and one half hours prior to closing
Examples when the adjoining field is marked Absolute:
Value Meaning ----- ------- nil This class may be lent as soon as the library is open 17:00 The loan may begin at 5 PM.
2.9.7 Field 7 Start Absolute or Relative:
mandatory
Purpose: Used in conjunction with the Start Time for Overnight
loans, this field specifies whether the time is absolute or
relative to closing time.
Menu Style: Radio Button/Check Box
Menu Values: Absolute Relative
2.9.8 Field 8 Cutoff Time before Closing:
5 characters, tab stop
Purpose: To specify the time that lending should stop. This value
is used in tandem with the adjacent field indicating whether this
time is absolute or relative to the closing time.
Format: It is any valid time except 00:00. Leaving this field blank (nil) disables the cutoff feature and is this field's most common value.
Examples when the adjoining field is marked Relative:
Value Meaning ----- ------- nil There is no cutoff time. 1:00 Lending stops one hour prior to closing 2:30 Lending stops 2 and one half hours prior to closing
Examples when the adjoining field is marked Absolute:
Value Meaning ----- ------- nil There is no cutoff time. 17:00 Lending stops at 5 PM.
2.9.9 Field 9 Cutoff Absolute or Relative:
mandatory
Purpose: Used in conjunction with the Cutoff Time, this field
specifies whether the time is absolute or relative to closing
time.
Menu Style: Radio Button/Check Box
Menu Values: Absolute Relative
2.9.10 Field 10 Time Due for a non-Hourly Item:
5 characters, tab stop
Purpose: For Loan types Daily, Business, and Hourly then
Overnight, this field specifies the time the loan is due. This
value is used in tandem with the adjacent field indicating
whether this time is absolute or relative to the opening time.
This value is not used for Loan type Hourly, for which the time
due is dynamically calculated to be the time of the loan plus the
loan amount not exceeding the time the library closes.
Format: It is any valid time or nil. Nil signifies the close of the library.
Examples when the adjoining field is marked Relative:
Value Meaning ----- ------- nil The loan is due when the library closes 0:00 The loan is due as soon as the library is open 1:00 The loan is due one hour after opening 2:30 The loan is due two and one half hours after opening
Examples when the adjoining field is marked Absolute:
Value Meaning ----- ------- nil The loan is due when the library closes 0:00 The loan is due at midnight 11:00 The loan is due at 11 AM
2.9.11 Field 11 Time Due Absolute or Relative:
mandatory
Purpose: Used in conjunction with the Time Due, this field
specifies whether the time is absolute or relative to the library'
s opening time.
Menu Style: Radio Button/Check Box
Menu Values: Absolute Relative
2.9.12 Field 12 Number of Renews Allowed:
3 characters, tab stop
Purpose: To specify the maximum number of Renewals that are allowed
for this item class.
Format: Any integer that is greater than 0 and less than 999. Nil or 0 prevents renewals from occurring.
2.9.13 Field 13 Permit Holds?:
tab stop
Purpose: To specify whether items may be placed on hold for this
item class.
2.9.14 Field 14 Fine Terms:
mandatory, tab stop
Purpose: To specify the metric that will be used to calculate
the fine. Even if fines are not levied (if the Fine Amount is
zero), this field must be answered.
Menu Style: Radio Button/Check Box
Menu Values: Days Hours
2.9.15 Field 15 Fine Period Amount:
3 characters, mandatory, tab stop
Purpose: According to the Fine Terms, this field specifies the
increments for which the fine fees should be applied.
Format: It is any number not less than 1 (one). 1 is the most common value.
Example: given a Fine Term of Hours, a Loan Amount of 1 (hour), and a Fee amount of $1.00, if the Fine Period is 4 (hours), then for every four hours (and portions there of) that the patron is late, then patron will be charged $1.00.
2.9.16 Field 16 Fee per Period:
7 characters, mandatory, tab stop
Purpose: To specify the amount of money for the fine per the fine
period.
Format: It is any positive dollar amount. If no fee should be charged, then leave the field blank.
2.9.17 Field 17 Maximum Fine:
7 characters, tab stop
Purpose: To specify the maximum fee for the specified item
Circulation Class.
Format: Any positive dollar amount, or 0 (zero) for no fine amount.
2.9.18 Field 18 Grace Terms:
mandatory, tab stop
Purpose: To specify whether the grace amount will be in hours or
days. Grace is a period of time that overdue amounts are
automatically forgiven.
Menu Style: Radio Button/Check Box
Menu Values: Days Hours
2.9.19 Field 19 Grace Amount:
3 characters, tab stop
Purpose: To specify the number of grace days or hours. Grace is a
period of time that overdue amounts are automatically forgiven:
if the item is returned in this grace period, any accrued fines
for that item will be waived. This field's metrics (days or
hours) is determined by the field labeled Grace Terms.
Format: It is any non-negative integer. 0 (zero) or nil indicates that there is no grace.
2.9.20 Field 20 Date Inactive:
10 characters, tab stop
Purpose: To specify a valid date makes this class non-selectable
in the Item Edit window.
Format: It is a valid date. No future dates.
2.9.21 Field 21 Controls Ok, Cancel, & Help:
Purpose: To specify an action that controls the window's flow.
[Ok] will save and apply the displayed values, whereas [Cancel]
will reject the changes. [Help] will display all of the
documentation for the window. Press the Help key for context
sensitive help for each field.
Format: It is an action that toggles the push button.
Menu Style: Push Button
Menu Values: Ok Cancel Help