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Table of Contents
Circulations
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Recirculate an Item
On occasion, it may be necessary to re-circulate an Item that is already on loan to an Reader. This is most often done in order to extend the duration of an existing circulation.
In order to re-circulate the Item, select the Reader and then the Item required in order to make them both active. As with a normal circulation, the circulation tabbed panel will automatically calculate the appropriate due date and re-configure the command buttons. In this case however, the fact that the Item is already in circulation will result in the command buttons re-configuring for re-circulation (Re-Issue) mode rather than circulation (Issue).
From this point on however, re-circulation is identical to a circulation. Select the [Re-Issue] command button in order to accept the circulations conditions and issue the Item.
Any selection of an Item record alone, but which is already on loan to an Reader, will result in the Reader automatically being displayed without the need to manually select it. Selection of an Item with a different Reader displayed (such as an attempt to issue an Item, not realising that it is already on loan) will result in a warning to the user and an offer to automatically select the correct Reader to allow the Item to be returned. A refusal at this point will lock the circulations command buttons - other functions however, such as reservations and bookings, remain accessible.
Returning an Item
In order to return an Item to the library, select the Reader and then the Item required in order to make them both active. As with a normal circulation, the circulation tabbed panel will automatically calculate the appropriate due date and re-configure the command buttons as if a re-circulation was due to take place.
In this case however, select the [Return] command button in order to return the Item to the library and make it available for further use. If any reservation is in place for the Item, a reminder will be displayed with the name of the Reader requiring it.
Any selection of an Item record alone, but which is already on loan to an Reader, will result in the Reader automatically being displayed without the need to manually select it. Selection of an Item with a different Reader displayed (such as an attempt to issue an Item, not realising that it is already on loan) will result in a warning to the user and an offer to automatically select the correct Reader to allow the Item to be returned. A refusal at this point will lock the circulations command buttons - other functions however, such as reservations and bookings, remain accessible.
Reserving an Item
In order to reserve an Item for an Reader, select the Reader and then the Item required in order to make them both active. If not already selected, select the tabbed panel titled 'Reservations'. On selection, two fields are automatically populated - the expiry date of the reservation, and the reservation type
The expiry date of the reservation is set to the date at which the Item selected is no longer available. As a result, it is possible that this date is far in the future, and will effectively be 'non-expiring'. If the user wants a date within the near future, either enter the date directly or use the [?] button to display a selectable date dialog. If the date is reached before the reservation is collected, the reservation is automatically deleted.
The reservation type is automatically set to 'by title'. Placing a reservation of this type will mean that the first Item to become free with this title will be explicitly selected as the reservation. Two other types are available - exact reservation, in which the Item currently on screen is the only one that will be accepted, and reservation by serial number (e.g. ISBN) in which case the first Item with the matching serial number the becomes available will be explicitly selected as the reservation.
Selection of an Item that is already on loan will result in an offer being made to switch the currently displayed Reader (the one requiring the reservation) to the Reader with the Item, with the intention that a re-issue or return take place. In order to continue with the reservation, ensure that the offer is refused.
Removing a Reservation
In order to remove an existing reservation, select the Reader or the Item invovled in the reservation and ensure that the [Reservations] tabbed page is selected. Once it is selected, select (click once) the reservation in the Reader or Item details (whichever was selected). The [Remove] command button will then become available.
Select the [Remove] button to remove the reservation from the system. Note that if a reservation is selected in both the Reader and Item details, the reservation in the Item details will always take priority for removal.
Selection of an Item that is already on loan will result in an offer being made to switch the currently displayed Reader (the one subject to the reservation) to the Reader with the Item, with the intention that a re-issue or return take place. In order to continue with removal of the reservation, ensure that the offer is refused.
Booking an Item
In order to book an Item for an Reader, select the Reader and then the Item required in order to make them both active. If not already selected, select the tabbed panel titled 'Bookings'. On selection, four fields are made available - a start date and time combination, an end date and time combination, a drop-down pick list containing all of the possible pickup / delivery methods available, and a list-box containing all of the current bookings for this Item.
Either enter start and end dates into the fields selected or select the appropriate [?] button in order to select the date and time from a date-selection dialog, then choose the pickup method from the drop-down. When placing bookings, the list of existing books is not utilised.
Once all three fields are suitably configured, select [Book] in order to place the booking.
Selection of an Item that is already on loan will result in an offer being made to switch the currently displayed Reader (the one requiring the reservation) to the Reader with the Item, with the intention that a re-issue or return take place. In order to continue with the booking, ensure that the offer is refused.
Remove a Booking
In order to remove a booking, select the Reader and Item required in order to make then active. If not already selected, select the tabbed panel titled 'Bookings'. On selection, the most important field required for this operation is the list-box containing all of the current bookings for this Item.
Select the booking that should be removed from the list - on selection, the [Remove] command button should be made available for use. Select the [remove] button in order to remove the selected booking from the database.
Selection of an Item that is already on loan will result in an offer being made to switch the currently displayed Reader (the one requiring the reservation) to the Reader with the Item, with the intention that a re-issue or return take place. In order to continue with the booking, ensure that the offer is refused.
