Settings > Users
The Users section in the Settings app provides configuration options for managing user records, including user information, patron blocks, fee/fine processing, permissions, and service points.
Definition of terms related to Settings > Users:
- Permission. Value assigned to a user, which grants them access to FOLIO records or allows them to carry out specific tasks in FOLIO.
- Permission set. A group of permissions that allows a user to perform a specific set of tasks. For example, you may want to group certain permissions together to create job-specific permissions sets. Permission sets are defined by your library in Settings > Users > Permission sets.
- Invisible permission. A permission defined by a FOLIO developer in the back-end module.
- Visible permission. A permission defined by a FOLIO developer in the front-end UI module.
Permissions
The following are all the permissions for Users in the Settings app:
Invisible permissions
- Settings (Users): Can view address types. This permission allows the user to view Address types in the General section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can view all patron blocks entries. This permission allows the user to view all entries in the Patron blocks section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can view custom fields. This permission allows the user to view Custom fields in the General section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can view feefines-related entries. This permission allows the user to view all entries in the Fee/fine section of Settings > Users, including Owners, Manual charges, Waive reasons, Payment methods, Refund reasons, Comment required, and Transfer accounts This permission does not apply to Transfer criteria.
- Settings (Users): Can view general entries. This permission allows the user to view all entries in the General section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can view patron groups. This permission allows the user to view Patron groups in the General section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can view permission sets. This permission allows the user to view Permission sets in the General section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): View all settings. This permission allows the user to view all settings in Settings > Users.
Visible permissions
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove address types. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Address Types entries in the General section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can edit if comment required. This permission allows the user to edit Comment required entries in the Fee/fine section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove owners. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Owners in the Fee/fine section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove patron blocks limits. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Limits in the Patron blocks section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove patron blocks templates. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Templates in the Patron blocks section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove patron groups. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Patron groups in the General section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove payment methods. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Payment methods in the Fee/fine section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove permission sets. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Permission sets in the General section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove refund reasons. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Refund reasons in the Fee/fine section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove transfer accounts. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Transfer accounts in the Fee/fine section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove transfer criteria. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Transfer criteria in the Fee/fine section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit and remove waive reasons. This permission allows the user to create, edit, or remove Waive reasons entries in the Fee/fine section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit, and view custom fields. This permission allows the user to create, edit, and view Custom fields in the General section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit, view and delete custom fields. This permission allows the user to create, edit, view and delete Custom fields in the General section of Settings > Users.
- Settings (Users): Can create, edit, and view departments. This permission allows the user to create, edit, and view Departments in the General section of Settings > Users.
Settings > Users > Permission sets
Use this setting to create permission sets for your library. Permission sets are customized collections of permissions that can be assigned to users. For example, you can create permission sets that correspond to specific job roles and assign the set, rather than each individual permission, to all library staff with that role.
Additionally, if permissions change because of a new release, a FOLIO administrator can edit the permission set for a particular role to update the assigned permissions. The change to the permission set then propagates out to the users who have that permission set assigned, and the administrator does not have to update permissions for each individual user.
For more information about permissions, see Platform Essentials > Permissions.
Create a permission set
- In the Permission sets pane, click New.
- To name the permissions set, enter a Permission set name. The system does not automatically enforce uniqueness in naming permission sets. To avoid creating permission sets with duplicate display names, make sure this new permission set has a unique name.
- Optional: Enter a Description of the permission set.
- Under Assigned permissions, click Add permission. You can assign individual permissions or existing permission sets to the new permission set.
- In the Select Permissions modal, search and filter by Permission type and/or Permission assignment status or type in the name of the permission or permission set into the search box.
- Select the permission(s) or permission set(s) to assign to the new permission set.
- Click Save & close. The permission(s) or permission set(s) are added to the new permission set.
- Click Save & close. The new permission set is saved.
Edit a permission set
- In the Permission Sets pane, find the permission set you want to edit and select it.
- Click Edit.
- Make your desired changes to the permission set.
- Click Save & Close.
Delete a permission set
Note: A permission set can be deleted even if it is currently assigned to a user. Deleting the permission set removes it from the users to whom it was assigned.
- In the Permission Set pane, find the permission set you want to delete and select it.
- Click Edit.
- In the Edit window, click Delete.
- In the Delete permission set? dialog, click Delete. A confirmation message appears and the permission set is deleted.
View assigned users
To view a list of users assigned to a specific permission set:
- In the Permission sets pane, click on a permission set. The details for that permission set will open in a new pane.
- Open the Assigned users accordion, if necessary, to view a list of users assigned to that permission set.
Assign or unassign permission sets
To assign or unassign a permission set to a user:
- In the Permission sets pane, click on a permission set. The details for that permission set will open in a new pane.
- Open the Assigned users accordion, if necessary, to view a list of users assigned to that permission set.
- Click the Assign/unassign button.
- In the User record modal, search for the user record or filter by Status, Patron group, or User assignment status.
- In the User search results pane, check or uncheck the box(es) next to Name to select or deselect the appropriate user(s) to update their permission set assignment.
- Click the Save button. A confirmation message, Permissions set user assignment updated successfully appears.
Settings > Users > Patron Groups
Use this setting to create patron groups for your library. Patron groups are classes of library users. For example, you may want to create a patron group called Faculty or Undergraduates.
Only one patron group can be assigned to a user record. Patron groups are also used to create Circulation rules.
Create a patron group
- In the Settings app, select Users > Patron groups.
- In the Patron groups pane, click New.
- Enter a name for the Patron group in the box. Patron group names must be unique and should not contain any punctuation.
- Optional: Enter a Description of the patron group.
- Optional: Enter a number in the Expiration date offset (days) box. This number represents the number of days of active status for user records assigned to the patron group.
- Click Save. The patron group is saved.
Edit a patron group
- In the Settings app, select Users > Patron groups.
- In the Patron groups pane, find the Patron group you want to edit and click the pencil icon in the actions column.
- Make your changes to the Patron group, Description, or Expiration offset date (days).
- Click Save. The changes to the patron group are saved.
Delete a patron group
A patron group can be deleted only if it is no longer applied to any user records. To delete a patron group, you must first check that no users are currently assigned to that group.
To see the number of user records assigned to a patron group, complete the following:
- In the Users app, in the User search pane, select the checkbox next to the appropriate Patron group. The list of user records assigned to that patron group appears in the User search results pane. The number of records found displays at the top of the pane. If 0 records found appears, the Patron group can be deleted.
To delete a patron group, follow these steps:
- In the Settings app, select Users > Patron groups.
- In the Patron groups pane, find the patron group you want to delete and click the trash can icon in the Actions column.
- In the Delete Patron group dialog, click Delete. A confirmation message appears and the patron group is deleted.
Settings > Users > Address Types
Use this setting to configure address types. Address types are used to categorize the addresses that are entered in the Contact information section of a user record. For example, you may want to create the address types: office, work, or home address.
Note: Address types should be configured before bulk loading of patrons occurs if mailing addresses are to be stored.
Create an address type
- In the Settings app, select Users > Address Types.
- In the Address Types pane, click New.
- Enter a name for the Address Type in the box. The Address Type must be unique.
- Optional: Enter a Description of the Address Type.
- Click Save. The Address Type is created.
Edit an address type
- In the Settings app, select Users > Address Types.
- In the Address Types pane, find the Address Type you want to edit and click the pencil icon in the actions menu.
- Make your changes to the Address Type or Description.
- Click Save. The Address Type is saved.
Delete an address type
An address type can be deleted only if it is not assigned to any user records. To delete an Address Type, you should first check to make sure no user records are assigned the address type.
To see the number of user records assigned to an Address Type:
- In Settings > Users > Address Types, the number of user records assigned to an Address Type will display in the # of Addresses column.
- If a - is displayed, no user records are assigned to this address type and the address type can be deleted.
In the Settings app, select Users > Address Types. In the Address Types pane, find the Address Type you want to delete and click the trash can icon in the actions column. In the Delete Address Type dialog, click on the Delete button. A confirmation message appears and the Address Type is deleted.
Settings > Users > Departments
Use this setting to configure departments. Departments can be added in the Extended information section of a user record. For example, you may want to add departments to reflect library staff or faculty’s departments.
Create a department
- In the Settings app, select Users > Department.
- In the Departments pane, click New.
- Enter a Name for the department in the box.
- Enter a department Code in the box.
- Click Save. The department is saved.
Edit a department
In the Settings app, select Users > Department. In the Departments pane, find the department you want to edit and click the pencil icon in the actions column. Make your changes to the Name or Code. Click Save. The department is updated.
Delete a department
In the Settings app, select Users > Department. In the Departments pane, find the department you want to delete and click the trash can icon in the actions column. In the Delete Department dialog, click Delete. A confirmation message appears and the department is deleted.
Settings > Users > Custom fields
Use this setting to configure custom fields. Custom fields are used to track additional information in a user record.
Create a custom field
- In the Custom fields pane, click New.
- In the Edit custom fields pane, in the Accordion title box, enter the name of the user record section for the custom field(s).
- Click Add custom field and select the type of field you want to create: Checkbox, Multi-select, Radio button set, Single select, Text area, or Text field.
- Configure the custom field by checking the box next to Hidden and/or Required. Add a name for the field in the Field name box.
- Optional: To add additional custom fields, repeat steps 3-4.
- Click Save & close. The custom field(s) are saved.
Edit a custom field
- In the Custom fields pane, click Edit.
- In the Edit custom fields pane, make your changes to the custom field.
- Click Save & close. The custom field is updated.
Delete a custom field
Custom fields can be deleted if they are in use, but any information tied to the fields is also deleted.
- In the Custom fields pane, click Edit.
- In the Edit custom fields pane, click the trash can icon next to the custom fields you want to delete. Clear out all of the fields to remove the accordion from appearing in user records.
- Click Save & close.
- In the Delete field data dialog, click Save & lose data.
Settings > Users > Owners
A Fee/fine owner is the agent or office that manages fines for FOLIO transactions. Fee/fine owners collect fees/fines for FOLIO service points.
Libraries may use owners in different ways, such as creating a fee/fine owner for each service point, or creating a fee/fine owner for each library’s accounting office, that may collect fee/fines for multiple service points.
If your library intends to charge any fines, it is important that every service point be assigned to a fee/fine owner, even if you do not expect fines to accrue for items associated with that service point. Ensuring that the service point is assigned to an owner will prevent unexpected errors.
When manually creating a fee/fine, Fee/fine owner is a required field.
Create a fee/fine owner
- In the Fee/fine: Owners pane, click New.
- Enter a name for the Owner in the box.
- Optional: Enter a Description about the owner.
- Optional: Select the desired Associated service points. Note that while a fee/fine owner does not have to have associated service points, you will not be able to use the fee/fine owner in workflows unless it has service points associated with it.
- Click Save. The fee/fine owner is saved.
Edit a fee/fine owner
- Find the owner you want to edit and click the pencil icon in the actions column.
- Make your changes to the Owner, Description, or Associated service points.
- Click Save. The owner is updated.
Delete a fee/fine owner
- In the Fee/fine: Owners pane, find the owner you want to delete and click the trash can icon in the Actions column.
- In the Delete Fee/fine Owner dialog, click Delete. A confirmation message appears and the owner is deleted.
Settings > Users > Manual charges
Use this setting to configure fee/fine types. For example, fee/fine types could be overdue fines, processing fees, or lost item fees.
When manually creating a fee/fine, Fee/fine Type is a required field.
Create a fee/fine type
- In the Fee/fine: Manual charges pane, select the Fee/fine Owner from the drop-down list.
- Optional: Click Edit to assign a Default Charge Notice and/or Default Action Notice to the template and click Save.
- Click New.
- Enter a name for the Fee/Fine Type.
- Optional: Enter the Default Amount for the fee/fine.
- Optional: Select a Charge Notice.
- Optional: Select an Action Notice.
- Click Save. The Fee/fine type is saved.
See Settings > Circulation > Patron notice templates for more information about Patron notice templates.
Edit a fee/fine type
- In the Fee/fine: Manual charges pane, find the fee/fine type you want to edit and click the pencil icon in the Actions column.
- Make your changes to the manual charge.
- Click Save. The manual charge is updated.
Delete a fee/fine type
- In the Fee/fine: Manual charges pane, find the fee/fine type you want to delete and click the trash can icon.
- In the Delete Fee/fine Type dialog, click Delete. A confirmation message appears and the fee/fine type is deleted.
Settings > Users > Waive reasons
Use this setting to configure Fee/fine: Waive reasons.
Creating a waive reason
- In the Fee/fine: Waive reasons pane, click New.
- Enter a name for the Reason in the box.
- Optional: Enter a Description about the waive reason.
- Click Save. The waive reason is saved.
Edit a waive reason
- In the Fee/fine: Waive reasons pane, find the waive reason you want to edit and click the pencil icon in the actions column.
- Make your changes to the Reason or Description.
- Click Save. The waive reason is updated.
Delete a waive reason
- In the Fee/fine: Waive reasons pane, find the waive reason you want to edit and click the trash can icon in the actions column.
- In the Delete Waive reason dialog, click Delete. A confirmation message appears and the waive reason is deleted.
Settings > Users > Payment methods
Use this setting to configure payment methods. Payment methods are specific to a fee/fine owner. When paying a fee/fine, Payment method is a required field.
Create a payment method
- In the Fee/fine: Payment methods pane, select the Fee/fine Owner from the drop-down list.
- Click New.
- Enter a Name for the payment method.
- Click Save. The payment method is saved.
Edit a payment method
- In the Fee/fine: Payment methods pane, find the payment method you want to edit and click the pencil icon in the actions column.
- Update the Name as needed.
- Click Save. The payment method is updated.
Delete a payment method
- In the Fee/fine: Payment methods pane, find the payment method you want to edit and click the trash can icon.
- In the Delete Payment method dialog, click Delete. A confirmation message appears and the payment method is deleted.
Settings > Users > Refund reasons
Use this setting to configure refund reasons. When refunding a fee/fine, Refund reason is a required field.
Create a refund reason
- In the Fee/fine: Refund reasons pane, click New.
- Enter a Name for the refund reason.
- Optional: Enter a Description about the refund reason.
- Click Save. The refund reason is saved.
Edit a refund reason
- In the Fee/fine: Refund reasons pane, find the refund reason you want to edit and click the pencil icon in the Actions menu.
- Make your changes to the Name or Description.
- Click Save. The Refund reason is updated.
Delete a refund reason
- In the Fee/fine: Refund reasons pane, find the refund reason you want to edit and click the trash can icon.
- In the Delete Refund reason dialog, click Delete. A confirmation message appears and the refund reason is deleted.
Settings > Users > Comment required
Use this section to configure whether comments are required when fees/fines are paid, waived, refunded, or transferred. By default, comments are not required.
Require comment when fee/fine fully/partially paid
To require a comment when a fee/fine is fully or partially paid, under Require comment when fee/fine fully/partially paid, select Yes. A confirmation message appears and the Require comment setting is saved.
Require comment when fee/fine fully/partially waived
To require a comment when a fee/fine is fully or partially waived, under Require comment when fee/fine fully/partially waived, select Yes. A confirmation message appears and the Require comment setting is saved.
Require comment when fee/fine fully/partially refunded
To require a comment when a fee/fine is fully or partially refunded, under Require comment when fee/fine fully/partially refunded, select Yes. A confirmation message appears and the Require comment setting is saved.
Require comment when fee/fine fully/partially transferred
To require a comment when a fee/fine is fully or partially transferred, under Require comment when fee/fine fully/partially transferred, select Yes. A confirmation message appears and the Require comment setting is saved.
Settings > Users > Transfer accounts
Use this setting to configure available transfer accounts. Transfer accounts are used when your library needs to transfer transactions (for charge or credit) to entities outside of the library. For example, a transfer account may be the bursar’s office or a collection agency.
Create a transfer account
- In the Fee/fine: Transfer accounts pane, select the Fee/fine Owner from the drop-down list.
- Click New.
- Enter a Name for the transfer account.
- Optional: Enter a Description of the transfer account.
- Click Save. The transfer account is saved.
Edit a transfer account
- In the Fee/fine: Transfer accounts pane, find the transfer account you want to edit and click the pencil icon in the actions column.
- Make your changes to the Name or Description.
- Click Save. The transfer account is updated.
Delete a transfer account
- In the Fee/fine: Transfer accounts pane, find the transfer account you want to edit and click the trash can icon in the actions column.
- In the Delete Transfer account dialog, click Delete. A confirmation message appears and the transfer account is deleted.
Settings > Users > Transfer criteria
The Transfer Criteria section contains many sections to allow for a wide variety of criteria to be configured. Use this information to configure the criteria for transferring accounts. For more information about transfer accounts, see Settings > Users > Transfer accounts.
Create transfer criteria
In the Transfer criteria pane, select the Schedule period. Add a number to the Fee/Fines older than (days) field. Click the + sign to add patron group(s) in the Patron groups list. Select the transfer owner from the Transfer owner drop-down list. Select a transfer account from the Transfer account drop-down list. Select the Fee/fine owner. Add Transfer type, Transfer description, and Transfer code to each Fee/fine type. Click Save to save the transfer criteria or click Run manually to run a report.
Scheduling
The Scheduling dropdown allows you to configure the frequency of the transfer process. If you want to run the transfer manually, you can skip this section.
The following options and suboptions are available:
- Never (run manually)
- Hours
- Hours between runs
- Days
- Days between runs
- Run at
- Weeks
- Weeks between runs
- Run at
- Run on weekdays
Example:
To set the schedule to occur twice a week on Monday and Thursday at 12:00am CDT, you would configure the following options:
- Set the “Frequency” option to “Weeks”.
- Set the “Weeks between runs” option to “0”.
- Set the “Run at” option to “12:00 AM”.
- Set the “Run on weekdays” to the options “Monday” and “Thursday”.
Criteria
The Criteria section allows you to configure the criteria for the transfer process.
The following options are available to configure the criteria:
- No criteria (always run)
- This option will always run the transfer process when the schedule is met.
- All of
- This option will run the transfer process when all the criteria is met.
- Any of
- This option will run the transfer process when any one or more of the criteria are met.
- None of
- This option will run the transfer process when none of the criteria is met.
The following are options for the criteria:
- Age
- Amount
- Fee/fine owner
- Fee/fine type
- Item location
- Item service point
- Patron group
Example:
To set the criteria to run the transfer process for all fees/fines that are older than 30 days, you would configure the following options:
- Set the “Criteria” option to “All of”.
- Click on the “+” button on the top right corner to add a criteria.
- Set the criteria to “Age”.
- Set the “Comparison operator” to “Greater than but not equal to”
- Set the “Number of days old” option to “30”.
Aggregate by patron
The Aggregate by patron section is used to enable/disable aggregating data by patron. This is useful if you want to generate a file that aggregate all the data by each patron and list them, so each row would represent data of one patron instead of one fee/fine. If you do not want to aggregate by patron, make sure the Group by patron box is unchecked.
Note: If Group by patron box is unchecked, then the body format, in between the Header format and Footer format, will be called Account data format. If Group by patron box is checked, then the body format will be called Patron data format.
If you want to aggregate by patron, check the box and you can configure the aggregate criteria, which include the following options:
- None (include all patrons)
- Number of accounts
- Total amount
For both number of accounts and total amount, you need to set a comparison operator and a number of accounts or total amount. The following comparison operators are available:
- Less than but not equal to
- Less than or equal to
- Greater than but not equal to
- Greater than or equal to
Example:
To set the criteria to run the transfer process for all patrons that have a total amount greater than or equal to $100, you would configure the following options:
- Check the “Group by patron” box.
- Select the “Filter type” to be “Total amount”.
- Select the “Comparison operator” to be “Greater than or equal to”.
- Enter “100” in the “Total amount” box.
Format sections
The sections Header format, Account data format/Patron data format and Footer format allow you to configure the format of the file that is generated by the transfer process. The format is configured using a series of blocks, in a column based structure. Each block can be configured to contain a fixed value or a variable. The variable will be replaced with the actual value when the file is generated.
You need to configure all data you want to include in the file, including whitespace and delimiters. If you do not want to include a section, you can leave it blank.
The following tokens are available for all sections:
- Newline (LF)
- Newline (Microsoft, CRLF)
- Tab
- Comma
- Whitespace
- Number of spaces
- Text
- Text to include
- Current Date
- Format
- There are several options for the format of the date(eg. ISO Day, American Date, etc.)
- Timezone
- There are several options for the timezone(eg. American/Chicago, etc.)
- Format
The following tokens are available in the Header and Footer sections only:
- Number of Accounts
- Total Amount
- Has a checkbox to include decimal point checkbox.
The following tokens are available in the Account data format/Patron data format section only:
- Account amount
- Account date
- Fee/fine type
- User info
- Item info
For certain tokens, there is a gear icon to configure the format of the value. The following options are available:
- Desired length
- You can enter an integer for the desired length.
- Fill extra spaces with
- You can enter a character to fill extra spaces with (eg. 0, " “, etc.).
- Add characters to
- You can select to add characters to the beginning or end of the value.
- Truncate if too long
- You can select to truncate the value if it is longer than the desired length.
Example:
Here is what an example header structure would look like with variables:
$$$LIB{day_of_year}{current_date}Library B&F YBR{row_count}{fee_fee_total}{year}{quarter}
Here is what the header would look like with the variables replaced with actual values and the date is 02/01/2021:
$$$LIB3202012023Library B&F YBR000170000097195020231
Note: Some values have been padded with zeros to ensure the correct number of characters. This must be specified in the format and is detailed below.
To configure this header in the transfer criteria, you would add the following elements:
- Arbitrary Text
- Value: “$$$LIB”
- Current date
- Format: ISO Day
- Timezone: American/Chicago
- Current date
- Format: American Date
- Timezone: American/Chicago
- Arbitrary Text
- Value: “Library B&F”
- Tab
- Text
- Value: “YBR”
- Number of accounts
- In the Gear settings:
- Desired length: 5
- Fill extra spaces with: 0
- Add characters to: Start
- Truncate if too long: Checked
- In the Gear settings:
- Total amount
- Include the decimal point: Checked
- In the Gear settings:
- Desired length: 11
- Fill extra spaces with: 0
- Add characters to: Start
- Truncate if too long: Checked
- Current date
- Format: Year
- Timezone: American/Chicago
- Current date
- Format: Quarter
- Timezone: American/Chicago
Preview
The preview pane displays a preview of the header, account data and footer based on the criteria you have configured. You can use this preview to verify that the criteria you have configured is correct, before saving or running.
There are two checkboxes in the preview pane to configure how the preview is displayed:
- Wrap long lines
- Display invisible characters (newlines, tabs, and spaces)
Transfer accounts
Here, you can specify where the transfer accounts will be sent. In addition, you can configure any conditional statements regarding the transfer accounts.
To configure the Transfer to section, you will need to select options for the two dropdowns:
- Fee/fine owner
- The fee/fine owner that the transfer accounts will be sent to.
- Transfer account
- The transfer account that the transfer accounts will be sent to.
Optionally, you can configure multiple conditional statements for the transfer accounts. To configure a conditional statement, you have to click Add condition, then in the same way as the Criteria section, you will configure your critera. After that, you can configure the Transfer to section for the conditional statement.
Running the transfer
To run the transfer now without saving, click the “Run manually” button.
To save the criteria and run the transfer on the desired schedule, click the “Save” button.
Settings > Users > Conditions
Automatic patron blocks allow the library to set limits that are automatically enforced. The limits are applied in real time and displayed in the same areas as manual blocks. Patrons can be automatically blocked from checking out, renewing, and/or requesting.
Automatic patron blocks are displayed in the Users app in the Patron blocks section of a user record. Depending on which actions are blocked, the blocks also display in the Check out app after patron barcode entry or patron look-up or if an item barcode is scanned, in the Users app Loans section if you want to renew an item, and in the Requests app after a patron barcode/patron look-up.
The block is automatically removed once the patron falls below the limit.
Note: Conditions and limits have to be in place in order for automated patron blocks to work.
Conditions determine which actions patrons are barred from doing once they hit the limits as outlined for their patron group in Settings > Users > Limits.
These are all the categories for which you can set conditions and limits:
- Maximum number of items charged out
- Maximum number of lost items
- Maximum number of overdue items
- Maximum number of overdue recalls
- Maximum outstanding fee/fine balance
- Recall overdue by maximum number of days
Configure patron block conditions
- In the Conditions pane, select the condition you want to configure.
- In the selected condition pane, select the action(s) that occur when the defined limits are exceeded: Block borrowing, Block renewals, and/or Block requests.
- Enter a Message to be displayed (required)
- Click Save. A confirmation message appears and the patron block condition is saved.
Edit patron block conditions
- In the Conditions pane, select the condition you want to edit.
- In the selected condition pane, make your changes to the condition.
- Click Save. A confirmation message appears and the patron block condition is saved.
Remove patron block conditions
- In the Conditions pane, select the condition you want to remove.
- In the selected condition pane, clear out any blocks and messages.
- Click Save. A confirmation message appears and the patron block condition is saved.
Settings > Users > Patron Block Templates
Libraries can choose to create templates for use with patron blocks that staff can apply to user records. This allows libraries to have more consistent patron messaging, and can improve reporting.
Patron block templates are created in Settings > Users > Templates.
Create patron block template
- In the Patron block templates pane, select New in the top right corner. A New patron block template window will open.
- Enter a Template name.
- Enter a Block code (optional). Block codes can be used for reporting or integration purposes. They do not appear in the Users app.
- Enter a Description (optional). This description will only appear when viewing the template in settings.
- Enter a Display description (optional). This appears to staff when applying the block to a particular patron record.
- Enter a Message to Patron (optional). This appears to staff when applying the block to a particular patron record, and can be accessed by discovery layer tools to display to a patron when viewing their library account online.
- Check the boxes for the appropriate Block actions - borrowing, renewals, or requests (optional).
- Click Save & close. The patron block template is saved.
Edit patron block template.
- In the Patron block templates pane, select the template you wish to edit. It will open for viewing in a fourth pane.
- Click Edit to open the template in edit mode.
- Make changes as desired.
- Click Save & close to apply changes.
Delete patron block template
- In the Patron block templates pane, select the template you wish to edit. It will open for viewing in a fourth pane.
- Click Edit to open the template in edit mode.
- Click Delete in the top right.
- Click Delete in the confirmation pop-up.
Settings > Users > Limits
Limits determine the maximum number of materials, recalls, fee/fines, or overdues, that when reached, the conditions you configured in Settings > Users > Conditions are applied to a patron’s account. Limits are established based on patron groups.
Create patron block limits
- In the Limits pane, select the patron group for which you want to configure limits.
- In the selected patron group pane, enter a limit for each category. Leave the field blank if you do not want to set a limit for a certain category.
- Click Save. A confirmation message appears and the block limits are saved.
Edit patron block limits
- In the Limits pane, select the patron group with the limits you want to edit.
- In the selected patron group pane, make your changes to the limits.
- Click Save. A confirmation message appears and the block limits are saved.
Remove patron block limits
- In the Limits pane, select the patron group with the limits you want to remove.
- In the selected patron group pane, set the limit value(s) to zero to clear out the limit(s).
- Click Save. A confirmation message appears and the block limits are saved.