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nameAdd Patron Notes
id1043538877

Add Patron Notes

Adds or appends a Contact, General, Alert, or Category note to selected patrons

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titleMore information
Use(s)
  • If a group of specific patrons need to meet with the librarian, select Alert Note and type "Needs to meet with librarian" on the Options tab before running this utility. Alert Notes pop up in Circulation whenever those patrons' barcodes are scanned.
  • If a group of specific patrons are in special reading programs, considered at-risk, or belong to other groups that need to be recorded, select Category Note and type the desired note on the Options tab. 
Selections

Add Patron Notes utility Selections tabImage Added

Options

Add Patron Notes utility Options tabImage Added

Add Note: Type the note you would like to add. 500 character limit.

Note Type: Choose the type of note to add.

Replace Existing Notes: When checked, this option removes all existing notes of the chosen type and completely replaces them with what's in the Add Note field.

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nameAdvance Patron Grade
id340481034

Advance Patron Grade

Moves specified patrons to the next grade (i.e. level)

Note

"Grade" is a localization term that can be altered in Localization Terminology Preferences.

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titleMore information

You can customize your grades (i.e. levels) in the Grade Table in Patron Preferences

If you name your policies after grades, then you'll need to update those policies after running this utility. This has to be changed on a policy-by-policy basis using the Change Patron Policy utility.

Use(s)

Run this utility if you need to be specific about what types of patrons need to be moved to the next grade level. If you would like to advance all patron grades at the same time, use the Advance All Grades utility on the Grade Table tab of Patron Preferences.

Tip

Read the Advance Patrons Manual Entry section of our Beginning-of-Year Procedures our Patron Imports Best Practices for more information.

Selections

Advance Patron Grade utility Selections tabImage Added

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nameChange Patron Grade
id993181416

Change Patron Grade

Image Added Textbook Tracker

Changes the grade (i.e. level) of selected patrons to the specified grade

Note

"Grade" is a localization term that can be altered in Localization Terminology Preferences.

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titleMore information
Use(s)

Run this utility if patrons were accidentally imported or added with the wrong grade and the correct grade needs to be added.

Selections

Change Patron Grade utility Selections tabImage Added

Options

Change Patron Grade utility Options tabImage Added

Change Grade to: Specify the new grade you would like selected patrons to be in.

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nameChange Patron 2nd Location
id340578283

Change Patron 2nd Location

Image Added Textbook Tracker

Changes or adds a specified 2nd location for selected patrons

Note

"2nd Location" is a localization term that can be altered in Localization Terminology Preferences.

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titleMore information
Tip

You can also use Authority Control to edit, combine, or remove individual 2nd locations.

Selections

Change Patron 2nd Location utility Selections tabImage Added

Options

Change Patron 2nd Location utility Options tabImage Added

Change 2nd Location to: Specify the new 2nd location you would like selected patrons to have. If this field is left blank, the utility will remove the current 2nd location.

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nameChange Patron Location
id340624553

Change Patron Location

 Textbook Tracker

Changes the location of selected patrons to the specified location

Note

"Location" is a localization term that can be altered in Localization Terminology Preferences.

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titleMore information
Tip

You can also use Authority Control to edit, combine, or remove individual locations.

Use(s)
  • Run this utility to set patron homerooms based on grade. In the Patrons in Grade selection, enter the grade(s) you want to assign a specific homeroom. 
  • Merge all homerooms for end-of-year cleanup.
  • Use this utility to merge patron homerooms at the end of the school year. This may make it easier to assign new homerooms at the beginning of the year.
Selections

Change Patron Location utility Selections tabImage Added

Selections
Options
Options

Change Patron Location utility Options tabImage Added

Change Location to: Specify the new location you would like selected patrons to have.

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nameChange Patron Policy
id340642143

Change Patron Policy

Image Added Textbook Tracker

Changes the policy of selected patrons to the specified policy

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titleMore information
Note

Newly changed patron policies will not affect the loan periods or fines for currently checked out items. To adjust these based on the newly changed policies, run the Recompute Due Dates utility after this utility.

Use(s)

Run this utility to implement new policies or switch around existing policies.

If you base policies off of grades, run this utility at the end or beginning of a school year to update patron policies after advancing patron grades. Use the Patrons in Grade selection to specify the grade(s) to which you want to assign a particular policy.

Tip

Check out our Beginning-of-Year Procedures and End-of-Year Procedures for more tips on preparing your library for summer or the new school year.

Selections

Change Patron Policy utility Selections tabImage Added

Options

Change Patron Policy utility Options tabImage Added

Selections
Options

Change Policy to: Specify the new policy you would like selected patrons to have.

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nameChange Patron Security Group
id340655833

Change Patron Security Group

Image Added Textbook Tracker

Changes the security group of selected patrons to the specified security group 

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titleMore information
Tip

Security Level controls which security groups a user can modify. For example, patrons assigned a security group with Security Level 2 can only modify groups with a Security Level of 3 or lower (3, 4, 5). However, this rule does not apply to District Administrators (Level 0)

Note
You can only change the security group of someone currently in a lower security group than yourself. Also, you can only change someone else's security group to one lower than your own. But if you're a District Admin, you can make others District Admins as well

.

Use(s)

Run this utility if you assign security group by grade. In the Patrons in Grade selection, enter the grade(s) you want to assign a specific homeroom. 

Selections

Change Patron Security Group utility Selections tabImage Added

Options

Change Patron Security Group utility Options tabImage Added

New Security Group: Specify the new security group you would like selected patrons to be in.

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nameChange Patron Status
id340672076

Change Patron Status

Image Added Textbook Tracker

Changes the status of selected patrons to the specified status

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What How does each status mean?

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MultiExcerptNamePatron Statuses
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affect patron permissions?

Use(s)
  • Run this utility if you need to give a group of patrons who previously had an Inactive or Suspended status an Active status again.
  • Run this utility at the end of the school year to give all patrons an Inactive status, which will prevent them from placing holds, making reservations, and more over the summer. Then at the beginning of the school year, use this utility to restore everyone's Active status.
Selections

Change Patron Status utility Selections tabImage Added

Options

Change Patron Status utility Options tabImage Added

Change Status to: Specify the new status you would like selected patrons to have.

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nameForgive Charges
id340682764

Forgive Charges

Image Added Textbook Tracker

Forgives selected charges, fees, or fines created during the specified transaction date range

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titleMore information

What's included in each charge category?

  1. All Charges, Fees, and Fines: Everything
  2. Lost Fees Only: Charge record with a transaction note or description of “Lost”
  3. Overdue Fines Only: Charge record with a transaction note or description of “Overdue Fine” or a currently accumulating fine
  4. Other Charges/Fees: Everything except items in 2 and 3
Use(s)
  • If you declare all overdue items at the end of the school year as lost but only want to charge the lost item fee (not overdue fines), run this utility with the Overdue Fines Only option selected.
  • If you only want to forgive minimal charges—such as those under $1—use the Patron Balance selection to indicate that range.
Selections

Forgive Charges utility Selections tabImage Added

Patron Balance: Enter a balance range to forgive. 

Options

Forgive Charges utility Options tabImage Added

Choose which charge

type to forgive:
  • All Charges, Fees, and Fines: Everything
  • Lost Fees Only: Charge record with a transaction note or description of “Lost”
  • Overdue Fines Only: Charge record with a transaction note or description of “Overdue Fine” or a currently accumulating fine
  • Other Charges/Fees: Everything except items in 2 and 3

    category to forgive.

    Transaction Date Starting: Specify a starting date in MM/DD/YYYY format. If left blank, all selected past charges will be forgiven.

    And Ending: Specify an ending date in MM/DD/YYYY format.

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    nameMove Patrons to Site
    id419378050
    Note

    This utility is only available to those with a Centralized Catalog.

    Move Patrons to Site

    Image Added Textbook Tracker

    Moves selected patrons from their current site to the specified site

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    titleMore information
    Use(s)

    Run this utility if you accidentally imported patron records to the wrong site and need to move them.

    Selections

    Move Patrons to Site utility Selections tabImage Added

    Options

    Move Patrons to Site utility Options tabImage Added

    New Site: Specify the new site you would like selected patrons to be in.

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    nameReassign Union Site Patrons
    id419404497

    Reassign Union Site Patrons

    Changes the assigned site of selected patrons from the Union Site to the specified site

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    titleMore information
    Use(s)

    Patrons are assigned to the Union Site when imports are run for sites that don't existwith an invalid or non-existent site code. If you made a mistake while importing patron records and they are now assigned to the Union Site, run this utility to assign them to the correct site.

    Selections

    Reassign Union Site Patrons utility Selections tabImage Added

    Options

    Reassign Union Site Patrons utility Options tabImage Added

    New Site: Specify the new site you would like selected patrons to be in.

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    nameRemove Patron History
    id340693281

    Remove Patron History

    Removes everything but Lexile history from selected patrons' histories

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    The Patron History report shows recent payments (including credits), renewals, lost items, refunds, Lexile history, and returned items for individual patrons. After running this utility, everything but Lexile history is removed:

    View file
    nameAlex Patron_History_Report.pdf
    pageAlex S Patrons
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    Before running the Remove Patron History utility


    View file
    nameAlex Patron_History_Report Cleared.pdf
    pageAlex S Patrons
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    After running the Remove Patron History utility


    There are two places to automatically download the Patron History report for an individual patronWant to see a report of a patron's current history? There are two ways to access these reports:

    • Circulation > Actions menu  in the current patron pane >  Current Patron > History
    • Patrons Management > Actions menu  > Show History
    Either way, a PDF of that patron's history will then automatically download to your device.
    Use(s)

    Run this utility when you need to clear up space in your database, start with a clean slate on statistics, or remove information because of privacy concerns.

    Selections

    Remove Patron History utility Selections tabImage Added

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    nameRemove Patron Notes
    id340707234

    Remove Patron Notes

    Removes all Contact, General, Alert, or Category notes from selected patrons

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    titleMore information
    Use(s)

    Run this utility to remove old and temporary notes past librarians may have left.

    Selections

    Remove Patron Notes utility Selections tabImage Added

    Options

    Remove Patron Notes utility Options tabImage Added

    Note Type: Choose the type of note to remove. All notes of the chosen type will be removed.

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    nameRemove Patron Pictures
    id340716819

    Remove Patron Pictures

    Removes the pictures of selected patrons

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    titleMore information
    Use(s)

    Run this utility if If you need to remove patron pictures because they need to be replaced or removed because of privacy concerns, run this utility.

    Selections

    Remove Patron Pictures utility Selections tabImage Added

    Content Block
    nameRemove Patrons
    id340730992

    Remove Patrons

     Textbook Tracker

    Removes selected patron records from your database

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    titleMore information
    Use(s)
    • Run this utility at the end of the school year if you re-import your patrons at the beginning of each school year and need a clean slate.
    • There are two ways to use this utility to remove graduated patrons at the end of the school year:
      • If you keep track of graduation dates in patron records, enter the appropriate date range or relative date in the Graduation Date field selection
      • If you use Last Grade in the Grade Table Preferences, enter the user-defined value for Last Grade in the Patrons in Grade field Grade (most commonly "Graduated") in the Patrons in Grade selection.
    • If you manage patrons with SIF GG4L or Clever, patrons who have an active record in Alexandria but are no longer included in the synced data will be marked as Transferred (this may include graduated and transferred students). Those patron records will need to be removed manually. Run this utility to remove patrons with a status of Transferred. You can also run this utility if you update patrons with manual imports, FTP, or SIF; however, you'll select for patrons with a Homeroom (i.e. location) of Gone.
    Tip

    Check out our Beginning-of-Year Procedures and End-of-Year Procedures for tips and instructions on preparing your library for summer and the new school year.

    Selections

    Remove Patrons utility Selections tabImage Added

     When 
    Options

    Remove Patrons utility Options tabImage Added

    Remove even with

    checked-out items and outstanding financial obligations (including credits):

    Checked Out or Outstanding Financial Items, including Credits: 

    When 

    unchecked, all selected patrons without checked out items or charges will be removed. Some things, like reviews, are transferred to the Unknown Patron rather than deleted.

    When checked, all selected patrons will be removed no matter what. Checked out items will be declared lost, and holds, reservations, charges, and credits are all removed.

    Content Block
    nameRenew Patron Cards
    id340745798

    Renew Patron

    Cards

    Accounts

    Renews the

    library cards

    accounts of all selected patrons 

    Image Added Textbook Tracker

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    titleMore information
    Note

    This utility will only work when Preferences > Patrons > Patron Rules > Disable Card Expiration Datesaccount expiration dates is unchecked.

    The number of days a patron's card account is active after renewal is determined by patron policies.

    Selections

    Renew Patron Account utility's Selections tabImage Added

    Content Block
    nameReset PasswordsPatron Accounts
    id340757619634439190

    Reset Patron Accounts

    Image Added Textbook Tracker

    Resets patron usernames and/or passwords to the chosen formats

    Passwords

    Resets selected patrons' passwords to their last name (all lowercase letters)

    For security purposes, we strongly recommend that each user change their password after initially accessing their account

    .

    Use(s)
    • Run this utility at the beginning of the school year to let patrons who have forgotten their usernames and passwords over the summer successfully log into their accounts.
    • If students aren't familiar with their barcodes, run this utility to change usernames to something easier to remember, such as their first initial and last name.
    Expand
    titleMore information

    Operators must have these specific security permissions to run this utility:

    • Management > Patrons > Import, Export and Utilities
    • Management > Patron Passwords > Edit

    Note that operators can only change the passwords of those with a lower security level than themselves

    Note
    Selections

    Reset Patron Accounts utility SelectionsImage Added

    Options

    Reset Patron Accounts utility OptionsImage Added

    Reset Password by

    No Change: Choose this option if you only want to reset usernames.

    Last Name (non-secure): Changes each patron's password to their last name. Patrons with special characters or accents in their last name will be prompted to create a new password when logging in, as diacritical letters are not supported in the password field. For security purposes, we strongly recommend that each patron change their password after initially accessing their account. 

    Patron (email link): Emails patrons a password reset link. They will be able to choose their new password.

    Reset Username by

    No Change: Choose this option if you only want to reset passwords.

    Barcode: Changes usernames to each patron's barcode. Username fields in Alexandria default to barcode.

    First Initial + Last Name: Changes usernames to each patron's combined first initial and last name (e.g. Darla Anderson's username would be "danderson").

    First Name + Last Name: Changes usernames to each patron's combined first name and last name (e.g. Darla Anderson's username would be "darlaanderson").

    Email Address: Changes usernames to each patron's email address. If a patron has multiple emails, the utility will use the first one listed in their patron record.

    Use Nickname when available: When checked, the patron's nickname will be used instead of their first name.

    Note

    Patrons will be skipped if changing their username would result in duplicates. They will also be skipped if you're changing usernames to email addresses and they have none listed.  After running the utility, check the Operations Information Image Added file to see if any patrons were skipped.