Whenever the rules differ for an item group, you need to create a new item policy and assign it to the affected items. Follow the steps below to manage the item policies for your library.

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Step by Step

Create a New Item Policy

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Modify an Item Policy

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Duplicate an Item Policy

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Remove an Item Policy

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Assign an Item Policy to a Title

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Assign an Item Policy to a Copy

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• Fine Rate (Days). Set the fine rate that is charged to the patron for every day that the item is overdue (under this policy). The fine rate is computed daily. If you don't charge fines, enter $0.00.

• Grace Period (Days). Specify the number of days this item type can be borrowed past its loan period before fines begin to accrue. For example, if you set the grace period for two days, patrons are not charged fines until the third calendar day an item is overdue. At this point, they are charged fines for three overdue days. Unless Only Count Open Days is checked, it doesn't matter if the library is open or closed on those days, the grace period is only computed on calendar days. For easy check-in, set the grace period one day longer than your commonly closed periods. For example, if you are commonly closed on Saturday and Sunday, set the grace period for three days. Therefore, if the book is due on Friday, and it's turned in through the bookdrop on Saturday, when you check it in on Monday, no fines will be charged.
  
  

• Only Count Open Days in Grace Period. By default, days on which the library is closed do not count against the Grace Period. Use this preference to reverse that policy.

• Fines Accrue During Grace Period. By default, we do not charge fines for overdue items during the Grace Period. Use this preference to reverse that policy.

• Declare Lost When Overdue (Days). If an item has been overdue for a significant amount of time, the odds are that it will not be coming back. This preference allows an operator to set the number of days that an item can be overdue before it's automatically declared lost. Reports, utilities, and daily chores will be adjusted and the offending patron will be assessed the appropriate charges without an operator having to do anything.
  
  

Holds

• Allow Hold Requests. This box must be checked in order to allow patrons to place a hold request on an item (under this policy) without getting an error message every time. If you don't check this box, patrons cannot place hold requests on items under this policy. An operator with the appropriate security level can override the resulting alert window and allow checkout regardless. Default is ON.

Reservations

• Maximum Reservation Days. Set the maximum number of days that a reservation[1] may be placed on a specific item copy (under this policy). If items aren't allowed for reservation, set the period to 0 days. If none of the copies allow reservations, the Reservation window will not open and a note will be made to the transaction log. If some copies allow reservations and some don't, the Reservation tab of the Circulation window will open, but only copies that allow reservations are shown in the copies drop-down menu. Reservations may exceed (or may be shorter than) the number of days an item may be checked out.

• Days Required Between Reservations. Generally used by a central distribution agency; this policy creates a buffer period of open days allotted for delivery, processing, and pickup before a reservation so that items are ready to distribute to the next patron in waiting. If a patron tries to check out a book whose reservation period coincides with their loan period, a warning message will appear and that patron's loan period will be cut short. Also, if your library requires time to process an item that has been returned, this setting will enforce the processing time between reservations. For example, certain equipment may need to be calibrated after each use. If the calibration time takes two days, and you enter the value “2” in this preference, Alexandria will make sure that reservations are separated by at least two days.

Miscellaneous

• Self-Service Check Out (SIP2 Only). When checked, SIP2 self-service check out will be allowed at SIP2 stations for items under this policy. Default is checked.

• Self-Service Payment (SIP2 Only). When checked, self-service renewal will be allowed for this item type at SIP2 stations. Default is checked.

• Show AS ONLINE in Researcher. Checking this box modifies the results in the Details list in the Researcher with respect to availability and allows more convenient access to the electronic resource (i.e. eBook).