Self-Service is an unattended interface that allows patrons to check items in or out themselves, freeing librarians to handle other library responsibilities.

To access Alexandria's Self-Service mode, add /selfservice or /selfserviceinout to the end of your Alexandria login URL. Choose Check Out or Check In, then log in to set the mode.

Self-Service can only be accessed by operators who are logged in and have the proper security settings. Once logged in, the Self-Service interface will never automatically log out—operators must manually choose to Log Out from the Actions menu.

After the appropriate URL has been successfully entered into the Address bar, Alexandria will ask you to select which Self-Service mode to activate: Check In or Check Out.

• Settings. This option causes the Self-Service Preferences roll-down to appear; the preferences contained in this roll-down are documented here.

• Help.

• Log Out. This option will allow you to log out of the Self-Service interface. As an operator with the proper security settings, you must enter your password to log out of Self-Service. Doing so returns you to the Self-Service mode selection window.

• Print. This button only appears when there is valid circulation transaction information displayed in the Self-Service interface (i.e. check out or bookdrop) and the Hide Print Button preference is not checked.

• • If you have the Use Receipt Printer preference enabled, a roll-down will appear when you click Print rather than your browser/system default print interface.

• • If you are using a receipt printer, the Print roll-down that appears will contain the contents of the Self-Service interface (including relevant Patron Details information) and Cancel and Print controls at the bottom.

• • When Print is clicked, the information contained in the Self-Service interface will print and, if the Reset Display After Printing preference is checked, the Self-Service interface is reset.

• Done. This button will reset the Self-Service interface, but will only appear when there is user information displayed. However, if you are in “/selfserviceinout” mode, the Done button is always visible so that you can return to the Self-Service mode selection window without having to re-enter your operator credentials.

Actions Menu - Preferences

A smattering of Self-Service preferences can be configured when selecting Preferences from the Actions menu. As an operator with the proper security settings, you must enter your password to view or modify these preferences. Receipt printer features are optional in Alexandria; you must purchase and register a Receipt Printer license in order for receipt printer-specific preferences to appear.

• Hide Print Button. When checked, the Print button will never be shown.

• Use Receipt Printer. When checked, use the receipt printer attached to the machine currently being used for self-service. If the receipt printer driver is missing, it will be automatically downloaded.

• Reset Display After Printing. When checked, the self-service interface is reset after printing.

• Require Patrons to Enter Their Password to Check Out Items. When checked, patrons are required to enter their password before they are allowed to check items out. If the password is incorrect, the attempt to validate the patron is ignored.

Toolbar

Menu

Language. Change the interface language to English (Inglés), Spanish (Español), and French (Français).

Settings. These settings are specific to the station and browser you're working on. Each station (computer, tablet, browser, etc.) will need to set these settings manually. If the browser's cache is cleared, these settings will be cleared also.

• • Require Authentication for Check Out. When checked, patrons must log in to check out items. 
    • If OFF, the patron enters their barcode and can scan items immediately to check out. If ON, when the patron enters their barcode, they have to also enter their password.
      

• • Use Alexandria Network Printer. Receipts for Check Out and Check In will be formatted to print on the Alexandria Network Printer.
    
    • When checked, the Print Receipt option in the I'm Done dialog will be disabled.
      
  • Printer Address. Enter the IP address for your printer.
    

Log Out. 

You wouldn't want a student to log out of Self-Service mode, so this op

This option will allow you to log out of the Self-Service interface. As an operator with the proper security settings, you must enter your password to log out of Self-Service. Doing so returns you to the Self-Service mode selection window.

This is for the librarian to log out of Self-Service mode, not for the patron to log out of their account or session. It must be the same person who logged in to Self-Service mode.

Self-Service Check Out / In

This is the mode you're logged in to. Click the title to select a different mode. Because you're effectively logging out of one mode to log in to another, you will need to enter your password again

Help!

Click to view basic help documentation for Self-Service.

Command Line / Scan Bar

Let's get started.

Scan or type your patron barcode.

I'm Done

When you're done checking books in or out, click I'm Done at the bottom right of your screen. Next, choose if you want a printed or emailed receipt, then click OK to process your transactions and clear the screen. If you click Cancel, you'll go back to your transaction list.

Check Out Mode

Enter a patron barcode to begin check out, and click Done in the upper-right corner to clear the window when your transaction is complete.

Patron Info

Once you’ve scanned a patron [in Out], the patron shows at the top with limited information: Patron Picture, Patron Name, Items Out, In-Stock Holds, and Charges.

The row persists at the top. As items are scanned, the information should update, e.g. if Darla checks out her In-Stock Hold, the number should go from 1 to 0, and her Items Out should go from 5 to 6.

Scan items - Out

Scanned items show up at the top, just like the Transaction Log. In Out mode, this is right under the Patron; in In mode, under the scan bar. The space to the left shows the item cover art (note: should be flush with lines and left edge), the item info shows the Title (ALERT Myra 20180914 do we allow 2 lines for the title? at what point do we cut it off?), Copy Barcode, Status of the item, and its Due date.

The items area scrolls. (Patron persists.)

NOTE: The text should be selectable, i.e. I should be able to double-click to select and copy the item barcode.

Scan items - In

For check in, it only shows one item at a time; the idea is a running bookdrop. There is still an ‘I’m Done’ button but all it does is clears the window.

The item info shows ‘Checked In’ and when the item ‘Was Due’; if the item is overdue, show the date in red.

When a circulation transaction can not be processed in the Self-Service interface, a warning sounds and message appears and you will be directed to the front desk for additional help. These exceptions can occur due to policy restrictions, unapproved transactions (e.g. an item checked out to another patron), hold/reservation and policy conflicts, temporary items, items from outside locations, etc.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Self-Service Check Out

If there is no current patron, enter (or scan) a patron barcode to begin checkout; if the same patron barcode number is scanned twice, it will be ignored.

1. When the patron is made current, enter (or scan) an item barcode to checkout or click Done to clear the Self-Service interface.
   
   
2. If a barcode of fifty or less is scanned, an error occurs; system patrons can not be used in conjunction with Self-Service checkout.
   
   
3. If an item barcode is scanned without a patron being current, an error occurs.
   
   
4. When a new patron barcode is scanned (different from the Current Patron), the Self-Service interface is refreshed and the new patron is made current. This way, if the current patron walks away from the self-service station and another patron walks up and enters their barcode, they will be able to check out books.
   
   
5. If an item barcode is scanned and no exceptions are triggered, the item is successfully checked out; an entry will be made to the transaction log.
   
   
6. If an item barcode is scanned that has a “In-Stock Hold” or “Reservation” for the current patron and no exceptions are triggered, the item is successfully checked out; an entry will be made to the transaction log.
   
   
7. If an item barcode is scanned that is currently checked out to the current patron, Alexandria will attempt to perform a renewal. If successful, an entry will be made to the transaction log.

I'm Done

When you're done checking books in or out, click I'm Done at the bottom right of your screen. Next, choose if you want a printed or emailed receipt, then click OK to process your transactions and clear the screen. If you click Cancel, you'll go back to your transaction list.

Check In

To access the Check In (i.e. Bookdrop) mode of the Self-Service, type /selfservicein at the end of your Alexandria login URL.

Enter an item barcode to check in (i.e. bookdrop) or click Done to clear the window.

Use the Done button in the upper-right corner to clear the window when your transaction is complete.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter the barcode(s) of the item(s) you want to check in (i.e. bookdrop).
2. If a patron barcode is scanned, an error occurs; this includes system patrons with barcodes of fifty or less.
3. When a item barcode is successfully bookdropped, an entry will be made to the transaction log.
4. If an item has fines due upon check in, the fine will be displayed in the Self-Service interface (e.g. “Overdue Item, Fine of $1.23 charged.”).
5. If the patron bookdropping an item is different from the patron associated with the previous item, the Self-Service interface is cleared before displaying new bookdrop confirmation information.
6. If a patron checks in a book which is on hold, has a reservation, or is in transit, you will be asked to deliver the book to the librarian or aide at the front desk.
7. Click Done to clear the Self-Service interface; the patron checking in the book will never be identified in the interface—only on the printed receipt.

I'm Done

When you're done checking books in, click I'm Done at the bottom right of your screen to clear the screen for the next patron.