These preferences control the level of interaction that operators have with the program and what additional content is displayed.

Circulation Window

• Display Patron Lexile. When checked, a patron's Lexile measurement is displayed (if provided in the patron Lexile tab) in the Current Patron section of the Circulation window, Alexandria Researcher, etcetera; for more information, please review Alexandria Lexiles. If you have privacy issues concerning a patron's lexile information being displayed on the Circulation window, leave this box unchecked.

• Display Patron Reading Level. When checked, a patron's reading level is displayed (if provided in the patron Personal Info tab) in the Current Patron section of the Circulation window, Alexandria Researcher, etcetera; for more information, please review the Reading Level field in the Personal Info tab of the Patrons Management window. If you have privacy issues concerning a patron's reading level information being displayed on the Circulation window, leave this box unchecked.

• Display Copy Condition. When checked, the copy’s condition is displayed in the Current Item pane of the Circulation window, Alexandria Researcher, etcetera; for more information, please review the copy Condition field in the Copy Info subtab of the Items Management window. Condition codes are created and maintained in the Condition Codes preferences window.

• Display Item Reading Level. When checked, the copy’s reading level will be displayed, if available. The level used will be determined by your Library's reading system.

• Preferred Study Program. This drop down contains a list of Reading Study Programs you library currently uses.

Check Out Options

These settings are sometimes useful when your site has need of separate Workstations—some that only allow bookdrop and others that only allow check out. However, the Self-Service module serves these needs far better.

The Check Out Options dropdown menu allows you to change the default functionality and customize the behavior of the Check Out mode. You have three options:

• Allow check in during check out. The default selection; this option allows items belonging to the current patron to be bookdropped when the Circulation window is in Check Out mode.

• Allow check in with confirmation during check out. If selected, the program will not allow an item (or items) belonging to the current patron to be bookdropped or renewed during Check Out mode without operator confirmation.

• Don't allow check in during check out. If selected, the program will not allow items belonging to the current patron to be bookdropped or renewed when the Circulation window is in Check Out mode. For example, if you attempt to bookdrop an item that a patron currently has checked out, or you mistakenly scan the item barcode twice during the original transaction, you will be informed that boodrops aren't allowed during checkout.

Patron Alerts

These preferences configure patron alerts for overdue items, in-stock holds, and upcoming reservations; if you would like an alarm sound to occur when a patron with charges (i.e. fines) is made current, make sure the Alert When Fines Exceed setting in your Patron Check Out Policies is properly configured.

• Enable Patron Alerts on Overdue Items. When checked, an alert message and sound will occur when a patron with overdue items is made current.

• Enable Patron Alerts on In-Stock Holds. When checked, an alert message and sound will occur when a patron with available in-stock holds is made current.

• Enable Patron Alerts for Upcoming Reservations. When checked, an alert message and sound will occur when a patron with upcoming reservations is made current.

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These preferences configure general circulation settings for, among other things, holds, reservations, and charges.

Holds Settings

• Email Librarian on On-Shelf Hold. When checked, Alexandria will use the Email address(es) specified in the Sites Management window to notify operators when a Hold (placed on an item from the Researcher) is changed to an On-Shelf Hold. Notifications are not emailed to operators when an item status changes to On-Shelf as a result of a Bookdrop from the Circulation window; operators are typically aware when this happens.

• Allow Renewals When Holds Are Pending. When checked, patrons are allowed to renew items which have hold requests pending from other patrons.

Overdue Settings

• Charge Overdue Fines on Lost Items. When checked, overdue fines continue to accumulate on lost items up to the Maximum Fine for an Overdue Item set in your Patron Policy Overdue preferences. To stop fees from accumulating on a particular lost item, Remove the copy or assign it to the Discarded System Patron. Hide Overdue Payment Window in Bookdrop Mode ( )—When checked, if the Circulation window is in Bookdrop (B) mode, a patron is automatically fined (without requiring operator interaction) when an overdue book is returned.

• Returned Lost Item Fee. Check this box if you'd like to withhold a monetary portion of the fine amount refunded to a patron when a lost item has been found.

• Returned Lost Item Fee Amount. Specify the monetary amount to withhold when refunding a fine for a lost item that has been found

Reservation Settings

Days to Look Ahead When Checking Out Reservations—This setting allows you to enter the number of days prior to a reservation's requested start date needed to prepare an item for reservation. This way, items with reservations can (a) be available for general circulation X number of days before their scheduled reservation start date, and (b) fulfill their requesting patron's reservation. During check in, if an item reservation is detected within this adjacent “days ahead” time period, Alexandria will notify the current operator. The “GG” and “GPP” circulation commands also take this setting into account before allowing you to check out an item that has a reservation. Regardless of your policies, when an item with a reservation is checked out to the requesting patron, the item due date will always be the reservation end date. The default “days to look ahead” value is set to 5.

• Days to Look Ahead for Reservation Notice. Enter the number of days that Alexandria looks ahead before emailing upcoming reservation notifications (above); default is 4 days.

• Email Librarian on Reservation. When checked, Alexandria will use the Email address(es) specified in the Sites Management window to notify operator(s) when a patron places a reservation on an item.

• Notify of Upcoming Reservations. Send email notifications to patrons with upcoming reservations.

• Allow Reservations to Begin on Closed Dates. When checked, patrons are allowed to place a Reservation that begins on a Closed calendar day (e.g. Saturday or Sunday). This is the first day that an item can be picked up or checked out.

• Allow Reservations to End on Closed Dates. When checked, patrons are allowed to place a Reservation that ends on a Closed calendar day (e.g. Saturday or Sunday).

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If you print receipts for patrons at your site, these preferences allow you to customize the information printed on your receipts; this information applies whether you print an 8½" x 11" receipt from local or network printer or a 3" receipt from one of COMPanion's Slip or Receipt Printers. The settings that configure when receipts are printed can be located in Browser Settings.

Receipt printing is best done with COMPanion receipt printers; they provide a convenient and economical means of printing receipts for common circulation transactions such as check outs, placed holds, fines, fees, payments, and refunds.

Receipt Settings 

• Hide Patron’s Barcode on Receipts. Obscures a patron’s barcode with asterisks (e.g. “ * ” ) for check in/out receipts.

• Hide Patron’s Name on Receipts. When checked, receipts will print a patron’s initials instead of their full name.

• Show Patron Phone Number on Hold Slips. When checked, a patron's phone number will be included on printed stock hold slips. You can print these slips using the dialog box that appears when a currently checked out item with an in-stock hold is bookdropped or by using the Holds subtab in the Circulation window. The item with the in-stock hold can then be set aside—slip attached—and the requesting patron contacted (via telephone) at your leisure.

• Show Site Information on Receipts. When checked, your site's name, address and contact information is included on all receipt type.
  
  

Optional Features

These are optional features of Alexandria. You must purchase and register a Slip Printer license for these preferences to be available.

• Text for Receipts. This is a customizable text header that appears before the general header (or after the patron name on in-stock hold receipts). This header will be centered horizontally and can be as many lines as are required by the user.

• Add Logo for Receipt Printer. The receipt printer uses thermal paper which can reproduce simple images clearly. For the best results, please select a very basic bi-color image for display on receipts; a black and white image with a simple, line-oriented design is preferred. The logo must be an image format (e.g. JPEG, GIF, PNG, or BMP) supported by your browser and by the COMPanion Receipt Printer. For optimal quality, the image should have a dimension no larger than 200 pixels wide by 250 pixels high and 72 ppi. Please review the sample receipt printer logo in the margins.
  
  

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Browser Settings 

These preferences activate COMPanion-compatible printers which provide convenient and economical means of printing receipts for common circulation transactions such as check outs, placed holds, fines, fees, payments, and refunds.

• Always Print Receipts on Check Out. When checked, Alexandria will automatically print a receipt for every item that is checked out. This receipt contains information similar to that which is displayed when you click on the current item’s Details button. When not checked, receipts can be printed manually using the “D” or “QP” command in the Circulation window at the end of a transaction.

• Always Print Receipts on Check In. When checked, Alexandria will automatically print a receipt for every item that is checked in. This receipt contains information similar to that which is displayed when you click on the current item’s Details button. When not checked, receipts can be printed manually using the “D” command in the Circulation window at the end of a transaction.

• Always Print Receipts for Renewals. When checked, Alexandria will automatically print a receipt for every item that is renewed. This receipt contains information similar to that which is displayed when you click on the current item’s Details button. When not checked, receipts can be printed manually using the “D” command in the Circulation window at the end of a transaction.

• Number of Check Out Receipts to Print. This indicates the number of receipts that will be automatically printed on check out, check in, or renewal.

• Default is Print for In-Stock Hold Receipts. When checked, Alexandria will automatically print a receipt when an item becomes an in-stock hold.

• Number of In-Stock Hold Receipts to Print. This indicates the number of in-stock hold receipts that are automatically printed when an in-stock hold request is made.

• Default is Print for Payments and Refunds Receipts. When checked, Alexandria will automatically print receipts for payments and refunds.

• Number of Receipts for Monetary Transactions. This indicates the number of receipts that will be automatically printed for monetary transactions such as refunds and payments.

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These preferences are used to customize and manage the messages that appear in the patron notices sent from your library; these includes overdue notices, recall messages, etc. Use the Letter Type section to select (highlight) the notice to edit.

Settings

Circulation Letter allows you to customize the default body text of Circulation Letters. The message is also included in circulation letters dispatched during daily chores. The default text reads:

The following items require your attention. Please contact the library as soon as possible.

In-Stock Hold allows you to customize the default text of in-stock hold notices. The default text reads:

An In-Stock item is being held for you. Please pick it up by the specified date or it will be returned to general circulation.

Recallallows you to customize the default body text of Recall notices for items that have been recalled. The default text reads:

The following item is required at the library. Please return it as quickly as possible.

Reservation Notice allows you to customize the default body text of Reservation notices. The default text reads:

Please note that you have a reservation on the following items. Reserved items should be picked up in the morning of the reservation start date and returned by the evening of the due date.

Overdue Suspension Notice is dispatched when the Days Suspended per Overdue Day Policies preference has been triggered. The default text reads:

Your library privileges have been suspended because the following item has been overdue.

Patron Suspension Notice is used to inform a patron that their account is suspended. The default text reads:

The library has suspended this account. Until the suspension is cleared, items cannot be checked out and holds and reservations cannot be placed. If you have any questions, please contact your library.

Account Access Information notice is used to provide patrons with account access information. It is also included when new account information is initially emailed. The default text reads:

Here is your barcode ID and Username for accessing the library catalog. This information is necessary for accessing your patron status details which includes a list of items you have checked out and their due dates, holds and reservations you have placed and their expiration dates, and any charges you owe the library. You will need this information to place holds or reservations if you are allowed to do so. You may change your username and password using the Alexandria Researcher application or using the Alexandria Web Catalog.

Email Signature notice is where you can set your email signature. Usually, this is the name, address, and phone number of the school library or institution. It is also included on patron notifications dispatched during Alexandria's daily chores. The default is blank.

Circulation Notice allows you to customize the default body text of Circulation Notices. The default text reads:

The following items require your attention. Please contact the library as soon as possible.

Circulation Notice Email Subject allows you to customize the default body text of Circulation Notice Email Subject notices. The default text reads:

Notice from your Library.

Refund Letter allows you to customize the default body text of Refund Letter notices. The default text reads:

You have been issued a refund with the following information.

Damage Letter allows you to customize the default body text of Damage Letter notices. The default text reads:

The following items have been damaged and appropriate fines charged.

Subscription Claim Letter allows you to customize the default body text of Subscription Claim letter. The default text reads:

Our library has yet to receive one or more issues of the indicated periodicals. Approximate dates for the missing issues are listed below. Please send us the missing issues in a timely manner.

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These preference contain some general circulation settings. For those in a Centralized Catalog environment, the Interlibrary Loans settings configure the default time periods (in days) allowed for items “in transit” or “in-stock” before showing up in the In Transit to Current Site, Late in Arriving report.

Miscellaneous

• Enable Automatic Email Notifications. Check this box if you want to email confirmations and notices automatically sent to patrons with valid email addresses when the following events occur: a hold is placed, a hold expires, an in-stock hold is available, an in-stock hold expires, item becomes overdue, a reservation is placed, a reservation is removed, and a recall is issued. To make this option available and to guarantee that your email notifications are being sent, you must have a valid Library Email Address (Sites Management), a valid patron email address (Patron Management), text in your Letters Preferences, and this Enable Automatic Email Notifications box checked.

• Synchronize Third-Party Billing. Checking this box creates a SyncFolder inside the Alexandria Support folder. Every time a financial transaction event occurs in Alexandria (e.g. declaring an item lost, charging a patron an overdue/damage charge or fee, applying a payment, issuing a refund, or removing/editing a charge), the event will be logged and written to a ToPOS text file located within the SyncFolder. This folder is accessible to compatible third-party billing systems, allowing them to import (and even export in return) text files containing these detailed transaction records. For more information, read Third-Party Billing.

Interlibrary Loans

• Disable In Transit Features. When this box is checked, In-Transit features are disabled (e.g. circulation commands “CH”, “IT”, “NT”, “NTD”, and System Patron 9); the only In-Transit related operation that can be performed is Bookdrop.

• Average In Transit Period. Specify the average number of days that it takes for items to be delivered from one site to another. Once this time period has elapsed, if the item has not been received at the expecting library, it will appear in the In Transit to Current Site, Late in Arriving report. Default is 7.

• In-Stock Hold Period. For items delivered to a site via the In Transit system patron; this preference sets the number of days that an item (or items) are placed on an In-Stock Hold after delivery. This preference overrides the Days to Keep an In-Stock Hold Request patron policy, however, it does not apply to items placed on In-Stock Hold for regular (i.e. non-system) patrons. Default is 7.

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