With the continuation of COVID-19, many libraries are changing how they do checkouts to limit contact.
Read about what some other libraries are doing:
Each library's new checkout process will look different depending on location and various capabilities. We encourage you to consider these questions as you create a plan that works for your library:
Once you have decided on your new process, the next step is to configure various preferences to meet your needs:
If needed, does your patron security group have access to manage holds, access Patron Status, and perform renewals?
Do you want to allow renewals for items that have pending holds? If so, turn on the Allow Renewals When Holds Are Pending preference on the Circulation Rules tab.
After configuring your preferences, these. However, keep in mind that
Tell your patrons about the library's new policies and procedures. You'll want to make sure they know how to use Researcher to search, place holds (through Search, Explore, Scout, or Browse), check Patron Status, renew items, and more. If they need with our patron-facing training videos.
To send out a mass email with this information, use the Send Email report.
Distribute our How to Place a Hold reference sheet to patrons via email or printed copies. |
As patrons begin placing holds through Researcher, librarians can then run regular hold reports to view currently available holds and gather the items. Schools may want to select or sort by grade or location to make things more manageable.
While bookdropping items that were checked out and have a pending hold or are currently on-shelf holds, you can use the D Circulation Command to print hold slips that'll let you know which items go to who. |
Set up the In-Stock Hold Notice report in the Email format . You can customize the message with any instructions patrons may need (pickup times, how to set up appointments, etc).
Once it's time for delivery or pickup, check out the items to your patrons. Usually this can be done the way you normally check out, but here are some tips:
Deliver or have patrons pick up the checked out items. To know which items go to which patrons, run a Loaned Items Information report or use the printed transaction slips.
When it's time for patrons to return their items, follow the procedure your library has decided on. You could have the items sit in the return box for a few days before handling them to check-in. Or, you could check in the items and then set them aside for a period before returning them to the holds area or shelves.
For textbooks, we recommend checking out the textbooks to your students and then running a Loaned Items Information report sorted by homeroom so teachers can properly distribute the textbooks and know who gets what. You can also print a checkout receipt for each textbook or patron by using the D Circulation Command after checkout, which will indicate who gets that textbook or stack of textbooks.
You can also set up Self-Service to offer hands-free checkouts. Use the /selfservicein and /selfserviceout URLs to avoid pressing the mode button, and remember to turn on the Disable Receipt/Email Receipt for Check Out setting in the Station Settings.
As for scanning, consider setting up the Hands-Free Laser Scanner so that patrons and librarians can scan barcodes by simply hovering them under the scanner.
Of course, we recommend utilizing eBooks in your library and school as much as possible.
Encourage the use of eBooks!
TextbookTracker - Check out textbooks to patrons then give the loaned items report to their homeroom teacher to know which student gets what textbooks. The only issue I can see with this is that depending on how many textbooks one student has will probably get confusing to know what goes where.
*The more I thought about using the patron barcode report the more I don't know if it would work. Mainly because not every student from the same homeroom will be getting the same books, and we don't have a way to separate them out by subject.
(Print checkout receipts then maybe?… use D command after checkout.)