[Evergreen-general] Lost Items - Window of Opportunity?

[Jennifer Pringle]

Hello Dana,

I think you want to take a look at the following library settings  
which may help with the replacement cost must be paid part.

"Void lost max interval" - items lost longer than the value entered  
for this setting don't have the billing voided on return
So if you set this to 30 days the bills will not be removed from the  
patron's account if the item is eventually returned

"Prohibit negative balance on bills for lost materials" - when set to  
true Evergreen won't allow you to have a negative balance related to a  
lost item
Negative Balance Interval for Lost - when used in conjunction with the  
above setting it implements an interval after which no negative  
balances related to lost are allowed

I think the difference between "Void lost max interval" and the  
negative balance settings is that the "Void lost max interval" only  
applies to check-ins whereas the negative balance settings apply to  
manual refunds through the billing interface as well.  Someone who is  
more familiar with these settings might be able to correct me or  
provide a better explanation.

I don't think there's currently a way in Evergreen to specify that  
lost items should behave differently at check in based on when the  
item is returned.  I can see it being a potentially useful feature for  
Evergreen to block the check in of a lost item if it's passed the  
point of the library issuing refunds, or give the staff member some  
indication of this rather than just the generic lost item being  
returned message.  I know some libraries that require the patron to  
pay for the item at that point, as they've often already replaced it,  
and the original item is then deleted from the system and given to the  
patron.

Hope this helps,

Jennifer

Quoting Dana Schwarz via Evergreen-general  
<evergreen-general at list.evergreen-ils.org>:

> Hello,
>
> We are trying to set a time limit in the amount of days a patron has  
> to return an item after it is marked as "Lost". That way even though  
> the item is lost they still have a window of opportunity to return  
> the item and not pay a fine. But if they do not return after those  
> 30 days they have no other option than to pay the replacement cost.
> For example, 30 days after an item is marked lost we would have it  
> set in Evergreen that it cannot be used after checkin and the  
> replacement cost must be paid.
> I see that in the library settings you can mark it as true or false  
> whether an item is valid after checkin. However, for us we would  
> like a time limit added.
> Is this something that we add to the Library Settings Editor or in  
> the Notifications/Action Triggers? I have a feeling it's the latter  
> but what should I put in for the hook, reactor and validator?
>
> I hope that makes sense. Many thanks for all your help!
>
> Dana Schwarz
>    Library & Learning Commons Technology Coordinator,
>    Library and Learning Commons
> [Niagara College Canada]<http://www.niagaracollege.ca/>
> Student Services
> phone
> 905-641-2252 x 4438
> email
> dschwarz at niagaracollege.ca<mailto:dschwarz at niagaracollege.ca>
> website
> nclibraries.niagaracollege.ca<https://nclibraries.niagaracollege.ca/library>


-- 
Jennifer Pringle (she/her)
Co-op Support - Training Lead
BC Libraries Cooperative
Toll-free: 1-888-848-9250
Email:jennifer.pringle at bc.libraries.coop
Website: http://bc.libraries.coop

Gratefully acknowledging that I live and work in the unceded  
Traditional Territory of the St'at'yemc Nations.