[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Handling lost books which have been paid for

[jeremy]

Hi Aaron,

I'm not sure how your overdue mailers are generated but in overdue
reports Sitka libraries distinguish between 'lost' and 'lost and paid
for' items using the xact_finish field in the action.circulation table.
For items that are lost but still have outstanding bills, xact_finish is
NULL.  When fines are paid the xact_finish timestamp is added.

Hope that helps,
Jeremy

-- 
Jeremy Buhler
Trainer/Help Desk Specialist
Sitka Evergreen Implementation


On Fri, 2011-01-28 at 13:25 -0500, Aaron Zsembery wrote:
> We have patrons who have lost books, paid for them, but are still getting overdue mailers. I am told that this is due to the books having the status of "Lost" and the mailers sending out notices for all items with the status of "lost".
> 
> We are wondering what other libraries are doing to notify patrons of lost books without bothering the patrons who have paid for their lost books. 
> Also, how do you distinguish a book that has been lost and paid for from a book that is just lost?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Aaron Z
> Jr. Systems Administrator
> 
> Pioneer Library System
> 2557 State Rt. 21
> Canandaigua, New York  14424
> Phone: (585) 394-8260