[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] What should be done during unexpected library closings?

[Andrea Buntz Neiman]

>>>>
We also backdate when checking in items. However, we go ahead and add an
entry in the closed date editor to ensure that fines do not accrue on those
days we are closed.  I should add that we usually are able to put this
closed date into the system at least one day before the closed date. I am
not sure  if the closed date can be entered the same day and fines not
accrue.

Cristina

>>>>



It's been my experience that if you put the closed date in day-of, it 
does NOT affect the fines for that day.  At least in our setup, the 
fines had already been charged for that day.

There is a way to post-void the fines in batch through a back end 
process; ESI did it for us so I don't know the technical details.

This is useful if, say, an item is due Monday, you're closed 
(unscheduled) Wednesday, and the item is returned on Thursday.  In our 
system, we would want to charge fines for Tuesday & Thursday but not 
Wednesday.  They can be manually voided in the patron billing statement, 
but it's asking a lot of front line staff to do that (especially if it's 
a patron with multiple overdues).

Perhaps an "Unscheduled Closing" option in the future that will trigger 
those post-voids, suspend notices (as Yamil mentioned in OP), add an 
extra day to hold-shelf expirys, etc.?

Two cents.

A.

Andrea Buntz Neiman, MLS
Librarian II, Public Services
Kent County Public Library
408 High Street
Chestertown, MD 21620
410-778-3636 x2115
www.kentcountylibrary.org

On 4/24/2013 3:21 PM, chtrotter at ocrl.org wrote:
> --
> Cristina Hernandez Trotter
> Head of Reference Dept. and Heritage Center
> Oconee Regional Library System
> 801 Bellevue Ave.
> Dublin, GA 31021
> 478-272-5710 (phone)
> 478-272-0524 (fax)
> www.ocrl.org
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org [mailto:open-ils-
>> general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of Yamil Suarez
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 4:31 PM
>> To: General Evergreen List
>> Subject: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] What should be done during unexpected library
>> closings?
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I wanted to ask the community what steps are normally taken when a library
>> has to unexpectedly close. For my library this happens a couple of times a
> year
>> because of snow storms. I already use amnesty mode when the library opens
>> up again. I was thinking of also temporarily disabling overdue and
> pre-overdue
>> notices during the unexpected closings too, so that patrons are not told to
>> return items when the library is temporarily closed. Should I instead add
> an
>> entry to the"closed dates editor" instead?
>>
>> Any other suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> yamil
>