[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Auto-Renewal Functionality

[Holly Brennan]

The conversation on this has all been good. Great points from everyone so far!

I don't have time to think too deeply about this now, but if it was picked for development I would want to see a difference in a patron- or staff-forced renewal vs. the automatic renewal when looking at an item in the staff client.

I am also wary of the return rate and loan duration of items if this happened. I think it would force patrons to place holds on items more often to get them returned, rather than being able to browse on the shelf. I know when we changed our DVD checkout policy from a 3 to a 7 day checkout period, we ended up having more late fees. My thinking on this: People watched the movie, felt no pressure to return, and so the item was then forgotten laying on a table or pile somewhere in their house. Our goal was to reduce fines, but it didn't work.

-Holly

From: open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org [mailto:open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of Scott Thomas
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 11:19 AM
To: open-ils-general at list.georgialibraries.org
Subject: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Auto-Renewal Functionality

I am wonder if this type of functionality has ever been discussed for Evergreen: an item would be renewed automatically at the end of a loan period assuming there are no holds on the item or anything other issues with the patron or the item. The renewal would generate a circulation statistic. Patrons would be able to keep an item longer without having to take any action. We understand that fine revenues would take a hit. Does anyone know if something like this being worked on?

Thank you,
Scott

Scott  Thomas
Board of Directors
PaILS
(570) 207-2379
[Description: Description: Training | SPARK - Pennsylvania's Statewide Library System]<http://www.palibrary.org/pails/>
Pennsylvania's Statewide Library System


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