[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] patron registration

[Josh Stompro]

Hello Holly, we don't keep patron registration forms and have never to my knowledge had someone contest a fine or a fee for that reason.  I think the common assumption is that you cannot get an account without signing the agreement, so there is no one with an account that didn't sign the agreement.  I don't know if that will hold up in court or not.  The small claims court filing fee is $160 around here, which probably is a disincentive for someone wanting to fight a $50-$400 fine/fee that we can send to collections anyway.

Josh Stompro - LARL IT Director

From: Open-ils-general [mailto:open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of Holly Brennan
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2015 1:57 PM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group (open-ils-general at list.georgialibraries.org)
Subject: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] patron registration

I've set up everything needed for online patron registration, but haven't implemented yet. The stumper is how we deal with hard copies of registrations.  We've always had a paper app with signature and we file these in an old card catalog.

Do any of you NOT print registrations or keep any hard copies of patron info? Or do you have something simple with just an agreement and signature that doesn't have to include much about the patron besides name?

I feel we might be holding onto paper for nothing. Reasons given to keep it:

1)      What if something tragic happens to our ILS? We'll have paper to backup patron info. (My thoughts: If it's THAT tragic, the whole building has likely been destroyed.... And also, we're going to manually reenter patron info for each and every person?!)

2)      The patron's signature is the true agreement. We can use it to hold them responsible for lost items, fines, etc. (I can't think of a time, ever, that I've retrieved a paper app and pointed to a signature in order to convince a patron to do something they agreed to.)

My goal with this is to find a number of you who keep absolutely nothing on paper. (And who don't even have a super cool digital signature contraption.)

Thanks!

-Holly

Holly Brennan
Library Technology Specialist
Homer Public Library, Alaska

hbrennan at cityofhomer-ak.gov<mailto:hbrennan at cityofhomer-ak.gov>
907-235-3180 (main)
907-435-3154 (direct)

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