New block categories

 

The next time staff go to add a fee to a borrower’s account the list of blocks will look a bit different. I removed the “Lost on Dynix” block, because it hasn’t been used since 2003, and it’s no longer relevant. I added two new fee blocks: print and repcard. The menu now looks like this:

Staff can use the print block type for fees associated with printing and/or faxing materials. Because this block type will already declare that it’s related to printing, I was thinking staff would only have to record information about number of pages printed in the comment, but how you want your staff to record any comments is up to you. 

Staff can use the repcard as a block type for fees associated with issuing replacement cards. 

The screenshot below shows what the blocks look like when they’re added to a borrower’s account.  

9/2020

How to change pick up location of a hold already on your shelf

 So the patron got a notice their hold was at your library.  They call and want you to send it to another library instead.  What do you do?

1.  Check out the item to yourself.  Screen will tell you the item is on hold for someone else, do you want to continue?  Say yes to override the original hold, and CKO.  Say yes to renew the borrower's request (this will put them back in the same place in the queue).

2.  Go to your patron's record.  

3.  From the CKO screen file menu select Borrower -> Request. 

     a. Highlight the item that needs the hold pickup location changed. Choose Edit. 

     b. Set pickup location to requested branch and save.

4.  Check in the item  (exempt) and it should trigger a hold for the original patron to go to the new location.

This can be done as a batch for a single customer,  but it will only work for items that have the same status (ex: all items in transit have to be batched together, items requested together, items hold together).  

9/2020

SMS (text) messaging

SJVLS libraries now offer SMS text messaging notification of holds, overdues, and general messages.  This is an opt in service, it will not be automatically applied.

There are 2 ways this can be set up:  either by staff in Horizon (the choices are under the phone number), or by the customer in the My Account section of Enterprise.

or

Some things to know:

• When an SMS HOLD message is sent there will be no phone, email or print message sent.
• When an SMS OVERDUE message is sent, customers will get *both* the SMS and their standard way of notification.
• "General” message examples are “Game of Thrones Season 5 was returned without disc 4” or “Your claimed return item, Game of Thrones Season 5 has been located on the shelf and checked in.”  The ability to add these messages will be added to some staff accounts soon (more on this to come).
•   In Horizon, only check SMS options for mobile phones (“m” or “m-no”), even though the options appear for “home” or “other”.  Checking SMS for home or other phones will do nothing.
• If a customer wants both email and SMS, set up the phone type as ‘m-no’.  If SMS and a phone message to their home phone is wanted, set mobile phone as ‘m-no’ and add a home phone number with the ‘h’ designation.
• Holds for eBook or eAudio items may be placed via Enterprise, but customers will not get a text message; they will get their usual email notification.
• The phone number the text messages are sent from is 8559132458.

  

 1/2020