Tip of the Week - Overdues -- A State of Grace -- Have it Your Way!

Tip for: 03.08.10

Overdues -- A State of Grace -- Have it Your Way!

Grace periods, what an area for discussion and disagreement for those who charge fines!  If an item is overdue, should you give the patrons a grace period during which no fines will be charged -- or not?  If you do use a grace period, then, if an item is turned in after the grace days, should the patron be charged with fines for the whole overdue period or just for the days after the grace period ended?  See what Alexandria version 6 can do for you!

Grace periods have been compared to those 90 days no interest loans.  If you pay off the loan before the 90 days, then no interest, if you don't, then the interest is for the whole period -- from day one through the day you make the final payment.  This has long been how Alexandria handled grace periods, but no longer.  You get to decide when the fines start.

• Go to Edit on the menu bar and select System Preferences.

• Click on Policies in the Circulation category.

• Click on the Overdue tab.

• Select a policy for which you want to use this feature.

• Enter the number that you want in the Grace Period field and set the drop-down menu to Days or Weeks.  (Currently, Hours and Minutes are not functioning.)

• Check the Fines Accrue During Grace Period if you want items turned in after the end of the grace period to have the fines computed from the first day the item was overdue.

• Repeat this for each Item Policy.  Remember that if you have made exceptions for any groups of patrons, make certain to consider those exceptions and make exceptions in this field based upon those exceptions.

Click on Save in the upper-right corner of the window.

For v6: