Tip of the Week

Tip for: 03.31.03

Video clip demonstrating Inventory Reports in v5.44 (Quicktime required)

Charging Fees From Circulation

When an Item comes back with damage or if you just need to charge a patron for something, you can use the F command from the Circulation window. Using this command can save the time of going up to the Circulation menu, and selecting Make Charges/ Payments, etc.

To Charge a fee from the Circulation window:

• Make the patron current on the circulation window.
• In the Circulation line type f, the amount of the fee, and then a message explaining the reason for the fee.
• Finally, hit the <enter> or <return> (on Mac) key.
• You will notice the charge appear in the Current Patron area. It will either be added to what the patron already owes or the window will now show that they owe something.

If an error was made when creating the fee, it can be corrected by going to the Make Charges/Payments window.

To edit a fee:

• From the Circulation menu, choose Make Charges/Payments. In 5.44, you can also click on the Charges tab.
• Select the fee to be edited and click on the Edit button.
• Make the necessary changes to the price or the message.
• Click OK.

In 5.44, an enhancement was added to help process damaged copies that have been returned. If a copy is so damaged that it merits removal from the system and you want to charge the patron for that damage, do not check the item in but rather check it out immediately to the Discarded Patron (barcode #2) like you would if the item had been lost. The charge window will appear ready to charge the patron for the replacement cost of the copy. Make any desired changes and then click on the Charge Fine button. In addition to charging the patron as you've indicated, Alexandria will log in the copy's notes that the item was discarded due to damage by the indicated patron on that date.