Circulation Tips provide helpful information and tips to help your library manage all types of Circulation related issues.
How to Update a Patron Record to a New Home Library
If your patron moves to an area served by another MAIN library, don’t create a new patron record. Instead, change the existing patron record. This Circ Tip shows you how.
Locating Mismatched Barcodes and Libraries
This Circ Tip shows you how to find errors in the patron database involving mismatches between the patron’s registered library and barcode.
How to Merge Duplicate Patron Records
How to Remove Patron Records from Patron Purge Record Sets
Learn how to select and remove a patron record from a (Patron Purge) Record Set.
How to Find Incorrect Barcodes in Patron Registration Database
Using Power Search.
Instructions to Delete Driver’s License from the Patron Registration Record
To help ensure patron privacy, some libraries may wish to delete driver’s license information from their patrons’ records. This Circ Tip shows you how to create a record set to assist you with this task.
Locate Mismatched Patron Statistical Class
How to Post Overdues and Bills
How to Find Patrons with Incorrect Information in Phone Field
Locate Patrons with Incorrect Expiration Dates
Locate Patron Records with a Null Statistical Class
HOLD REQUESTS
How to Redirect an In-transit Hold Request to a Different Pickup Library
Staff may need to redirect an in-transit hold when the pickup library is closed or when a patron asks to change the pickup location.
Fill a Hold Request Using “Fill Request Now”
Instructions for using the Fill Request Now feature to immediately capture an item to fill a Hold Request.
Placing Hold Requests – Multiple Copies, One Title
This Circ Tip focuses on item holds on your own library’s copies, for a book club.
Placing Hold Requests – Multiple Titles, One Patron
When a patron requests several volumes in a series, or several titles by the same author, you can place multiple requests for that patron all at the same time. This Circ Tip shows you how to do it.
Grouping Hold Requests
Grouping hold requests can be useful when a specific item is not required (for example, when a patron would accept a hardcover, paperback or audiobook edition of the same title, whichever is available first).
Working With Unfilled Holds
This document provides useful techniques designed to assist you in locating and resolving issues involving unfilled holds. The procedures were developed by the MAIN Circulation Committee.
Locating Items Shipped to You for Holds that Should Have Arrived
Do you have patrons asking you why items they have on hold were “shipped” weeks ago and yet have still not arrived at your library? You can easily check on these and follow up on them before your patrons start asking.
How to Find Holds in Withdrawn Records
This Circ Tip makes it easy to locate and delete holds associated with records that have been withdrawn.
Fill Hold Requests
A guide to produce a picklist.
Handle Unclaimed Holds
Instructions for identifying and pulling held items not picked up.
Holds Alert Report by Branch
A guide for using Polaris report for identifying titles with many holds.
How to Find Your Online Registrants
Learn how to search for and locate patrons who register via the PAC and then place them into a new record set.
How to Merge a Duplicate PACREG Record with an Existing Patron Record
This Circ Tip shows you how to effectively merge a duplicate online patron registration created via the PAC with an existing patron record.
REPORTS
Hourly Circulation Reports in Polaris
Create reports that show the number of circs at your library on an hourly basis.
Correcting MUF Statistical Codes
Detailed instructions for using Simply Reports to correct statistical codes in MUF patron records.
Correcting MUF Statistical Codes (Alternative Technique)
Another approach for correcting statistical codes in MUF patron records using Simply Reports.
Check Out Receipt Customization
Weeding by Publication Date
Learn how to identify items in your collection that may be too old to be useful but are still circulating including old medical and health books, investment guides, travel guides, law books, computer books, etc.
Polaris Fine Codes & Grace Days
Does a rental item with a fine code of .10/day have one grace day, two grace days or none? This Circ Tip conveniently lists Polaris fine codes and their associated grace days, making it easy to find out.
Claims Returned and Claims Never Checked Out
This Circ Tip provides recommendations for how libraries can handle items within the Claims Returned and Claims Never Checked Out categories.
Checking for Long-Transited Items
It is good practice to check on a regular basis for items that have been in transit for more than 30 days. This detailed Circ Tip shows you how to do this using both the Polaris staff client and Simply Reports.
Library Items Lost
This comprehensive document provides detailed instructions for handling lost items at your library.