due dates

["McClellan Jr., Michael C." <MMcClellan@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Staff at one of our branches has raised an issue regarding the fact that one
of the criteria Innopac uses when setting the due date is the owning library
and not the library where the transaction took place.  I realize this is an
oversimplification in that ptype and other factors are involved, but for us
these are all basically equal with the one major exception being days open
of our various agencies.  Some are open Saturday and closed Friday, others
are exactly opposite.  Then there are the libraries that are open Monday
through Saturday.  Normally this is not a big deal as most patrons check out
material at their local library and thus the due dates are the same.
However we are very active with requests and holds and thus quite a few
transactions take place at a different agency then the one that owns the
item.  So we get situations where patrons get due different due dates when
checking out a stack of items that includes some requested from other
agencies with different closed days.   Apparently also (if you read the
following message that prompted this) if you renew material you can end up
with items being due on dates the library is actually closed as the due date
was calculated based on the owning location and not where the transaction
took place

So if you read all of the above you might be wondering what my question
actually is.  Well what I'm wondering is what is the basic logic behind
basing the due date on who owns the item instead of where the item is
checked out.  Our former Geac system was based on where the transaction took
place.   And does this cause much confusion?


Michael McClellan
Circulation Department Supervisor
Minneapolis Public Library
300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN  55401
612-630-6042

-----Original Message-----
From: Reierson, Deborah J. 
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2000 7:09 PM
To: McClellan Jr., Michael C.
Subject: Overdue fines for Fridays - the continuing saga


Mike - Again, the issue of fines for books that are checked out at PB.  The
fines should be assessed for the library where the book is checked out or
returned.  It was this way under Geac and it seems to have changed with III.
When the fines and due dates are not tied to the library where the activity
takes place peculiar things happen.  

Example:  I had 5 items on my account and three of them were  renewed on
Thursday, Nov.2. 2 were PB books and 1 was from Hosmer but checked out at
PB.  When I renewed them, 2 (PB) became due Nov. 25 and 1 (HO) on Nov. 24.
So - the book was checked out here but is now due on a day we're not even
open.  If I or a patron check out books from this library we should be able
to return them here on the day they're due without a fine.  Also, If people
return MELSA books here they would get a better deal because we back date
them to the last day WE were open.

Also, as I mentioned, items that are returned on Saturday will accrue 2 days
fines if the items are owned by another agency.
This just doesn't feel right. 

--
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