Fines are the amounts your library charges borrowers for overdue items. Once you set them up, the loan period, grace period, fine amount, exceptions, closed library days, and maximum and minimum fine amounts determine how much Horizon charges borrowers for overdue items.
You can turn off fine calculation for days that your library is closed. (For example, if your library is closed on weekends, you can set Horizon to not apply fines to overdue items on Saturdays and Sundays.)
This chart shows fine amounts for several situations:
Loan Unit |
Grace Period |
Fine Rate |
Closed Days |
Fines Charged on Closed Days |
Fines Charged on Grace Days |
Min Fine |
Max Fine |
Days/Hrs Overdue |
Total Charge |
day |
0 |
$0.10 |
|
n/a |
n/a |
0 |
$5.00 |
3 |
$0.30 |
day |
2 |
$0.50 |
Sun |
no |
yes |
0 |
$5.00 |
10 |
$5.00 |
day |
2 |
$0.50 |
Sun |
yes |
no |
0 |
$5.00 |
10 |
$4.00 |
day |
2 |
$0.50 |
Sun |
no |
yes |
0 |
$5.00 |
20 |
$5.00 |
day |
3 |
$0.25 |
|
n/a |
no |
$0.50 |
$5.00 |
4 |
$0.50 |
day |
3 |
$0.25 |
|
n/a |
yes |
0 |
$25.00 |
7 |
$1.75 |
day |
3 |
$0.25 |
|
n/a |
no |
$0.50 |
$25.00 |
7 |
$1.00 |
hour |
0 |
$1.00 |
|
n/a |
n/a |
0 |
$5.00 |
3 |
$3.00 |
hour |
5 |
$1.00 |
|
n/a |
yes |
$5.00 |
$30.00 |
24 |
$24.00 |
hour |
5 |
$1.00 |
|
n/a |
no |
$5.00 |
$15.00 |
24 |
$15.00 |
This chart more specifically indicates how grace periods and minimum fines apply to overdue items:
Loan Unit |
Grace Period |
Fine Rate |
Min. Fine |
Day 1 |
Days 2‑7 |
Day 8 Total |
Additional Days |
day |
|
$0.25 |
|
$0.25 |
+$0.25 daily |
$2.00 |
+$0.25 daily (day 9 = $2.25) |
day |
|
$0.25 |
$1.00 |
$1.00 |
+$0.25 daily |
$2.75 |
+$0.25 daily (day 9 = $3.00) |
day |
7 |
$0.25 |
|
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.25 |
+$0.25 daily (day 9 = $0.50 |
day |
7 |
$0.25 |
$1.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$1.00 |
remains at $1.00 until day 11, then +$0.25 daily (day 11 = $1.25) |
Items on recall can have a different fine amount. (For more information, see Setting Recall Rules.)
To set up fines
1 | Define ITYPEs. (For instructions, see Preparing Horizon to Work with Item Records.) |
You may want to include minimum and maximum fine amounts in your ITYPE definition. (For more information, see Understanding Minimum and Maximum Fines.)
2 | Define BTYPEs. (For instructions, Defining a Borrower Circulation Type (BTYPE).) |
You may want to include information in these fields:
• | Fee Notice Type |
• | Max. Unpaid Fines |
• | Max. Days Acct. Overdue |
3 | Set up locations, including these areas (for instructions, see “Library Locations” in the “General Setup” chapter of the System Administration Guide): |
• | Daily Hours group |
• | Holidays group |
• | If you want to charge fines for days your library is closed, mark the Charge for Closed Days field. |
For more information, see Setting Up a Grace Period.
Set up the following circulation privileges. (For instructions on setting up circulation privileges, see Setting Up Circulation Privileges and Parameters.)
• | Loan periods and exceptions. (For instructions, see Controlling Due Dates.) |
• | Fine amounts and exceptions. |
A fine amount is the sum of money charged for each loan period that the item is overdue. (For example, an ITYPE with a loan period of one day and a fine amount of 25 cents would be charged 50 cents if the item is two days overdue.)
• | Grace periods and exceptions (optional). |
A grace period is the length of time Horizon waits before beginning to charge fines for an overdue item. In determining a grace period, Horizon considers only loan periods when your library is open. (For more information, see Setting Up a Grace Period.)
4 | Set up a lost processing fee (circulation parameter 46) (optional). |
A lost processing fee is a fee your library may assess to cover the cost of processing a lost item, including finding and processing a replacement. (For instructions, see Setting Up a Lost Processing Fee.)
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