Controlling Due Dates

Before your library circulates items, you need to set up default due dates and any necessary exceptions to those due dates. You need to do this for each library location you have defined. When borrowers check out items, Horizon calculates and displays the date when the item should be returned based on these settings:

Loan period. This setting defines the length of time for which an ITYPE can be checked out to a BTYPE. You must set up a default loan period and any exceptions to that default for each location.

You may want to define some ITYPEs or ITYPE groups that may not be checked out by any borrower. You may also want to define other ITYPEs or ITYPE groups that may be checked out to some but not all borrowers. You assign a loan period of “0” (zero) to an ITYPE that does not circulate. If only certain BTYPEs cannot check out an ITYPE, you include both the BTYPE and the ITYPE with a loan period of “0” (zero) in the same exception.

Fixed and Final Due Dates. This setting specifies a due date that takes effect when items are checked out after a set date. A final due date specifies a date when all items are due. An indefinite (permanent) loan is a special kind of fixed due date that lets a library assign an item to a borrower for an indefinite length of time.

Once set up, the loan period, exceptions, and fixed and final due dates determine due dates in Circulation. This table shows examples of due dates using specific settings:

Loan Unit

Default Loan Period

Loan Period Exception

Fixed Due Date/After

Final Due Date/After

Checkout Date

Due Date

day

14

none

none

none

3‑12‑02

3‑26‑02

hour

2

none

none

none

8:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

day

14

7

none

none

3‑12‑02

3‑19‑02

day

14

0

none

none

not allowed

 

day

14

none

8‑31‑02/

2‑11‑02

none

3‑12‑02

8‑31‑02

day

14

none

none

12‑15‑02/9‑01‑02

3‑12‑02

3‑26‑02

day

14

21

none

12‑15‑02/9‑01‑02

12‑1‑02

12‑15‑02

This section explains these topics:

 


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