Overview of Tasks

Circulation helps you keep track of the items in your library. In general, circulation work in Horizon consists of these tasks:

Checkout and Checkin. When you check out an item, Horizon assigns that item to a specific borrower. Other borrowers know when they check the catalog that the item is temporarily unavailable. When you check the item back in, the item is no longer assigned to the borrower, and the catalog shows the item as available again.

Horizon allows you to renew items, check out items to borrowers who have forgotten their cards, “fast- add” new borrowers or uncataloged items to quickly check out items, check in items without calculating fines, change due dates, and check out items that ordinarily do not circulate. Circulation lets you print receipts that can help borrowers keep track of what they have checked out and workslips that can help staff members give special attention to items. It uses defaults set by your system administrator to determine loan periods, fine rates, and so forth.

Working with Special Requests. Horizon lets borrowers electronically request items that are checked out so that when they are returned, the requesting borrower has the first option to check out the item. If your library is set up to do it, you can also request items not housed at your own library. Once a requested item is available, Horizon puts it on hold for the requesting borrower. Reports created by Circulation help you organize borrower requests and holds. The request, notice, and report functions of Circulation work together to accomplish these tasks.

Setting and Resolving Blocks. Circulation can help you control whether certain borrowers can check out items by assigning blocks. Blocks can also be assigned when you need to interact with a borrower in a manner other than basic circulation. This can happen when borrowers violate library policy, when they have books on hold, or when refunds are due them. Horizon keeps a viewable history of a patron’s blocks.

Sending Notices. Circulation can make contact with borrowers through notices, reminders, and invoices in the form of letters, e-mail messages, or phone calls. These contacts inform the borrower of unresolved library business, such as overdue items, fines or fees, items on hold, or expired holds.

Maintaining Borrower Records. Borrower records contain information about all borrowers who are registered to use the library, including borrowers at affiliated or branch libraries. Horizon lets you set up your library so that borrowers whose main account is at a branch library can use library resources in other locations. It lets you keep borrower records current. Your system administrator sets defaults that affect how Horizon uses borrower records. You can also set up proxy borrowers for borrowers who want to let others use their library account.

Generating Reports. Circulation helps you manage your library collection and serve your borrowers. You can use circulation reports as tools to manage borrower requests and holds, evaluate your collection by providing you with circulation statistics, and track cash transactions performed in Circulation.

 


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