[Wactclc-alma] Reloans versus renewals

[Thomas, Kirsti]

Wade,

We currently have a "Block" configured that's different from the "Reloan limit."  The Block prevents students from checking out more than 1 Chromebook at a time.  This is different from the behavior we're currently testing which would make a student wait 24 hours between returning one Chromebook and checking out another Chromebook.

But while I was composing my email to Charley, I think I may have figured out a workaround for managing a situation where we have a student return a defective Chromebook who then needs to check out a working Chromebook immediately.  I'm thinking I can create a Fulfillment rule that's identical to the one we normally use for Chromebooks, just without the reloan limit.  I can place this rule directly above the "real" rule in the Fulfillment Rule table but mark it as "Inactive."  If we need to immediately check out another Chromebook to a student, the circ supervisor can mark the rule without the reloan limit as Active, check out the Chromebook to the student, and immediately change the rule back to Inactive.


It will be ok!

Kirsti S. Thomas
Library Technical Services Manager
Seattle Colleges
kirsti.thomas at seattlecolleges.edu



-----Original Message-----
From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of Guidry, Wade
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2018 10:01
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] Reloans versus renewals

?Kirsti,


Have you tried configuring the block preference for:


"Item of the same title is already on loan for this patron. Parallel loan is prohibited"


You have that currently set to 'block'.


Based on the description of the block, this block wouldn't apply to your situation. But given that the block is related to loan limits, I wonder if the block just isn't well-labeled.



Wade Guidry - wadeg at bigbend.edu
Library Consortium Services Manager
Washington Community & Technical Colleges Library Consortium (WACTCLC)
509.760.4474
________________________________
From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> on behalf of Thomas, Kirsti <Kirsti.Thomas at seattlecolleges.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2018 9:53 AM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] Reloans versus renewals

ATTENTION: This email contains links. Please follow best practices before clicking on links.
Charly,

Your understanding of reloan limits is correct.  Seattle Central is currently testing reloan limits with a heavily-used collection of Chromebooks.  Right now we have a policy of students having to wait 24 hours before checking out another Chromebook that we enforce manually.  Sometimes staff and student workers forget to check when the desk gets really busy.

One thing we've learned is that the block for the reloan limit can't be overridden by anyone, including people with Circulation Manager roles.  We occasionally have students return a Chromebook because it's not working, and in those situations we want the student to be able to check out another Chromebook without waiting 24 hours.  We're trying to figure out what to do in those situations before we go live with the reloan limit.


It will be ok!

Kirsti S. Thomas
Library Technical Services Manager
Seattle Colleges
kirsti.thomas at seattlecolleges.edu



From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of Charly Eaton
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2018 09:22
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: [Wactclc-alma] Reloans versus renewals

Hello everyone,

I'm seeking clarification on renewals versus re-loans. My understanding is that a renewal is when the due date is extended while the item is still checked out while a re-loan is when the student checks the item in and immediately back out. Correct? I know Alma allows us to specify some parameters of loan permissions via the Loan Limit Rule Editor but can we control other parameters such as how much time must elapse between checkouts of the same item?

This issue came up as students began checking laptops back out immediately after just returning them. I'm wondering if the solution needs to be a policy enforced by staff or something we could configure in Alma to automatically restrict.

Thanks,
Charly

--
Charly Eaton
Circulation Services Manager
Learning Resources/Library
425.640.1447
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 - 4:00 [https://drive.google.com/a/email.edcc.edu/uc?id=1lLjU1aMXjcbVQPiBENnsQRRGox02xMi5&export=download]