Checkout Limits

Polaris has two different kinds of checkout limits: Patron and Material Type

• Patron Loan Limits - Defines the total number of checkouts/holds a patron can have at one time (ex: a patron can have to up to 30 total items checked out at one time)
• Material Type Loan Limits - Defines the total number of checkouts/holds of a specific material type that a patron can have at one time (ex: a patron can have up to 5 video games checked out at one time).

Polaris determines checkout limits through a combination of:

• The Transacting Branch
• The patron's Patron Code
• (for material loan limits), the item's Material Type

In the configuration settings, Polaris keeps two large tables with every combination of Organization, Patron Code, and Material Type. When a patron checks out an item or places a hold, Polaris looks up the relevant combination in this table.  If the patron has reached either limit, Polaris will block the checkout/hold.

Both patron loan limits and material type loan limits are defined by the transacting organization.  In certain circumstances, it is possible for a patron to reach their limit for checkouts at one location but not another.  As a result, the patron would be blocked for checkout at one library, but not the other.

Patron Loan Limits

Patron Loan Limits allow a library to limit the total number of items a patron can have at any given time.  It also allows libraries to determine their fine thresholds and hold limits. Available limits include:

• 1st Level Fine (minor) - The amount of fines necessary to trigger a prompt to display to staff at checkout.  The 1st Level Fine does not block patrons - it's meant to be used as a reminder that fines are owed.
• 2nd Level Fine (major) - The amount of fines necessary to block the patron's account.  Staff require separate permissions to override patrons over the 2nd level fine.
• Total Item Limit - The maximum number of items a patron can have checked out before Polaris prevents additional checkouts. Generally, Pinnacle libraries have this number set to 999.
• Total Overdue - The maximum number of overdue items a patron can have before Polaris prevents additional checkouts.
• Total Holds - The maximum number of active local hold requests a patron can have before Polaris prevents additional requests.
• Total ILL - The maximum number of active Interlibrary Loan requests a patron can have before Polaris prevents additional requests.

Libraries can review Patron Loan Limits via this WebReport.

Material Type Loan Limits

Just like Patron Loan Limits, Material Type Loan Limits allow a library to limit the total number of items a patron can have at a time. However, because these also include Material Type in the calculation, they allow libraries to create more granular rules. For example, a library can create a limit of 10 DVDs at one time.

Available limits include:

• Maximum Item Limit - The maximum number of items with the specific Material Type that can be checked out at a given time.
• Hold Limit - the maximum number of hold requests a patron can have for a specific material type.

Libraries can review their Material Type Loan Limits via this WebReport.