Set up online patron account updates

To allow patrons to request updates to their patron account information in Polaris PowerPAC or Mobile PAC and opt out of receiving certain email reminder notices:

Note:
When patrons request certain updates to their account information online, Polaris blocks the patron from checking out materials until staff verify the update. See Resolve a Verify Patron block.

1. In the Administration Explorer tree view, open the Profiles folder for the branch, and click the PAC tab in the details view.
2. Double-click Patron Access options. The Patron Access Options dialog box appears.
3. Click the Contact Info tab.

 

4. Select (check) Patron can request address change to allow patrons to request mailing address changes online. This option places a verification block on the patron account.
5. Select (check) Patron can change notification method to allow patrons to change their notification method online. This option does not place a verification block on the patron account.
6. Select (check) Confirmation e-mail to patron to have the system send an acknowledgment message by email to the patron when he or she submits a request to change account information.

When this option is enabled, a single email message is sent soon after the patron clicks Submit Change Request. The message is sent to both the primary and alternate email addresses. If the patron record does not have an email address, no message is sent.

7. Select (check) E-mail address - Change allowed to allow patrons to change an email address online, then select one of the following options:

• Patron can submit change request - This option places a verification block on the patron account when the patron requests a change, and an email message is sent to the address specified on this tabbed page.
• Patron can change without verification - This option allows a patron to change the email address online without incurring a verification block.

8. Select (check) Phone number - Change allowed to allow patrons to change a contact telephone number online, then select one of the following options:

• Patron can submit change request - This option places a verification block on the patron account when the patron requests a change, and an email message is sent to the address specified on this tabbed page.
• Patron can change without verification - This option allows a patron to change the phone number online without incurring a verification block.
• Enable phone validation (system level only) - Specifies whether Polaris validates phone numbers when they are entered in the Update Preferences page in Polaris PowerPAC or Mobile PAC. Libraries that require their patrons to enter an initial 1 with the phone number should leave this option unchecked.

Note:
In Mobile PAC, when validation is not enabled, each phone number option is one entry field, similar to Polaris PowerPAC. When validation is enabled, each phone number option has three entry fields (area code/prefix/four-digit number).

9. Select (check) the patron codes that can request account updates online. (Clear the appropriate patron code check boxes to prevent these patrons from requesting account updates online.) You can click Add to add patron codes or Delete to delete them.
10. To allow patrons to opt out of receiving certain reminder notices, select from the following options:

• Almost overdue/Auto-renew
• Patron record expiration
• Inactive patron

11. Click Apply to apply your settings and continue working with Patron Access options, or click Save to save your settings and close the Patron Access options dialog box.
12. Select File | Save.

Related Information

• Verify borrower blocks - Patrons who have requested the specified account updates online are automatically blocked from check-out and renewal at the staff circulation desk until a library staff member has reviewed the change. (The block is not applied if you have chosen to allow the change without verification.) In addition, you can set Polaris to block renewals online or by telephone. See Defining Patron-Initiated Circulation Blocks.
• EReceipts - If the patron’s registered branch has enabled eReceipts (see Setting Up eReceipts), that organization can also offer the option to receive email receipts, TXT receipts, or both for renewals from PAC. The option is available from both patron self-registration and account updates from PAC. To enable eReceipt preference options in PAC, use the PAC profile Patron eReceipts, available at the system, library, or branch level.