Scan Driver’s License to Enter Patron Information

California libraries with the appropriate Polaris license can scan a new patron’s driver’s license to enter basic information in a new patron record. This feature requires a free-text user-defined field (UDF) in the patron record designated for the driver’s license number. For details, Scanning a Driver’s License for Patron Registration.

Note:
To avoid problems with patron name and address formatting, you must configure the scanner to run in a mode that returns the line feed character which indicates the end of each field in the driver's license. For the Gryphon 44XX scanner, the correct mode is USB Alternate Keyboard. The image for reconfiguring the Gryphon 44XX scanner is included in the scanner user guide. If you need assistance, contact your Polaris Site Manager.

To scan a California driver’s license for new patron registration:

Note:
You can also find and open an existing patron record. When the driver’s license is scanned, existing data is overwritten by the driver’s license data. Driver’s license address information overwrites the Home address in the patron record.

Tips:
Other methods of creating a new patron record:

  • From the Find Tool results list, right-click a patron record and select Create Patron from the context menu. See Finding Patron Records. The new patron registration workform opens. Go to step 3 below.

  • On the Patron Registration workform for an existing record, select File > New, then clear or copy the current workform. Then go to step 3 below. Create a New Record from a Workform.

  1. Select File > New from the Polaris Shortcut Bar, click the New button, or press CTRL+N. The New dialog box appears.
  1. Select Patron Record in the Objects box, and click OK. The Addresses view of the Patron Registration workform opens.

Tip:
The menu option, icon, and shortcut key combination are not available if the Drivers License Scan Facility license is not active.

  1. Select Tools > Scan Driver’s License, click DriverIcon.gif on the toolbar, or press CTRL+L. The License Scan message box opens.
  1. Scan the 2D barcode on the driver’s license with the message box open, then close the message box. The following driver’s license data is entered in the patron record:
    • Name (Last, First Middle)
    • Street address (up to two lines)
    • City
    • State
    • Postal code

Note:
The address information is entered in the Home address fields in the Patron Registration workform.

  • Birth date
  • License number (entered in the designated user-defined field)

Note:
If the data cannot be scanned properly (for example, the barcode image is worn), a message is displayed and no data is entered in the patron record. You can continue to register the patron by filling in the required information manually.

  1. Enter any additional data as needed, and save the record.