Working with Reading Histories

Your library can save a reading history in a patron’s record to keep track of what the patron has read and what the patron might like to read again. The reading history lists information about each item the patron has checked out since the history was started. Renewals are not included in the list, but multiple check-outs of the same item are included. Even if an item or bibliographic record is deleted, the entry remains in the reading history.

Polaris Administration settings determine how long reading histories are kept and how many items can be in the list. When these limits are exceeded, entries are automatically deleted, starting with the oldest. See Setting Reading History Options. For example, your library might decide that reading histories can list items checked out over the past two years, with a maximum of 500 entries. When two years have passed since an item was checked out, it is automatically removed from the list. Also, if the history contains 500 entries and a new item is checked out, the earliest entry in the list is automatically removed, according to the entry’s creation date.

Note:
An entry’s creation date is usually, but not always, the check-out date. For example, offline uploads may cause some variation. Also, the exact time of check-out is not considered. If several items were checked out on the same date, the items are deleted in an unspecified order.

If your system includes outreach services, Polaris uses the patron’s reading history to create selection lists for patrons. Reading histories are automatically activated for outreach services patrons, even if your branch does not normally keep reading histories, and outreach services patrons can rate titles in their reading histories. See Outreach Services Processing. Separate settings in Polaris Administration control how long reading histories are kept and how many items can be in the list for outreach services patrons.

With the appropriate permissions, you can remove individual items from a patron’s reading history. Your library may also allow patrons to view their reading histories from the PAC, start and stop the recording their histories, and remove individual items from their histories.

Note:
Quick-circ (ephemeral) item check-outs are not included in reading histories. See Circulating Ephemeral Items.