Block and Allow Settings for Associated Patrons

These settings appear in the Associations view of the Patron Status workform. Defaults for associated patrons are defined in Patron Services Administration. See: Set defaults for associated patron settings.

Block Me Setting for Associated Patrons

When you create a new association for a patron (the parent or primary record), you can choose to block the parent or primary record at checkout and renewal when an associated secondary or child record is blocked at checkout.

• One primary record may be linked to multiple secondary records. If any of the secondary records are blocked, the primary record is blocked.
• One secondary record may be linked to multiple primary records. If the secondary record is blocked, all the linked primary records are blocked.
• Two primary records (Mom and Dad) may be linked to each other. If either is blocked, the other is blocked. Furthermore, a son may be linked to both Mom and Dad. Since all records are directly linked, if one is blocked, all will be blocked.
• Block checking is only one level deep. For example, instructor A and instructor C are both linked to student B. If B is blocked, A and C will both be blocked, because they each are one link away from B. But A will not be blocked if C is blocked because A is not directly linked to C.

Allow Me Setting for Associated Patrons

• When you add an associated patron to a patron record and check the Allow me to pick up holds for these patrons checkbox, the primary patron whose record is displayed in the Patron Status workform can pick up held items for the associated patron. For primary patrons who are designated as allowed to pick up held items for other associated patrons, the following circulation processing occurs:

• The primary patron can use his or her own library card to check out the items held for other associated patrons.

  • When the primary patron checks out an item for an associated patron, the item is checked out to the current (primary) patron, not the associated patron for whom the hold was placed.
  • For offline checkouts, when the primary patron checks out an item for an associated patron, the following message is included in the offline processing report: This item satisfies a hold request for associated patron [barcode, last name, first name, middle initial].
  • When the primary patron checks out an item for an associated patron using Polaris ExpressCheck (or a self-check unit that communicates via SIP or NCIP), the item is checked out to the primary patron without an additional message.
  • The hold request is deleted from the associated patron’s account (except in the case where the request status Out to patron is enabled in Polaris Administration).
  • The item history shows that the item was checked out to the current patron who is authorized to pick up holds for the associated patron.
  • The item is added to the primary patron’s list of checked out items.
  • All renewals, notices, overdues etc. are linked to the patron who checked out the item for the associated patron.

Staff Client Check-Out and Renewal Processing

• Associated patron blocking applies to check out from the Check Out workform, renewal from the Check Out workform, and renewal from the Patron Status workform - Items Out view. If associated patron blocking has been enabled and at least one patron record associated with the transacting patron is blocked, a dialog box is displayed showing the linked patrons and the type of block. The same conditions that would block the associated record directly during checkout will block the primary patron record checkout. The block dialog box lists each block on a separate line. Each entry in the Associated Patrons list is a link to the associated patron’s record.
• If one or more associated patrons are blocked for any reason that requires an override, both the permission to override the specific block and the permission Override associated patron block: Allow are required to continue check out. Transaction 9001 logs supervisor overrides for the Override associated patron block permission override

Adding and Editing Associations

Staff members use the Patron Status workform - Associations view to add or remove associations. When the staff member adds an association to a patron record, the Add Association dialog box includes the option Block me if these patron records are blocked. The open patron record is the primary record. When Block me is checked, it will be blocked when the newly associated record is blocked. The Patron Status workform - Associations view displays the list of associated patrons. A column indicates a blocking relationship. The Patron Status workform also offers a Tools menu option, Check Associated Patron Blocks. Staff can select this option to display a list of the blocks on the associated patrons’ records.

• Merging Patron Records - The “winning” patron record retains any associated patron links it already has, but the winning record is not affected by any links in the losing record.
• Deleting Patron Records - When a patron record with associations is deleted, the link is removed from the associated records. A warning message displays with a breakable link, but there is no additional message if the linked patrons are blocked.

Offline Checkout

If a blocked associated patron is detected when offline check-out transactions are uploaded, a message is written to the upload log file. The message includes the associated patron name and barcode, and the block text. If the patron is blocked for more than one reason, each block is listed; if more than one patron is blocked, each is listed in a separate message.

PAC and Polaris ExpressCheck Check-out and Renewal

• From PAC, the primary (parent) record is stopped from renewal if an associated patron record has exceeded the 2nd level fine amount as determined by the governing library for patron blocks, or if the associated patron record has exceeded the maximum overdue item limit as determined by the governing library for patron blocks.
• In Polaris ExpressCheck, the primary (parent) record is also stopped from checking out and renewal if an associated patron record has exceeded the 2nd level fine amount as determined by the governing library for patron blocks, or if the associated patron record has exceeded the maximum overdue item limit as determined by the governing library for patron blocks. A message is displayed, which can be edited in Polaris Language Editor (WebAdmin). For more information, see WebAdmin online help. The WebAdmin string IDs are as follows:
  • Default header text - Polaris ExpressCheck - Associated Patron Blocks
    String ID EC_TEXT_COURTESY_ASSOCIATED_ACCTBLOCKED_TITLE
  • Default message text - One or more records linked to your library registration is blocked. Click Show Details to see more information.
    String ID EC_TEXT_COURTESY_ASSOCIATED_ACCTBLOCKED_MSG

SIP Self-Check

A setting in the SelfCheck Unit parameter Patron blocks controls whether a patron is blocked at checkout when an associated patron has exceeded the 2nd level fine amount, or has exceeded the maximum overdue item limit as determined by the governing library for patron blocks. The parameter is available at the system, library, or branch level, and is set to No (do not block) by default. The system uses the setting of the workstation’s branch. See Set SIP self-check parameters.