Defining Patron Codes

Patron codes define available services, loan periods, fines, and limits for specific classes of patrons. They are also used for reports. An appropriate patron code is typically assigned to the patron when the patron registers.

You define patron codes in the Patron Codes policy table, which can be opened from an organization workform or with the Administration Explorer. All organizations have access to the same set of patron code names because the codes can be entered and changed from the system, library, and branch levels. Changes are immediately applied to all Polaris records that use the code, regardless of which organization owns the records.

Patron codes are available as selections in the Fines policy table, Loan Periods policy table, and the Patron code box on the Patron Registration workform. Each organization can filter the list of codes so that only selected codes are available for use in the Patron code box on the Patron Registration workform for that organization’s patron records. The illustration shows the Patron Registration workform.

Note:
These System Administration permissions are required to modify the Patron Codes policy table: Access administration: Allow; Access tables: Allow; Modify patron codes table: Allow.