Enable Reading Histories

To enable and limit patron reading histories:

1. In the Administration Explorer tree view, open the Parameters folder for the organization, and select the Patron Services tabbed page in the details view.
2. Double-click Reading history. The Reading History Setup dialog box appears.
3. Select Enable reading history to allow Polaris to save reading histories for patrons. If this option is checked and your library also uses the Polaris Web App (Leap), users can access the Reading History view from the Patron Registration workform in Leap. If the Enable reading history box is unchecked, the view is not available from the Patron Registration workform in Leap.l
4. Specify the length of time (from check-out date to current date) to retain an entry in the Reading History list:
   1. Type the number of months or years in the first History length box.
   2. Select the unit of time (months or years) in the second History length box.

5. In the Maximum history box, type the maximum number of items that can be retained at one time in the Reading History list.

Note:
An entry’s creation date in the reading history is usually, but not always, the check-out date. For example, offline uploads may cause some variation. Also, Polaris does not consider the exact time of check-out. If the Maximum history value is exceeded, and several items were checked out on the same date, Polaris deletes the items from the reading history in an unspecified order.

6. Click OK on the Reading History Setup dialog box.
7. Select File > Save to save your changes.

Related Information

• Reading history limits for outreach services patrons - See Set reading history limits for outreach patrons.
• Start and stop histories for specific patrons - See Working with Reading Histories.
• Allow patrons to start and stop reading histories from the PAC - Set the Patron Services profile Patron can enable/disable reading history to Yes. This setting applies when reading histories are enabled for the organization and the patron is not an Outreach Services patron.
• Stop all reading histories - To stop recording all reading histories, clear the Enable reading history checkbox on the Reading History Setup dialog box. When the checkbox is cleared, new reading histories cannot be created, and existing histories are not incremented. However, existing individual histories are not cleared. If a reading history is stopped from the patron record, the patron’s existing history is cleared.
• Allow staff members to remove items from reading histories - Staff members with the Circulation permission Reading history: Remove non-ORS patron history entries: Allow can remove individual items from the reading histories of non-outreach services patrons. Staff members with the Circulation permission Reading history: Remove ORS patron history entries: Allow can remove individual items from the reading histories of outreach services patrons. See Working with Reading Histories.
• Allow patrons to remove individual items from reading histories - Set the PAC profile Patrons can remove reading history to Yes. The setting affects both PowerPAC and Mobile PAC. The system uses the setting for the patron’s registered branch. When a patron removes an item from the reading history, the item is also removed from the reading history list in the staff client (Patron Status workform - Reader Services view).