by Donna Bachowski on Jun 15, 2022
Take a look at all the new features and enhancements in 21.11 related to Patrons and Circulation modules in Koha.
Article Request
A significant number of improvements have been made to the Article Request functionality!
[20472] Add digital scan as optional format to article requests
[27944] Add new stages to the article request process
[27945] Limit the number of active article requests per patron category
[27947] Add default cancellation reasons to article requests
[27948] Add disclaimer text to article requests feature
[27949] Batch printing of article request slips
[29093] Article requests: checkbox for table of contents
Circulation
[10902] Highlight patrons from logged-in library in patron searches
This enhancement highlights patrons from the branch you are logged-in at, making it easier to identify patrons at your library. This displays in several places, with a green highlight showing for your patrons.
[25883] Highlight transfers on checkin screen table
This patch replaces the Holding library field in the check-in table with a new Transfer to field.
The Holding library would always match the current branch, as holding branch is updated by the check-in process. We now highlight transfers by populating the new Transfer to field with the destination library.
[20688] Add accesskeys for hold confirmation boxes
Many of the confirmation boxes in Koha indicate a set of keystrokes to replace clicking with a mouse. This patch adds that functionality to Hold confirmation boxes. Activating an accesskey is dependent on your browser and platform. There is a great guide at https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Global_attributes/accesskey
[25883] Highlight transfers on checkin screen table
This patch replaces the Holding library field in the check-in table with a new Transfer to field.
The Holding library would always match the current branch, as holding branch is updated by the check-in process. We now highlight transfers by populating the new Transfer to field with the destination library.
[28695] Add shelving location column to overdue report
Adds a shelving location column to the Overdue report accessible through Circulation page. Remember that any table that has the cog icon/columns setting can be configured through Administration - Table Settings.
[29519] One should be able to resolve a return claim at checkin
View the Monday Minutes on this exciting addition!
Monday Minutes: Resolving Returned Claims
Course Reserves
[14237] Allow bibs to be added to course without items
This allows users to add bib records directly to course reserves, without needing an item record and barcode. This will enable libraries to add itemless bibs, such as for electronic resources to the course reserves module.
Fines and Fees
[22435] Clarify account_offset types by converting them to clear codes
Holds
[23678] Cancel holds in bulk
This development allows staff to cancel multiple holds from the bib record by using checkboxes to select holds to cancel. This was sponsored by Bedford Public Library, Huntsville Madison County Public Library, Los Gatos Public Library, and Portsmouth Public Library.
Monday Minutes: Bulk Cancel Holds
[29015] Add option to limit Holds Queue report by shelving location/collection
A common request from libraries is the ability to refine the Holds Queue results, to enable staff to focus only on a specific area for pulling materials. Time to celebrate - it is here! You can now filter the Holds Queue not only by library, but also item type, collection, and shelving location.
Monday Minutes: Holds Queue Enhancements
[28261] Add visual feedback on overridden pickuplocations
When staff have permissions to override hold policy, it is possible to place holds that will never trap/fill. In an attempt to prevent this, the pickup location dropdown has been enhanced to included a symbol (exclamation point) and mouseover that explains these are not valid pickup locations for the hold.
[28816] Improve the display of multiple holds during hold process
This patch updates the appearance of the "confirm holds" page, shownduring the process of placing a hold for someone in the staff interface.
Most of the changes affect the appearance of the page when placing
multiple holds on titles which have one or more holds on them already.
The changes are intended to make the page clearer and easier to scan,
especially when placing multiple holds at once.
Also changed: The page heading when placing multiple holds now changes
based on whether you've selected a patron or not. It says "Search
patrons or clubs" when it's waiting for a patron/club selection. It says
"Place holds" after the patron/club has been selected. This is instead
of "Confirm holds" on both pages.
Notices
[28153] Add "Hold reminder" messsaging preference
This enhancement allows individual preferences for the holds reminder notice. It is set/unset in the messaging preferences matrix for both the staff interface and the OPAC.
Patrons
[27296] Return claims should be filtered by default to show unresolved claims
When viewing a patron record, active claims will display, with a link to view all claims, making it easier to view only the active claims.
[11879] Add a new field to patron record: main contact method
This enhancement adds a "Main contact method" dropdown field to the patron form in the staff interface and the OPAC. This can be added to the Hold Slip to help staff know how to contact a patron. To learn more, take a look at the Monday Minutes!
Monday Minutes: Main Contact Method
[26544] Make housebound module show delivery preferences when scheduling
Previously, even though the delivery preferences information was in a patron record, it did not display when staff were scheduling a delivery. With this patch, all that info now shows on the scheduling screen!
[27873] Make display of patron restrictions, charges, notes, etc, consistent fo checkout and details screens
This enhancement updates the checkout and patron detail pages in the staff interface. Circulation and patron-related messages are now displayed in the same way. Before this, messages on the two pages displayed in a different order and were inconsistent with each other.
They will display on both pages in this order:
- Pending modifications
- Pending expiration
- Expired
- Address in doubt
- Card lost
- Restricted (indefinite and with expiration)
- Outstanding overdues
- Outstanding return claims
- Patron age incorrect for their category
- Outstanding charges
- Account credit
- Waiting holds (at logged-in library or other library)
- Circulation note (from borrowers.borrowernotes)
- Messages (added at logged-in library or other library)
[28450] Make Account summary print tables configurable
Yay! Adding more tables to the Table Settings (Column Configuration) functionality! You can now set the Print Summary configuration. The path: Administration - Table Settings - Circulation - print_summary
And just a reminder - more and more fields are being added to the Table Settings, giving you more control than ever over how your tables display!
Staff Interface
[15788] Split borrowers permission into create/edit and delete
This provides more granular control over the ability to edit patron records. A new permission, delete_borrowers, has been separated out.
Monday Minutes: Permission to delete borrower
Read more by Donna Bachowski