How to have recall overdue fines --connected to a notice

• Article Type: General
• Product: Aleph
• Product Version: 20

Description:
We'd like to issue a flat fine after the second notice issued to a patron for an overdue recalled item. Looking at the tables, I see an option 0050 for "Recall overdue fine"...what turns this on?

Is it possible to issue this only after the second notice, or after X days? For instance, if we set the tab32 col. 8 to 0050 for the col. 4 01 letter, would that fine be processed for all overdues, or just recalls?

Resolution:
The answer to your question: ... [tab18.eng] option 0050 for "Recall overdue fine"...what turns this on?

The answer is "Y" in tab18.eng column 5.

Although tab32, column 8, lets you exercise a particular tab18 amount in connection with a particular notice number, there is no way to limit this function (-- as you want to) to just notices for *recalled* overdue items. (The effect of "80" in tab32 column 8 for the second overdue would be that the fine specified in the tab18.eng 80 line would be assessed for the second regular overdue notice, in addition to the 2nd overdue notice for a recalled item.)

But I believe there *is* a way to accomplish what you want....

1. I see (in tab18.eng) that you are not currently charging any recall fine:

0050 ##### ## ## N 0 Recall overdue fine
0051 ##### ## ## N 0 Rush Recall overdue fine


You would change these lines to:

0050 ##### ## ## Y 20.00 Recall overdue fine
0051 ##### ## ## Y 40.00 Rush Recall overdue fine

(You didn't say what amount you want; I have specified 20.00 and 40.00 as examples.)

The effect of this would be to charge an flat fine of $20.00 at the time that the recall overdue date has passed.

2. Change the col. 19 values in tab16 from the current "007" to "012". Col. 19 is the "Number of days from recall notice to the new due date for the recalled item". Currently, even though you are telling the patron that the item is due on some particular day, there is no fine associated with this date. This increase from 7 to 12 is related to the following item #3.

3. Run p_cir_10 ("Courtesy Notices") each night specifying "Include only recalled items" for "Recall Filter" and perhaps "5" for the "Number of days until due date". The idea is that, rather than sending a notice notifying the patron of a recall-due-date which is, in fact, an idle threat (since you are currently not charging any recall fine), you would:

- allow a longer* period before requiring return of the item; and
- send the (courtesy) notice to the patron 5 days before the item is due -- telling them about the $20.00 fine they will pay if they don't return the item on time.

When the item becomes overdue, the $20.00 (or $40.00) fine will be effective.

* Though this period is longer, since it is connected to an actual penalty, I believe it will have more force.

I realize that you would prefer to have this recall fine be connected to the sending of a (second) overdue notice, but, since there is no way to make such a connection, I believe that the substitution of this courtesy notice for the first overdue notice is the next best (and really only) way to address this.

• Article last edited: 10/8/2013