Table of Contents
Circulation functions can be accessed in several different ways. On the main page of the staff client there are some quick links in the center of the page to check items out, in or transfer them. For a complete listing of Circulation functions you can visit the Circulation page which is linked from the top left of every page or from the center of the main page.
Before circulating your collection you will want to set your Global System Preferences, Basic Parameters and Patrons & Circulation Rules.
While in Circulation you can jump between the tabs on the quick search box at the top of the screen by using the following hot keys:
jump to the catalog search with Alt+Q
jump to the checkout with Alt+U
this will not work for Mac users
jump to the checkin with Alt+R
Tip
Mac users use the OPTION button in place of ALT
To begin the checkout process you must enter the patron barcode or part of their name. The checkout option appears in three main places:
Check out option on main staff client
Check out option on the patron record
Check out option on the quick search bar
To check an item out to a patron, first search for that patron using one of the many options listed above.
At the top of the Check Out screen is a box for you to type or scan the item's barcode into.
Important
Many modern barcode scanners will send a 'return' to the browser, making it so that the 'Check Out' button is automatically clicked
If the barcode is not found you will be prompted to use fast cataloging to add the item. Learn more about fast cataloging later in this manual.
Below the box for the barcode there may be options for you to override the default due date for the item.
This option will only appear if you have set the SpecifyDueDate system preference to allow staff to override the due date
At the bottom of the page there is a summary of the patron's current checked out items along with the due date, items checked out today will appear at the top.
Also at the bottom of the page is the list of items the patron has on hold
If there are notes on the patron record these will appear to the right of the checkout box
If the patron has a hold waiting at the library that too will appear to the right of the check out box making it easy for the circulation librarian to see that there is another item to give the patron
Once you have checked out all of the items for the patron you can print them a receipt by choosing one of two methods.
The first is that you can simply hit enter on your keyboard or scan a blank piece of paper with your barcode scanner. The idea being that you're "checking out" a blank barcode which triggers Koha to print the 'Quick Slip.'
The second is that you can click the Print button at the top of the screen and choosing 'Print Slip' or 'Quick Slip'.
If you choose 'Print Slip' it will print all of the items the patron has checked out, including those they checked out at an earlier date. Choosing 'Quick Slip' will print only the items that were checked out today.
When you're done checking an item out if you have the DisplayClearScreenButton preference set to 'Show' you can clear the current patron by clicking the X in the top right of the patron's info to remove the current patron from the screen and start over.
There are times when Koha will prevent the librarian from being able to check out items to a patron. When this happens a warning will appear notifying the librarian of why the patron cannot check items out.
Patron owes too much in fines
You can set the amount at which patron checkouts are blocked with the noissuescharge system preference
Patron has been barred from the library
This can be set by the librarian editing a patron record and adding a flag or by the Overdue/Notice Status Triggers
Patron needs to confirm their address
This can be set by the librarian editing a patron record and adding a flag
Patrons has lost their library card
This can be set by the librarian editing a patron record and adding a flag
Sometimes checkouts will trigger warning messages that will appear in a yellow box above the check out field. These warnings need to be acknowledged before you will be able to continue checking items out.
Patron has outstanding fines
Item on hold for someone else
Item should be on the hold shelf waiting for someone else
Item already checked out to this patron
Item checked out to another patron
Item not for loan
Patron has too many things checked out
Item cannot be renewed
This can be overridden with the AllowRenewalLimitOverride system preference
Barcode not found
Learn more about fast cataloging later in this manual.