Using the issuing rules matrix you can define rules that depend on patron/item type combos. To set your rules, choose a library from the pull down (or 'all libraries' if you want to apply these rules to all branches):

From the matrix you can choose any combination of patron categories and item types to apply the rules to

• Enter the 'Fine charging interval' in the unit you set (ex. charge fines every 1 day, or every 2 hours)

• 'When to charge' is most handy in libraries that have a fine charging interval of more than 1 day.

  • End of interval

    • Given a grace period of 2 days and a fine interval of 7 days, the first fine will appear 7 days after the due date, it will always take one fine interval (7 days), before the first fine is charged

  • Start of interval

    • Given a grace period of 2 days and a fine interval of 7 days, the first fine will appear 2 days after the due date and the second fine 7 days after the due date.

• The 'Fine grace period' is the period of time an item can be overdue before you start charging fines.

  Important

  This can only be set for the Day unit, not in Hours

• The 'Overdue fines cap' is the maximum fine for this patron and item combination

  Important

  If this field is left blank then Koha will not put a limit on the fines this item will accrue. A maximum fine amount can be set using the MaxFine system preference.

• If you would like to prevent overcharging patrons for a lost items, you can check the box under 'Cap fine at replacement price.' This will prevent the patron's fines from going above the replacement price on the item.

  Note

  If the 'Overdue fines cap' is also set, the fine will be the lesser of the two, if both apply to the given overdue checkout.

• If your library 'fines' patrons by suspending their account you can enter the number of days their fine should be suspended in the 'Suspension in days' field

  Important

  This can only be set for the Day unit, not in Hours

• You can also define the maximum number of days a patron will be suspended in the 'Max suspension duration' setting

• Next decide if the patron can renew this item type and if so, enter how many times they can renew it in the 'Renewals allowed' box

• If you're allowing renewals you can control how long the renewal loan period will be (in the units you have chosen) in the 'Renewal period' box

• If you're allowing renewals you can control how soon before the due date patrons can renew their materials with the 'No renewals before' box.

  • Items can be renewed at any time if this value is left blank. Otherwise items can only be renewed if the item is due after the number in units (days/hours) entered in this box.

  • To control this value on a more granular level please set the NoRenewalBeforePrecision preference.

• You can enable automatic renewals for certain items/patrons if you'd like. This will renew automatically following your circulation rules unless there is a hold on the item

  Important

  You will need to enable the automatic renewal cron job for this to work.

• If the patron can place holds on this item type, enter the total numbers of items (of this type) that can be put on hold in the 'Holds allowed' field

• Next you can decide if this patron/item combo are allowed to place holds on items that are on the shelf (or available in the library) or not. If you choose 'no' then items can only be placed on hold if checked out

• You can also decide if patrons are allowed to place item specific holds on the item type in question. The options are:

  • Allow: Will allow patrons the option to choose next available or item specific

  • Don't allow: Will only allow patrons to choose next available

  • Force: Will only allow patrons to choose an specific item

• Finally, if you charge a rental fee for the item type and want to give a specific patron type a discount on that fee, enter the percentage discount (without the % symbol) in the 'Rental Discount' field

For this library, you can edit hold and return policies for a given item type, regardless of the patron's category.

The various Hold Policies have the following effects:

Control if there is a limit to filling a hold based on the item's library

The various Return Policies have the following effects:

For example you might allow holds at your libraries but not what New items or DVDs to be placed on hold by other branches so you can set the 'Hold policy' to 'From home library' so that those items can only be placed on hold if the items' owning library and the patron's home library are the same. You can also block holds completely on specific item types from this form. This is also how you can set up floating item types and types that remain with their home library.