The following is a slight simplification of our complex structure, but it outlines how Koha is not offering us a 100% satisfactory circulation experience. We have 6 college libraries all marked as closed in weekends, with users permitted to borrow (let’s say for simplification) a maximum of 15 items from across the 6 libraries. (All loan rules are the same at all 6 college libraries). All users belong to one of these libraries. Our new kit-loaning library has opened 24/7 and it offers a loan of one laptop and loans of up to three accessories (headphones etc.) with a loan period of 4 hours. No users belong to this library. Policy is to allow loans from this library to be in addition to loans from the normal 6 libraries. Having circcontrol set to either the rules from where the item is from, or the library the user is logged in at both fail to work as (even ignoring the new library) the maximum loans increases from 15 overall to 15 per library (6*15=90)- totally unacceptable here. The only option for now has been to set circcontrol to use the rules applicable to the library the user is from. This fails in two ways. Loans from the 24/7 library made at weekends are being pushed out as due on Monday (as all the libraries consulted for rules are marked as closed). Additionally the only way to allow the loans from the 24/7 library to be additional to the 15 maximum, has been to increase the maximum loans to 15+4=19. Users can of course now take 19 items out from the six main libraries, as the loan entitlement is not being compartmentalized. Option 1. We continue to put up with what we have. Option 2. We set up a second instance of Koha for only the 24/7 library, or source another product to manage loans from that library. Option 3. Move circcontrol to the library level, leave the 6 libraries with circcontrol at each library using the rules for where the user is from, and lower the maximum loans to 15 at each library. Change circcontrol for the 24/7 library to use circcontrol set to use the rules for the library the user is logged in at (or possibly where the item is from). With the calendar for the 24/7 being consulted now the weekend loan period would be right, and the loans maxima should also be right (15 from the six college libraries plus 4 for the 24/7 library using the different circcontrol. Can anyone offer any other alternatives?
Changes due to corona virus have made this bite us worse than before. To allow students to travel home safely for Christmas we set the calendars closed from 12th December to 10th January (even though the libraries remain open to 23 December, and reopen on the 4th January). Now our laptops are loaning not for 5 hours but to Monday 11th January. I do think circconrol is badly worded. Rather than it say "Use issues and fine rules of [options]", it should highlight the fact that the calendar is also lumped into circontrol: "Use calendar, issues and fine rules of [options]".