IT would be nice if there was an option for libraries to allow patrons to still check out items that were previously checked out without having to take it to a staff member. Some libraries use the feature as a more informative feature than any sort of restriction.
This is definitely needed. It's fine to tell the patron they've had the item before if they've opted into checking for previous checkouts, but it shouldn't totally block their ability to check the item out again. They should be able to decide if they want it again without staff interaction.