5.1 Overview to Circulation Notices

Circulation Notices inform patrons of the status of their loans and account. Function [Circulation Notices] sends four different types of notices to patrons using a variety of methods:

     - HOLD notification, where an item that was on loan and on 
       hold has been returned, therefore is being held for the 
       patron for pickup;  
  
     - DUE notification, primarily overdue but also 
       Advanced Due Reminders;  
  
     - BILL for Long Overdue, Lost Items, or Unpaid Fines;  
  
     - RECALL notice to retrieve a loan prior to its due date.  
  

Most libraries use these notices:

     Notice                                         Type 
     -------                                        ------
     Hold Availability                              HOLD 
     Courtesy Advanced Due Reminder                 DUE 
     First Overdue Notice                           DUE 
     Second Overdue Notice                          DUE  
     Third Overdue Notice                           DUE 
     Collection Notice for Long Overdue             BILL 
     Collection Notice for Lost or Damaged Item(s)  BILL 
     Collection Notice for Outstanding Fine(s)      BILL 
     Recall                                         RECALL   
  

The complete list of Notices is managed via the Circulation Notice function [Message Editor].

A notice may be sent via postcard, letter, or e-mail. The format of the e-mail is the same as that of the letter format. The postcard must be the Avery 5389 Laser Post Cards, 4 x 6 (or the equivalent, such as the Quill Post Cards White 6 X 4 #7-34504). The letter is standard letter size, and the letter may be placed in following envelopes:

     Standard #9 or #10;  
     Staples #9 Double Window SKU# 266759;  
     Staples #9 Single Window #351470;  
     Staples #10 Single Window SKU# 121632.  
  

If the envelope does not have a window, then labels may be printed using Avery Label 5160 (or 5260) 1 x 2 5/8, a 3 up (3 across) laser label.

The letter is typically used for bills, and/or for libraries that feel a postcard would violate patron privacy. The system is originally set up to send HOLD and DUE notice types via postcard, and the BILL notice types via letter. However, each notice run may override these choices, as well as optionally send notices via e-mail.

Patrons with e-mail addresses may receive their notices automatically at night, without a user executing a notice run.