Loan Matrix {LCIC-3}

The loan matrix contains the most detailed criteria regarding the lending rules of the library.  Any number of records may be created in this option to allow for all the relevant cases.

As an example of the use of the loan matrix, consider the case where, say, an Africana Branch exists, from which items may not normally be loaned. 
In respect of this Branch the Loan Days are, therefore, defined as “0” under option {LPMM-2}. If however academic staff may loan items from the “General” location in this branch, a loan matrix record such as the following may be created:

When this particular record is <COMMIT>ted, academic staff will be allowed to loan a maximum of two books from the general location in this branch for seven days (without the option of renewal and without any fine for late returns).

Any number of records of this type can be created to cater for all cases, which are not covered by the parameters defined for the branch.

When validating that a user has not exceeded the Loan Limit, the system will, in the first instance, check on the loan matrix.  If no record exists in the loan matrix, the system will use the Loan Limit as defined under the Branch.  This makes it possible to have different limitations for different user category/branch/media type/location combinations.

The above statement not only applies to the Loan Limit, but also to Loan Days, Renewal Days and Renewal Limits.

If the loan days and loan limit fields are set to 0 (zero), items with those values cannot be issued.  The library may have a policy that some material may be taken out, but must be returned the same day.  This will not be the same as short loans, which are issued for a specific period of a hour or more.  To make provision for this, the loan matrix can also be used.  It the loan days are set to 0 (zero), but the loan limit is set to a value greater than 0 (zero), items with those values can be issued on the system.  The system will then set the return date to the same date as the issue date and look at the loan limit set to determine the amount of items that can be taken out.

The limits as defined in the Loan Matrix are not necessarily absolute, and may be overridden by library staff with suitable privileges when the appropriate circulation functions are used.

Fields User Category, Branch, Location and Media Type define the items to which the criteria should apply.

When a new record is created Loan Days, Loan Limit, Renewal Days, Renewal Limit and Fine Amount are copied from the default values

that were created for the relevant branch. The user may however amend them.

• Procedures:
• None