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    Answered By: Rob O'Brien Withers
    Last Updated: Oct 15, 2024     Views: 0

    Hi all, 
     
    This came up at the last A&I Meeting. If people have general questions about loan periods, information about books in our circulating collection can be found at:
    https://libguides.lib.miamioh.edu/circulation-policies/ohiolink-loan-periods-fines
     
    If you talk to a patron for whom these guidelines seem not to apply, please escalate to me or Kris - we monitor chat specifically so we can handle questions that require expertise with Sierra.
     
    Just so you have an idea of what we might be dealing with, variables include:
    • Material type: AV, digital equipment, keys, and reserves have different due dates - and these account for two thirds of checkouts.
    • Source of item: OhioLINK and SearchOhio use different loan periods and fees than Miami does; however, OhioLINK and SearchOhio use the same loan periods, OhioINK uses grace periods and SearchOhio does not, which generates questions about fines. ILL due dates are set by the lending institution.
    • Enrollment status: Sierra will not let items check out beyond a patron's expiration date. If a patron is graduating or has not yet enrolled for the following semester, due dates will be clipped. Current expiration dates are late May (spring), late August (summer), and late January (fall).
    • Time of year: People with semester-long loans for Miami items change due dates three times a year: January 2, April 15, and August 1. Faculty due dates change from the current year to the following year on or around April 15.
    • Fine blockages: Sierra will not let people with excessive fines check out or renew. For most user types, the amount is $250; for faculty is $300.
    Again, don't worry about having to troubleshoot these issues -- Kris and I are happy to step in.
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