Setting Account and Circulation Options for ExpressCheck

Polaris System Administration (web-based) settings control various aspects of Polaris ExpressCheck, including whether a patron password is required, options related to patron accounts, and specific blocking conditions for checkouts and renewals.

You can set most options at the system, library, or branch level. Some ExpressCheck options are also available at the workstation level (as noted below).

Important:
When you change ExpressCheck settings, you must restart ExpressCheck to see the effects.

Note:
You need Polaris System Administration permissions to perform these steps. Refer to “Setting Administration Permissions” in the Polaris staff client help.

To enable ExpressCheck and set patron access options

  1. From the Home Page in Polaris System Administration (web-based), select Settings and Tables.

    The Settings and Tables page appears. The system displays the Settings tab by default.

  2. Using the tabs on the left-hand side, select an organization level (System, Library, or Branch).

  3. If applicable, select a library or branch.

  4. In the Search box, search for "Polaris ExpressCheck options".

  5. From the search results, set the ExpressCheck options as follows:

    On the Polaris ExpressCheck options: Enable line, select Configure, and set the following options:

    1. To enable ExpressCheck, select Enable Polaris ExpressCheck.

      Note:
      This option is also available at the workstation level. If it is selected at the system, library, or branch level, it is selected by default for an associated workstation.

    2. To require a patron password for the ExpressCheck session, select Require patron password for ExpressCheck.

      When this option is selected, a patron password is required to check out materials. (A patron password is always required to access the patron account, regardless of this setting.) If you do not select this option, patrons can simply scan their library cards to check out books. However, if you allow patrons to type a barcode or username instead of scanning the card (see below), patrons must also enter the password regardless of this setting.

    3. To display a numeric keypad only on the password entry screen, select Display numeric keypad for patron passwords. This option is useful for libraries that only allow numeric passwords.

      When this option is cleared, ExpressCheck displays a full keyboard on the password entry screen.

    4. To display an on-screen keypad that a patron can use to enter their barcode number, username, and password instead of scanning the library card, select Enable on-screen keypad.

      When this option is selected, the ExpressCheck welcome screen displays the default message "Forgot your library card? Press here!". When a patron selects the link, the on-screen keypad appears with the username/barcode and password fields.

      Notes:

      • This option is also available at the individual workstation level. If it is selected at the system, library, or branch level, it is selected by default for an associated workstation.

      • If you have a problem with the keypad display, verify that the option is set for the individual workstation.

      • To allow usernames and a link that allows the patron to receive an email message for a forgotten password, see Allow usernames and a forgotten password link.

    5. To display a numeric keypad only when patrons manually enter a barcode, select Display numeric-only keypad. When this option is cleared, ExpressCheck displays a full keyboard on the barcode entry screen.

      Note:
      The Enable on-screen keypad option must be enabled to set this option.

    6. To provide an expiration warning message, select Provide a warning if patron record will expire, and select the number of days before expiration that triggers the warning message.

    7. To allow patrons to renew their registrations, select Permit registration renewal if patron record expires.

      Note:
      This option is also available at the individual workstation level. If it is selected at the system, library, or branch level, it is selected by default for an associated workstation.

    8. Select Save and Close.

    Note:
    The web-based version of ExpressCheck does not use the Suppress held items pop-up message and Suppress account balance pop-up message options.

    On the Polaris ExpressCheck options: Display line, select Configure, and set the following options:

    1. To display the positions of hold requests in the requests queue in the patron’s account, select Display holds queue position.

    2. To allow patrons to access their accounts, select Permit access to patron account. When selected, patrons can check account balances and fines, renew items, and suspend or cancel requests.

      Note:
      This option is also available at the individual workstation level. If it is selected at the system, library, or branch level, it is selected by default for an associated workstation.

    3. To display long titles on multiple lines instead of truncating them in the display, select Display multi-line titles. A scroll bar appears in the right column if the list of items fills the screen.

    4. To display a format (type of material, or TOM) icon for each item, select Display TOMS. ExpressCheck uses the PAC format icons.

    5. Select Save and Close.

    On the Polaris ExpressCheck options: Finishing line, select Configure, and set the following options:

    1. To print a separate receipt for each item checked out, select Print individual receipt for each item.

      By default, all transactions for a patron’s session are printed on one receipt.

      Note:
      This option is also available at the individual workstation level.

    2. To display a “Print a Receipt?” prompt, select Prompt for check-out receipt.

      Note:
      This option is also available at the individual workstation level.

      This setting can help minimize paper receipts. When this option is enabled, the prompt appears when the patron checks items out and exits ExpressCheck from the Patron Account or when the patron checks out items for which a receipt has not yet been printed.

      Note:
      If the Print receipt on timeout option is set on the workstation, a receipt still prints on timeout regardless of your setting for the new receipt prompt. Also, if the Display print receipt button is set on the workstation, the patron can still select the print receipt button to print a receipt. For more information about these options, see Setting Up Receipt Printing in ExpressCheck.

      You can edit the text portions of the prompt. See the Polaris Web Admin Tool (Language Editor) guide for more information about editing messages.

    3. To enable eReceipts (email and/or text message receipts) for checkout and renewal, select Enable eReceipts.

      When this option is selected, the patron receives eReceipts if both the patron’s branch and the ExpressCheck workstation’s branch have enabled eReceipts in the Patron Services parameter EReceipt options, and the eReceipt option is set in the patron’s record. The eReceipt is sent when:

      • The patron selects Exit in ExpressCheck.

      • The patron's session times out.

      • The patron chooses to print a receipt.

      For more information about setting up eReceipts, see “Setting Up eReceipts” in the Polaris staff client help.

    4. To change the time at which ExpressCheck should return to the welcome screen after no activity, enter a value in the Inactivity timeout (seconds) box.

      Note:
      This option is also available at the individual workstation level.

    5. Select Save and Close.

Related Information

  • Suspending and reactivating hold requests — Hold request parameters control whether patrons can suspend or reactivate hold requests when they access their patron accounts through ExpressCheck. For more information, see “Define hold request processing options” in the Polaris staff client help.

  • Tracking ExpressCheck circulation — For more information about circulation reports, see the Polaris staff client help.