Fines for to return of overdue stock items in the library is managed by the configution of the Papyrus Parameters.
A Grace period can be given before a fine is charged. Thereafter a Fine is charged every number specifed in the Days per Fine parameter.
For example, if a fine is 2.50 every 5 days, a fine of 2.50 will be charged if the item is 2 days overdue, and 5.00 if it is 6 days overdue.
Fine calculations can be different for every Member Type and Publication Type combination giving you complete flexibility.
In the Global Parameters, under the Circulation Defaults, make sure the Fine parameter is zero.
In the Members Parameter, Privileges, for each Member Type, make sure the Fine value is zero for every publication type.
When overdue books are return, no fine should be levied. If it does, the Privileges for the Member Type and Publication Type in the Privileges is not set to zero.
In the Global Parameters, under the Circulation Defaults, set up the default fine for overdue items.
In the Members Parameter, Privileges, for each Member Type, make sure the Fine, Days Grace, Days per Fine value are correct for each Publication Type
The system will calculate the fine at the point an accession number of barcode is scanned for the item to be returned. The fine is shown on the screen togetyher with the number of days the item is overdue. The fine is only added to the circulation at the moment a book is returned or renewed. The amount of the fine is debited to the member's account.
Fines are usually settled once all books have been returned. The Unpaid Fines will be displayed if fines have not been settled. The Balance of the account will also be shown.
For example, if 3 books were overdue and 2 of the books had fines of 4.50 and 6.50, the Unpaid Fines would reflect 11.00
Usually the Balance of the account would show a Balance Due
Clicking the Unpaid Fines would show a screen of the fines for each item returned, and the amount due
Usually the fines are settled with cash. However if the Account is in Credit, the fines can be paid from that. We will deal with various senarios of settling fines.
The Due shows the total amount of fines due
The Waived> shows the amount waived, and the Paying> is the resulting amount that will be paid by the Membert
Each fine can be paid by entering the amount in the Paying column. A Pay All button provides a quick way of paying all the fines. Similarly, the Clear All button removes settling any of the fines.
It is possible to waive some of the fine, by entering a lesser amount than the fine. If a fine Due is say 3.00, and only 2.50 is paid, then 0.50 of the fine is waived.
It is not possible to part pay the fine of an item.
Once the correct amounts are entered into the Paying column, the Cash Paid will be the amount the Member will pay at the counter. This can be receipted by clicking the Receipt button which will settle the fines and create two transactions on the Member's account. The first is the CASH paid and the second is any amount waived. These two will total the FINE debited to the account.
It is possible that a member's account could be in Credit. In otherwords, they have surplus funds in the account from a Credit that has been passed on the account.
When settling the fines as above, the amount being paid by the Member, Paying, can be paid using Cash or the Account.
For example if the fines due are 3.00, and 0.50 is waived so that 2.50 is being paid, this could be paid using a combination of CASH or ACCount. If the Account is 5.00 in credit, the whole amount of 2.50 could be settled. If only has 1.80, then the other 0.70 must be paid in CASH.
The default will always select surplus funds from the Account to settle the fines. Otherwise, the From Account must be changed.
Only surplus funds can be used from the account and the remainder must be paid in cash.