Articulate Word Output s7

Fulfillment: Block Preferences

1. Fulfillment: Block Preferences

1.1 Fulfillment: Block Preferences

Notes:

Hello, and welcome to this session on Block Preferences.

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com 1.2 What are Block Preferences?

Notes:

We’ll start by discussing what block preferences are. Then, we’ll show how to configure block preferences and the job that removes blocks when appropriate. After a brief session review, there will be a short quiz to test your knowledge.

1.3 Two Categories of Blocks

Notes:

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com Before we learn how to configure Block Preferences, let’s talk about blocks in general. Blocks are restrictions on patron privileges that arise from a variety of circumstances.

Alma supports two main categories of blocks: system-applied blocks and librarian-applied blocks. Let’s make sure we understand the difference.

System-applied blocks include patron-specific blocks triggered by the Patron Limits and Loan Limits configured by your institution. These blocks also include item-specific blocks that occur, for example, if an item has a conflicting booking request or an item is already on the hold shelf for someone else. As the name implies, system-applied blocks are applied automatically with no need for librarian intervention. On the other hand, librarian-applied blocks are added to a patron’s account manually. For example, a librarian may choose to block a patron who is disruptive or found damaging library property.

System-Applied Blocks vs Librarian-Applied Blocks (Slide Layer)

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com 1.4 Blocks Preferences

Notes:

Block Preferences are configurable settings that let you control how various blocks are handled at the circulation desk. Block Preferences are designed to work with system-applied blocks only; they do not interfere with librarian-applied blocks.

1.5 Configuring Block Preferences

Notes:

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com Now we’ll look at how to configure Block Preferences.

1.6 Block Preferences Navigation

Notes:

Block Preferences are configured at the Institution level. To configure Block Preferences, go to the Fulfillment tab on the Alma Configuration page. Then click the Block Preferences link under Physical Fulfillment.

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com 1.7 Configuring Block Preferences

Notes:

Here, we see a list of all the system-applied blocks available in Alma. You cannot add or remove blocks from the list, but you can configure several aspects of each block: these are the Actions, the Handlers, and the transaction types to Block.

1.8 Block Actions

Notes:

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com Let’s begin by looking at Actions.

Imagine a patron is at the circulation desk and wants to check out an item, but the regular due date conflicts with an existing booking request. How do you want staff to handle this scenario?

Use the Actions field to define what will happen. You can choose to:  Block the loan with no exceptions Or you can choose to allow overrides by the following circulation desk roles:  All circulation desk staff (including limited operators)  Only circulation desk managers  Circulation desk operators and managers (excluding limited operators)  Or finally, you can choose to have Alma handle the situation automatically

If you choose the Handle Automatically option, you need to select the Handler that will be applied. Let’s look at some examples of blocks with handlers already selected.

Handler (Slide Layer)

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com 1.9 Block Handlers

Notes:

In this example, if a patron tries to renew an item, but the renew date conflicts with a booking request, the Handler will automatically override the block and shorten the due date to the latest date that honors the booking request.

And, here’s a block that applies when a patron wants to check out an item, but the due date conflicts with a booking request. In this example, manual overrides are allowed by all. Conveniently, a handler is selected, so when staff override the block, the handler will automatically set the due date to last possible date.

In the last example, when an item is on loan to another patron, no overrides are allowed. In cases were overrides are not permitted, any selected handlers will be ignored by the system.

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com 1.10 Blocked Transactions

Notes:

The last configuration option is the Blocks parameter. This setting lets you specify which transactions to block:  Both loans and renewals  Just loans  Or, just renewals

The Blocks parameter can only be configured for a few block types:  Patron cash limits has exceeded  Patron overdue limits has exceeded  And, Patron overdue recall limit exceeded

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com 1.11 The Users - Remove Block Job

Notes:

Now that you know how to set block preferences, let’s make sure Alma is configured to remove blocks automatically.

1.12 Configuring the Users – Remove Blocks Job

Notes:

When conditions change in Alma, blocks may need to be removed. For example, a “cash limits” block should be removed

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com if a patron pays off their fines and fees. And, a ”loan limits” block should be removed if a patron returns the required loans.

System-applied blocks such as these are removed by the Users - Remove Blocks Job.

To configure the job, go to the Fulfillment tab on the Alma Configuration page. Then, click the Fulfillment Jobs Configuration link under the General section.

Now, scroll down and locate the Users - Remove Blocks Job. Here, you can verify that the job is active and specify what time to run the job each day.

Navigation (Slide Layer)

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com Configure Job (Slide Layer)

1.13 Session Review and Quiz

Notes:

That concludes the main portion of this training session. Let’s briefly review what was covered and then proceed to a short quiz.

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com 1.14 Session Review

Notes:

In this session, we:  Began by learning the difference between System-Applied Blocks and Librarian-Applied Blocks.  Learned how to configure Block Preferences to specify how blocks are handled at the circulation desk.  And, wrapped up with instructions for configuring the User - Remove Blocks Job.

What are your next steps?

Please refer to the Recommended Articles section where you launched this training session for additional information.

After the short quiz that begins on the next page, continue to the next training session in this series.

1.15 Quiz: Cannot Override Block

(Multiple Response, 10 points, 1 attempt permitted)

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com Correct Choice X Ask a manager to check the book out to the patron. X Ask the patron to pay at least part of the fees owed. X Ask a Fulfillment Administrator to modify Block Preferences for this type of block. Tell the patron that nothing can be done. Feedback when correct:

Asking the patron to pay down some fees is one correct response. Asking a manager is also a good choice because sometimes Managers can override blocks that Operators cannot. Finally, as a longer-term solution, Joe might ask a Fulfillment Administrator to modify this type of block to allow Operator overrides.

Feedback when incorrect:

Asking the patron to pay down some fees is one correct response. Asking a manager is also a good choice because sometimes Managers can override blocks that Operators cannot. Finally, as a longer-term solution, Joe might ask a Fulfillment Administrator to modify this type of block to allow Operator overrides.

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com Correct (Slide Layer)

Incorrect (Slide Layer)

1.16 Quiz: Working with Handlers

(Multiple Response, 10 points, 1 attempt permitted)

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com Correct Choice X Handle Automatically: Alma will override the block and take the action specified in the handler. X Override by Operator: Staff with the following roles can override the block and take the action specified in the handler: Circulation Desk Manager and Circulation Desk Operator (but not Circulation Desk Operator–Limited). X Block: the block cannot be overridden. The handler will be ignored.

Feedback when correct:

Right!

All three descriptions are correct.

Feedback when incorrect:

All three descriptions are correct.

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com Correct (Slide Layer)

Incorrect (Slide Layer)

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com 1.17 Thank You!

Notes:

Thanks for joining this session!

1.18 About this Training

Notes:

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com 1 (Slide Layer)

2 (Slide Layer)

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com 3 (Slide Layer)

4 (Slide Layer)

Published by Articulate® Storyline www.articulate.com