Marking an Item as Lost
When a patron reports an item as lost, the best practice is to use the Mark Item Lost function. WorkFlows will automatically generate a bill, maintaining the crucial link between the charge, the user account, and the specific item record.
- From the CIRC Toolbar, open the Checkout Wizard.
- Scan the user's barcode or use the User Search Helper to identify the patron.
- Right-click on the lost title in the checkout list and select Mark Item Lost.
- Click OK on the initial confirmation prompt.
- Processing the Bill:
- If the patron is paying now: Select a Payment Type from the dropdown and click Pay Now. This creates the bill and immediately marks it as paid.
- If the patron is not paying now: Click Bill User to add the charge to their account for future payment.
- If the patron is paying now: Select a Payment Type from the dropdown and click Pay Now. This creates the bill and immediately marks it as paid.
- Click OK on the final transaction confirmation.
Item Deletion Policy:
- Items marked as lost but not paid cannot be deleted from the catalog.
- Once a lost item is paid in full, it can be removed using the Delete Title, Call Numbers, or Items wizard.
- Paid lost items will be automatically purged by the system after one year.
- Library directors receive an automated monthly report listing all items that have reached "Lost and Paid" status.