Patrons
Patron Registration
- Check for a current record – In order to ensure that each patron in the system has only one card, it is imperative that the “check duplicate” function be used during the patron registration process. Libraries may want to perform a manual check as well.
- Identification and proof of residence – Determine the patron’s home library by identification that includes proof of residence (Ex: license, lease agreement, utility bill, etc.)
- A patron registering at a library other then his “home” library should be issued a “TEMP” account. The TEMP card information must be sent (faxed, scanned and emailed, etc.) to the home library for the patron to gain permanent status.
- Patrons who do NOT live, work, attend school, or own property within Westchester County may obtain an Out of County card for a fee/year through Westchester Library System. DO NOT renew records with a profile as FEE. See also Get a Library Card on the WLS website (www.westchesterlibraries.org/Get-a-library-card) and download the form. Call 674-3600 for further info.
- During patron registration, the patron PIN is automatically updated to the last four digits of the patron’s daytime phone number.
Patron Profiles
| Patron Profile | Expires | Hold limit | Bill Threshold | Ckouts | Total ckout | Overdues |
| Adult | 3 yrs | 25 | $25 | 75 | 75 | |
| Adult-New | 3 weeks | 25 | $25 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Juvenile* | 3 yrs | 25 | $25 | 75 | 75 | |
| Juv-New | 3 weeks | 25 | $25 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Senior | 3 yrs | 25 | $50 | 75 | 75 | |
| Staff | 3 yrs | 25 | none | 75 | Fine Free | |
| Teen** | 3 yrs | 25 | $25 | 75 | 75 | |
| Teen-New | 3 weeks | 25 | $25 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Contract1 | 12-31-xx | 25 | $25 | 75 | 75 | |
| Contract3 | 3 yrs | 25 | $25 | 75 | 75 | |
| Courtesy | 3 yrs | 25 | none | 75 | Fine Free | |
| Fee | 1 yr | 25 | $25 | 75 | 75 | |
| Guest | 3 mos | 3 | $25 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Temp | 1 month | 3 | $25 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Internet Only | 1 yr | 0 | none | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PC Use | 2 weeks | 0 | none | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HOMEBOUND | 3 yrs | 25 | none | 75 | Fine Free | |
| PIE | 6 mos | 0 | $25 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
- *Juvenile is below 12 years old.
- **Teen is between 12 and 18 years old.
- ***Corona Temp is for digital resource use only.
Explanation: Optional for libraries to use:
- Adult-New, Juv-New and Teen-New – used to register a new patron. This patron type changes to Adult, Juv, or Teen in 3 weeks. Each of these patron types may borrow a total of 3 items during their first 3 weeks.
- Guest – used either for a shelter or transient patron
- PC Use – a 2 week privilege, used for a visitor not otherwise eligible for a library card in Westchester.
Staff records
- Staff can be issued a card from the library they work in addition to their own personal library card.
Expired patron records
- After proper ID has been shown, any library can update and re-authorize the information in an expired patron record. System default time for expiration is three years for most patron types.
- Expired patron records are purged from the system after 18 months past the expiration date where
- there are no outstanding circulations, bills, or open holds (holds older than the threshold (18 and 24 months) that do not have a target copy; hopeless holds are considered not open)
- the account has not already been purged
- the account is flagged as deleted (as happens after staff use a User Bucket to delete records)
- Expired patron records with less than $25.00 in fines and no lost items are purged where
- the account has been expired 24 months or more
- there are no open circs with a stop fines cause of LOST
- bills are less than $25
- no open holds (holds older than the threshold (18 and 24 months) that do not have a target copy; hopeless holds are considered not open)
- the account has not already been purged
- Patron records with unresolved LOST issues will not be purged.
Alerts & Notes
- Automatic alerts appear to notify staff of overdue material or fines, materials claims returned, available holds, or if cards are about to expire
- Any comment or note manually placed on a patron’s record should be removed when it has served its purpose.
- When a comment is placed on a patron’s record, the following information should be included
- Date placed
- Library’s three-letter code
- The initials of the person placing the comment
- Details regarding the comment
- Reasons for placing a note include
- Personal property left at the library
- Instructions from a patron about use of her account
- NEVER WRITE ANYTHING TO DISPARAGE A PATRON. ONLY WRITE THE FACTS.