Borrowing Rules

Borrowing Rules are exception rules used by Circulation Manager. They do not replace Membership Plans.

Membership Plans are where Libcodesk keeps the normal borrowing entitlement for a member, such as borrow limit, default loan days, renewal limit, reservation limit, hold days, fine settings, and plan-level deposit values. Borrowing Rules adjust that normal behavior only when a library, material, collection, or lending restriction needs special handling.

Start Simple

Most libraries should begin with Membership Plans only:

• Set the borrow limit in the Membership Plan.
• Set default loan days in the Membership Plan.
• Set renewal and reservation limits in the Membership Plan.
• Set normal fine/deposit values in the Membership Plan.

Add Borrowing Rules later only for exceptions, such as reference-only material, short-loan periodicals, restricted rare books, rental equipment, or a branch-specific rule.

Advanced Matching

Add more specific rules only when needed. A rule can apply by:

• Library.
• Member type.
• Membership plan.
• Material type.
• Collection category.
• Lending restriction.
• Copy status.
• Priority.

When a rule matches, Libcodesk layers that exception over the member's Membership Plan. If no exception matches, the Membership Plan values are used directly.

Rule Editor Sections

Section	What it controls
Basic	Rule name, status, description, and priority.
Applies To	Which library, member, material, or collection condition the rule matches.
Access	Whether borrowing is allowed or blocked.
Borrowing	Optional short-loan override for this exception only.
Reservation	Whether this exception allows reservation.
Fine	Optional overdue fine estimate.
Rental / Deposit	Optional rental or deposit estimate for circulation reference.
Preview Test	Checks how the rule would apply before daily desk use.

Good Practices

• Keep normal loan settings in Membership Plans.
• Use Borrowing Rules only for exceptions, such as reference-only material or short-loan items.
• Put the most specific rule at a higher priority than the general rule.
• Test one member and one item before trusting a new rule at the circulation desk.
• Do not use Borrowing Rules as an accounting ledger. Accounts will handle final payments later.

Do And Don'ts

Do:

• Use Membership Plans for normal borrower limits.
• Use Borrowing Rules for special material, restriction, rental, deposit, and branch exceptions.
• Test exceptions with a real member and copy before daily use.

Don't:

• Recreate every Membership Plan as a Borrowing Rule.
• Use Borrowing Rules to record final payments or receipts.
• Create broad exceptions when a material type or copy setting can handle the restriction more clearly.