Suspensions vs Restrictions
There are several features on Koha that can impact on patrons being able to engage in normal circulation actions, e.g checkout and renewals. This document will outline key differences and similarities between the two main features related to this, restrictions and suspensions.
What do suspensions and restrictions do?
Restrictions and suspensions work very similarly. In both cases, once they are applied patrons won't be able to check out new items until the restriction or suspension is lifted.
How are suspensions and restrictions are applied?
Suspensions and restrictions are applied through two different processes.
Restrictions
A restriction is primarily applied through overdue notices. How overdue notices are set to go out from Koha can be viewed under Tools > Patrons and circulation > Overdue notice/status triggers.
This will bring up a new page with a called Defining default overdue actions.
This table is made up of three tabs, related to the three overdue notices. The page will open with the First tab selected.
The options for editing in each tab are identical.
This table includes a Restrict column which contains tick boxes associated with each available notice.
If a Restrict box is ticked for an overdue notice, when a patron receives the overdue notice their account will be restricted so they won't be able to check
items out.
If the box is unticked, no restriction will be applied, but the overdue notice will still go out.
Suspensions
Suspension are applied through the fine and circulation rules. Under Koha administration > Patrons and circulation > Circulation and fines rules there will be a table of circulation rules.
Scroll to the right hand side to view the three columns related to suspensions, Suspension in days (day), Max. suspension duration (day) and Suspension charging interval.
Combined, these three columns determine when a suspension will be applied and how long the suspension will be. Suspensions will be applied after the overdue item is checked back in.
For more details about how these three columns can be used to specify how long a suspension should be, please view our Help Centre.
Functional differences
Restrictions:
The restrictions can be set to be removed automatically once the overdue items are checked back in using the AutoRemoveOverduesRestriction system preference.To view or set this system preference, go to Koha administration > Global System Preferences and search for AutoRemoveOverduesRestriction.
This will bring up a system preference of the same name.
To enable this feature, set this system preference to Do allow OVERDUES restrictions triggered by sent notices to be cleared automatically when all overdue items are returned by a patron and click Save all Circulation preferences.
Go to Koha administration > Global System preferences and search for RestrictionBlockRenewing.
A system preference of the same name will appear.
To enable this feature, set this system preference to If patron is restricted Block renewing of items.
For more information about manually adding or removing restrictions on a patron account, please check out Help Centre.
Suspensions
Suspensions are applied after overdue items have been returned and will automatically be lifted after the suspension length has been completed.
Additionally, suspensions accrue, meaning the longer an item is overdue, the longer the suspension may potentially be. If you renew an item that is overdue and has been accruing a suspension, the suspension stops accruing, but if the item goes overdue again, the suspension will start to accrue again.
Additionally, suspensions accrue, meaning the longer an item is overdue, the longer the suspension may potentially be. If you renew an item that is overdue and has been accruing a suspension, the suspension stops accruing, but if the item goes overdue again, the suspension will start to accrue again.
Summary
Restrictions are applied before an item is returned and can be set to be automatically lifted once the overdue item has been returned.
Suspensions are applied after the overdue item is checked back in and will automatically expire after the set period.
Suspensions accrue while restrictions are static.
Patrons won't be able to check out items if they are suspended or restricted, but they will be able to renew items if they are suspended, potentially not if they are restricted.
1.4 | 23/11/20 | Details added | Holly Cooper |
1.5 | 24/11/20 | Final changes made and published to Zoho | Holly Cooper |
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