Media Dispenser Circulation

The Polaris staff client, Leap, and Polaris ExpressCheck support circulation from media dispenser units. These units consist of a tower of dispensers, each holding up to 100 media discs (DVDs, CDs. Blu-Ray discs).

To queue the media in the dispenser, a staff member or patron scans the item barcode on the empty case. When the system finds a matching barcode in the unit, and there are no blocks preventing the item's circulation, the patron scans her barcode into the media dispenser unit to retrieve the item.

Polaris supports one media dispenser unit (one network address) per location (branch organization). At each branch, multiple staff client, Leap, and Polaris ExpressCheck workstations can connect to the location’s unit.

The Polaris integration that enables circulation via a media dispenser is available by separate license. Polaris ExpressCheck workstations and the Polaris ExpressCheck application are also available to your library by separate contract. For information about setting up the workstations and setting the Polaris Administration parameters that control Polaris ExpressCheck functions, see the Polaris ExpressCheck Administration Guide.

Note:
The media dispenser can be used with or without RFID.

With the few exceptions noted below, circulation processes from the Polaris staff client, Polaris Leap, or Polaris ExpressCheck do not differ from normal procedures.

Polaris Staff Client and Leap

Patron authentication and checking for patron and item circulation blocks occur as in normal check-out processing, before the system checks for dispenser items. Then, when an item is scanned and a material type is detected that has been identified for dispenser processing by the check-out workstation’s branch, Polaris queries the dispenser unit specified in the Network location setting for the workstation’s branch. If a matching item barcode is found in the dispenser unit, the item check-out continues. If you have opted to display a message to staff, a message is displayed for each dispenser item checked out.

Bulk check-out, which is used when processing items for Outreach Services and Borrow by Mail, also supports dispenser circulation. If a dispenser item is encountered during bulk check-out, a message is displayed and the item is checked out.

Staff Client and Leap Receipts

At the end of the patron’s check-out process, the printed receipt includes the text defined for the workstation’s branch in Polaris Administration. The text is printed after any library custom text. If you have chosen to include the dispenser location, this information is included for each item checked out, indicating the dispenser and slot number for the item.

Offline Processing

The dispenser unit can be queried in offline mode and the check-out can continue.

Check-In

Establish the appropriate procedures with library staff for loading checked-in items into the dispenser and reshelving the empty cases. Other than this workflow, no special conditions or exceptions apply to dispenser items when they are checked in.

Holds

The check for hold requests happens before the check for dispenser material type. The item may become Held before being assigned to the dispenser. Staff can re-assign the item after it becomes Held, depending on policy.

Floating items

The check for floating happens before the check for dispenser material type. If the item can float in, the system then checks the dispenser material type. Dispenser items may float to another branch. If no dispenser controls have been defined at the receiving branch, there is no change and the item circulates normally. If dispenser controls have been defined at the receiving branch, the item behaves according to that branch’s dispenser settings.

Lost, missing, and other status transitions to In - If the check-in message has been enabled and the material type matches a material type defined for the dispenser unit, the check-in message is displayed as usual.

Polaris ExpressCheck

As in the staff client, patron authentication and checking for patron and item circulation blocks occur as in normal check-out processing, before the system checks for DiscXpress items. Then, when an item is scanned and a material type is detected that has been identified for DiscXpress processing by the check-out workstation’s branch , Polaris queries the dispenser unit specified in the Network location setting for the workstation’s branch. If a matching item barcode is found in the dispenser unit, a message is displayed on the check-out screen . At the end of the check-out session, the dispenser acknowledgment message is displayed. The patron must acknowledge the message to continue. If the message is not acknowledged, the process times out as in any other check-out.

ExpressCheck Receipts

If the patron opts to print a receipt or if the receipt prints when the patron selects Exit, the system uses the receipt text specified for the workstation branch . If the option to print individual receipts for each item has been enabled for the ExpressCheck unit, the message prints at the end of each item in the dispenser unit. If you have chosen to include the dispenser location this information is included for each item checked out, indicating the dispenser and slot number for the item.

Note:
If the patron opts to not print a receipt or to receive a receipt by e-mail, no additional dispenser receipt is printed.