Do a normal check-in from the Check In workform

You typically use this method when a patron returns items to the circulation desk. (For information on messages or dialog boxes that may appear during check-in, see Check-In Messages and Blocks.)

Important:
For the first time after installation only, you need to set up Polaris to print receipts and slips from the current workform. See Setting Up Receipt Printing from Workforms.

To check in items from the Check In workform - Normal view:

1. Select Circulation, Check In on the Polaris Shortcut Bar, click , or press F2.

Tip:
If your library includes a title column in the list of items checked in, and a checked-in item is a serial, the serial designation (enumerationThe designation reflecting the alphabetic or numeric scheme used by the publisher on an item or assigned when the holdings statement is created to identify the individual bibliographic or physical parts and to show the relationship of each unit to the unit as a whole. and chronologyThe date(s) used by the publisher on a serially-issued bibliographic unit to help identify or indicate when it was published. The chronology may reflect the dates of coverage, publication, or printing.) is added to the title. You may need to expand the title column to see the designation.

The Check In workform - Normal view opens.

2. Set the number of free daysA value applied at normal and bulk check-in, renewal, and offline that allows you to omit a specified number of days from the overdue fine calculation. in the Free days box or click Pick a date and select a date from the calendar, if you want to use a value different from that shown. See Free Days at Check-In.

When you select a date from the calendar, the system automatically calculates the number of free days. The date box shows the effective date of the check in with free days applied.

Tip:
If you are checking in a number of items, some with barcodes and some with RFID tags, group the items so that you check in all of one type, then all of the other. This method is faster than repeatedly switching between the barcode scanner and the RFID reader.

3. Enter item information using one of the following methods:

• Scan the item barcode in the Item barcode box, or type the barcode and press ENTER. If you use RFID tags as well as barcodes, this method does not set the security bit for RFID items.
• Select Tools, RFID Check In (or press F9), and place up to 10 items on the antenna tray. This method sets the security bit for each item.

Note:
You must select Tools, RFID Check In or press F9 for each batch of items you place on the RFID antenna tray.

• To find an item without a working barcode, click the Find button next to the Item barcode box to display the Polaris Find Tool and search for the item record.

• Loading a file of barcodes - Select Tools, Load barcode file, or press CTRL+ALT+I. An explorer window opens, where you can browse to and select the file of barcodes.

Tip:
If your library has Polaris SimplyReports, you can use the following method to create the text file containing the barcodes:
1. Use the Find Tool to find the item records and apply the appropriate circulation status and branch limits.
2. Right-click on the search results and select Add to record set.
3. In Polaris SimplyReports, create an item list report with:
--- Barcodes selected as the single report output column
--- Text and Tab-delimited selected as the report output format
----The record set you created selected in the Item Record Set filter
4. Download the text file from SimplyReports.

The item barcode, due date, status, and comments appear in the list of items checked in. Through settings in Polaris Administration, your library may also choose to display the item’s title, material type, shelf location, call number, assigned branch, and/or the borrower’s name.

4. Repeat the previous step until you have checked in all the items.

Note:
Your library may allow you to view the item’s last or current borrower. Right-click the item, and select Links, Last borrower or Current borrower from the context menu.

The status bar displays the total number of items checked in.

5. If you want to print a check-in receipt, follow these steps:
   1. Select the items that should appear on the receipt.
   2. Select File > Print, Check in Receipt.

If items are selected from multiple patrons, the items are grouped by patrons, and three blank lines are added at the end of each group. If auto-cut receipt printing is enabled, the receipt is cut at the end of each patron’s group of items. (Items with no patron information, for example those that went from In to In at check in, are also grouped together and separated from patron items.) The information that appears on the receipt is set in Polaris Administration.

Note:
The requesting patron’s name is not printed on the receipt when an item becomes held at check in.

Related Information

• Check-in from the Patron Status workform - You can check in an item from the Items Out view of the Patron Status workform. Right-click the item, and select Check In from the context menu.
• Check-in from the Item Record workform - Select Tools > Check In, click , or press CTRL+I.
• Modifying a checked-in item - See Change item information or barcode at check-in.
• Viewing check-in data for an item - The Item Record property sheet displays check-in data, including the transaction time, workstation, and logged-in user. Right-click the item in a list view (such as the Find Tool results list), and select Properties from the context menu. Or, on the Item Record workform, select on the toolbar.