The expected increase in recalls and reduction of the recall period this year has created a problem for borrowers renewing books online as a result of the way Horizon Circulation is set up.
A Maximum Block appears on a borrower’s account in Horizon when they reach a limit of some sort; most commonly when their fines are too high or old, or if they have too many books checked out already. For Library staff, Maximum Blocks serve as a visual warning that one of these limits has been reached and that new checkouts should be suspended until the problem has been resolved.
Unfortunately, Horizon treats renewals the same as new checkouts. Whenever a Maximum block appears on a borrower’s record, HIP blocks all circulation – that borrower becomes unable to renew items using their Library account, even those items that haven’t been requested or reached max renewals.
We want borrowers to use their Library accounts to keep track of due dates and make appropriate renewals. To ensure that students will be able to renew books online as they would at the Lending desk, BLT has agreed to amending the parameters of Horizon circulation. The maximum number of days that a recall can be overdue has now been extended to 28 days (from 3 days) in order to delay the appearance of the Maximum Block that was preventing online renewals of other items. The maximum amount of fines that a borrower can owe is already extended from $10 to $50 for the same reason.

However, library policy HAS NOT been changed so it is circulation staffs’ responsibility to visually check the block date for “Recalled and Overdue Still Out” blocks (as well as the level of fines) on borrower records as staff will no longer see an automatic warning. Check that any fines are under $10 and that recalled items are less than 3 days overdue. No new checkout until the recall is returned or fines paid.
Your vigilance is appreciated
Helen