¶ FOLIO Loan Policies
Loan policies in FOLIO define item circulation periods, renewal terms, and recall rules. When editing or updating a loan policy the following options are available:
¶ About
- Loan Policy Name: A clear name identifying the policy's function and target audience (e.g., 90-Day Faculty).
- Description: An optional free-text description of the policy rule.
¶ Loans
- Loanable: Enables circulation. If unchecked, no further loan options appear. Note: Can be used alongside the Fallback loan rule for items checked out via override to apply specific notice, fine, or lost-item policies.
- Loan Profile: Select between rolling and fixed due dates.
- Rolling: Applies a set duration from the date of checkout (e.g., 14 days). Selecting this opens a field to enter the period duration.
- Fixed: Sets a specific calendar due date. Schedules are managed in Settings > Circulation > Fixed Due Date Schedules. These schedules must be kept up to date without gaps to prevent checkout errors.
- Closed Library Due Date Management: Controls how due dates adapt when the service point is closed on the target date/time:
| Option | Daily Loans | Hourly Loans |
|---|---|---|
| Keep Current | Keeps the current due date | Keeps the current due date/time |
| Move Earlier | Moves to the end of the previous open day | Moves to the end of the current open hours |
| Move Later | Moves to the end of the next open day | Moves to the start of the next open hours |
- Grace Period: The timeframe allowed after the due date before an item is officially flagged as overdue.
- Item Limit: The maximum number of items a patron can check out simultaneously under this policy.
¶ Renewals
- Renewable: Controls whether items using this policy can be renewed. If unchecked, renewal options are hidden.
- Renewal Limits: Choose Unlimited renewals or specify a maximum Number of renewals allowed.
- Renew From: Determines how the new due date is calculated:
- Current Due Date: Extends the existing due date. (Example: A 15-day loan due on the 15th, renewed on the 10th, becomes due on the 30th.)
- System Date: Calculates the new period from the transaction date. (Example: A 15-day loan renewed on the 10th becomes due on the 25th.)
- Renewal Period Different from Original Loan: Allows setting an alternate duration or fixed schedule for renewals.
Note: You cannot mix rolling and fixed dates between the original loan and its renewal.
¶ Request Management
¶ Recalls
- Recall Return Interval: The duration a patron has to return an item once recalled.
- Minimum Guaranteed Loan Period: The minimum time a patron is guaranteed to keep an item before a recall notice forces an earlier due date.
- Allow Recalls to Extend Due Dates for Overdue Loans: Gives patrons a specified grace window to return an overdue recalled item before additional fines accrue.
¶ Holds
- Alternate Loan Period at Checkout for Items with Active/Pending Holds: Shortens or adjusts the initial checkout duration if another patron is waiting on a hold.
- Allow Renewal of Items with Active/Pending Holds: Permits renewals on items with active holds, with an option to specify a shorter alternate renewal duration.