FAQ
What do I do about loaned items that were not returned, and also clean up lost and discarded copies?
Of course you want to run reports on loaned or overdue items, and before you close the library for the summer you should consider cleaning out any lost and discarded copies. Run reports for lost and discarded material first before using utilities to remove them. One great feature of the Remove Lost/Discarded Copies utilities is that you can control which copies specifically to remove. This means you can retain copies from a specific date range, and choose between material that is lost or discarded from inventory, weeding or patrons. Read about best practices for lost and discarded copies.
As always, contact Customer Support if you have any questions or need assistance.
Where can I get more information on the End-of-Year procedures?
See our End-of-Year Procedures
How can I set end-of-year due dates for all library books?
You can automate end-of-year due dates using Calendar and Policy preferences in Alexandria. To set a period due date please follow the steps below:
- Go to Tools
- Select Calendars
- Choose a calendar from the list on the left
- Set the date by which items should be returned as Period Due by double-clicking on the date
- Repeat the previous step for all calendars that require a period due date
Keep in mind that Alexandria will not change the due date after an item has been checked out. It’s best to establish these dates at the beginning of the year before any items have been checked out, and then review them again at the end of the year to ensure they are still accurate.
What is Virtual Librarian?
You can learn how to better customize your Researcher for increased patron engagement by meeting with our Virtual Librarian (who is actually a REAL librarian!) to enhance your skills, knowledge, and abilities in Alexandria.
Where can I learn about inventory and weeding?
Take a look at Inventory and watch our Inventory Workshop.
How do you access the X command?
To run the ‘X’ command just enter ‘x’ in the command line in Circulation. You can learn more here.
Wait, when was reports updated?!
If the changes to reports (or any other areas of the program) left you feeling lost, make sure you’re signed up for the Release emails to stay up-to-date on upcoming improvements in Alexandria.
What happened to Reports?
Reports, Labels, and Notices have joined the makeover and are now three separate categories. You can read more about the changes and watch our training videos for all the details on the new format.
How do I see how many total patrons we have in our system?
To know the total number of patrons in Alexandria, click on the ‘?‘ icon located in the top right corner of the program. Then, select ‘About Alexandria‘. This will provide you with the current number of patrons and also inform you about the number of patrons that you are allowed to have based on your current license.