FAQs

By default, Alma will never give a user a due date that is past their expiration date. The March 2022 Alma release contains a new feature that allows library staff to manually extend a user's due date past their expiration date at the time the item is initially checked out. This feature can be limited to just Circulation Managers or Circulation Operators. This feature does not work for renewals or self checkouts.

This feature has four settings:

MANAGER - staff with the Circulation Manager role can manually extend due dates past the user's expiration date. 

OPERATOR - staff with the Circulation Desk Operator or Circulation Desk Operator - Limited role can manually extend due dates past the user's expiration date.

ALL - staff with any of the three roles mentioned above can manually extend due dates past the user's expiration date.

NONE - no one can can manually extend due dates past the user's expiration date.

This new setting will be set to NONE by default.  If you do not wish to use this new feature, you can leave that setting as is. 

Configuration

1. Go to Configuration > Fulfillment > General > Other Settings

2. Change the extend_due_date_beyond_user_expiry to either MANAGER, OPERATOR, or ALL (details below) and then click the Save button. 

• MANAGER - staff with the Circulation Manager role can manually extend due dates past the user's expiration date. 
• OPERATOR - staff with the Circulation Desk Operator or Circulation Desk Operator - Limited role can manually extend due dates past the user's expiration date.
• ALL - staff with any of the three roles mentioned above can manually extend due dates past the user's expiration date.

Extending Due Dates Past the User's Expiration Date

This feature can only be used within the Manage Patron Services interface at the time the item is checked out. It cannot be used to push renewal due dates past the user's expiration date, and it cannot be used for self checkout loans. 

1. If the user's due date is beyond their expiration date, a Due Date Is Shortened window will appear. To give the user the full loan period allowed by the relevant Loan TOU, click the Extend Due Date button. If you click the OK button, the user's due date will not be extended past their expiration date.