Some settings are "set and forget" - libraries are unlikely to change the values of these settings once they are through initial implementation.
Other settings are more tied to the rhythms of a library year or an academic calendar and should be periodically reviewed because you may need to add or remove settings values.
| App | Setting or Value | Add'l information / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Settings | Calendar > Library Hours | You need to have calendars in the system for at least far enough ahead in the future for your longest loan. E.g., if the longest period of time you loan a particular item is six months, you should have a calendar in the system for more than six months in the future. In practice, most libraries seem to create calendars for at least a semester beyond their longest loan length so that they do not have to frequently go into this part of settings and add new hours. |
| Settings | Circulation > Fixed due date schedules | Similar to calendars, your fixed due date schedule should go out in the future at least as long as your longest loan period. There are more nuances here depending on how you use fixed due dates with loan periods, but the longer you can extend these into the future, the better off you will be. |
| Settings | Courses > Terms | Terms are tied to the academic calendar, so you can expect to need to periodically add new terms to this list. |
| Settings | Courses > Departments | This will depend on the size of your institution, but departments change names and merge, and so this list should be reviewed periodically to ensure it is consistent with how you want to use it at your library. |
| Settings | Users > Departments | This will depend on the size of your institution, but departments change names and merge, and so this list should be reviewed periodically to ensure it is consistent with how you want to use it at your library. |