Koha Question of the Week: Can Koha Clear a Damaged Status on Checkin?

by Hebah Amin-Headley on Nov 3, 2023

Each Friday, we will bring you a new Koha Question of the Week. We will select real questions that we receive and share the answers with you!

Question: Can Koha Clear a Damaged Status on Checkin?

Answer: 'Damaged' is one status that libraries often use to mean different things. One library may use 'damaged' to indicate that they are aware a material is showing some wear and tear but will continue to circulate. Others may use it in conjunction with withdrawing an item, removing it from circulation altogether. And other libraries want to use a damaged status that is more temporary until the item can be repaired and returned to circulation.

A frequent question for libraries who use a damage status in this third \way is then: Can we have that status clear on check-in once the item is repaired? The answer is currently, no, Koha does not have a mechanism to clear a damage status on return, though there is an enhancement request for this functionality in the Koha community.

In the meantime, a slight workaround can still make this functionality possible. If a library wants to have a damaged status that can clear on check-in, it is possible by creating a 'damaged' not for loan status. The important decision for librarians is whether items should be holdable when they're in this status. If an item should be allowed to be placed on hold while in this status, a negative not for loan value (Administration -> Authorized Values -> NOT_LOAN) will allow the item to be held; it can also be checked out in that status, but it will still need an override. Otherwise, a positive value not for loan status will render the item un-holdable without an override.

Once that value has been set up, make note of the numerical value associated with it, and hop over to Administration to set the values in the UpdateNotForLoanStatusOnCheckin preference.

This preference can accept multiple values, so what this example mapping means is that both a -2 In Processing not for loan value and a -5 Damaged not for loan value will set back to 0, or once again be available for loan, when an item is checked in.

Additional Resources

Changing Status and Location Upon Checkin

An Overview of Item Statuses