Koha Question of the Week: Can Patron Search Type Default Behavior be Changed?

by Hebah Amin-Headley on Feb 2, 2024

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 Patron Search Type Default Behavior be Changed?

Answer: Yes, there's a system preference for that! The DefaultPatronSearchMethod allows libraries to determine whether patron searches default to "Contains" or "Starts with." This controls both the autocomplete patron search bar at the top of the Koha staff client and the full patron search in the Patrons module. Historically, the default setting has been "Contains," since it is a broader wild card search, but the ability to customize search defaults allows libraries to set the search method that best fits staff needs.

Additional Resources

Self-Paced Learning in Koha: Patrons

Koha Question of the Week: Can Other Fields Be Added to Patron Search?