Add a Patron

Each Destiny user is considered a patron and must have a patron record that associates them with the materials they check out, fines they incur and any patron transactions.

Note: As a site user, it is important to talk with the Destiny Administrator regarding district policies before adding or editing patron records. Your district’s student information system might overwrite or delete changes.

Typically, you add a patron when either:

• You do not have a data source system, such as a student information system.
• A student or patron is not currently in the data source system.

Note: If a faculty member performs duties at multiple sites or a student attends classes at more than one school, those patrons may be associated with multiple sites.

Add a New Patron

Before you add a patron record, always search the district’s patron database to make sure a patron record doesn’t already exist.

To search the database and add a patron record:

1. Select Admin > Manage Patrons.
2. In the Find field, scan or enter the patron’s barcode number, or enter a keyword (such as a patron’s name).
3. If you need to search for patrons at other sites, select the Search across the district checkbox, if available.
4. To complete the task for active patrons, select the Only Active Patrons checkbox.
5. Press Enter, or click Search.
6. If no patron record exists for that user, click Add New Patron.

   

   The New Patron page appears.

7. Click the General sub-tab.
   
   

   Follett recommends that you complete as many of the patron and site information fields as possible; however, here are a few things to note:

   • Only the patron’s last name and barcode number fields are required.
   • The barcode number must be unique at the school.
   • If you use a district ID number, it must be unique across the district.
   • Destiny supports up to five email addresses per patron and lets you send notices to patrons and parents. The prompts for email addresses can be defined and pushed from the district.
   • Patrons with a username and password log in to Destiny to get access to a range of features and functionality.

     In the User Name field, use special characters (such as periods, dashes, underscores and apostrophes) to minimize the risk of patrons being considered duplicates or skipped during a patron import.

     Examples:   jsmith, j.smith, j-smith, j_smith, j'smith are each considered different patrons.

   • A patron who does not log in to Destiny is called a Guest and has access only to basic functionality, such as searching.
   • Follett requires that you assign a patron type and access level.
     • The patron type you select controls patrons’ loan policies and can be used as a limiter when creating patron notices and circulation reports.
     • The access level controls the functions that patrons can perform in Destiny.
   • The Site Information section also has five user-defined fields. Unless district policies define these fields, they are site-specific and vary for each school. It is important to check with the Destiny Administrator regarding district policies before entering data in these fields.

     Note: A District Patrons Manager or users with the Search for patrons across the district permission can add site associations and globally associate patrons with sites. District users see an +Add Additional Site button. If you add an additional site, the Site Information section lists both sites.

8. To print a label when you save, select Print Label on Save.

   Note: For more information, see Print Patron Barcodes.

9. (Optional) Add address information or a picture.
   

   If you want to add ...	Then ...
   Address information	Click the Address sub-tab. Populate the information accordingly.
   Picture information	Click the Picture sub-tab. See Patron Picture.

10. When you have entered all the information for a patron, click Save.

For more on patrons, including free online training, webinars and educational resources, check out Follett Community.