Hi there,

Below is a review of the how to when linking patron records. We link records if one of our users has a card at a Minuteman Academic library and a Minuteman Public Library. This allows him or her to make use of the databases, museum passes, etc offered at both libraries. Please note that there is a paper file at the Main Circulation Desk called "Linking".

Minuteman Library Network - Staff Information Center (http://staff.minlib.net)

Link Patron Records

Millennium has a feature known as Linked patrons, which allows us to put patrons into a linked group. From that group, staff can view checked out items for any and all linked patrons
This gives us an excellent way to indicate, in the software, that the 2 records for a single person – one a card for his academic institution and the other a public library card – are linked.
We have also confirmed that using Create Lists we can identify the patron records that are in linked groups. At the end of an academic year, we could use this ability to make a report (or even a Statement of Checked Out items) for those public library patron records that are linked to academic patron records.
On the Test server, I have made 2 records for myself, one as a Lasell student and one as a resident of Wayland, and I have linked these 2 records.
There are 2 different patron accounts (2 different p numbers). Each has the PTYPE appropriate for the respective Public library or academic institution.
What Linked patrons does NOT do:

Cause patron blocks (delinquency) to apply to the linked records
Allow requests to be fulfilled by checking out from a linked card

If a student holding an academic card comes into the public library, staff can easily search for an existing library card issued by a public library, or, create a new card – possible by copying the existing card and recoding the relevant fixed field. Then the 2 records could be linked together.
My 2 patron records on Test

Viewing my public library patron (when scanning 24869000081489)

If I click on the Linked Patrons tab, I can toggle between the 2 records

Below is the result of selecting my second record, the one that is coded as a Lasell patron

If I check off both patrons on the Linked Patrons tab, I can choose View checkouts and see the combined checkouts of the 2 records.

The first 5 are on the Wayland Public Library patron record; the last one is on the Lasell College patron record.

In Create Lists we can search for any patron records that are linked to other patron records:

This shows that we can retrieve the linked patron records. From this file, we could then generate any end of year reports needed.

Keep in mind that Minuteman policy allows linking 2 patron records only in the case of 2 records for a single individual (namely a college affiliated record and a public library record for the same person.)
MLN does not advocate for linking family members together. The term Family ID is simply the Innovative terminology for indicating the presence of a linked patron.

Linking 2 records

Suppose a Lasell student (Polly Patron) comes in and wants to use the public library.
Retrieve the public library record (or create it)
Go to the Linked Patrons tab (which is not yet linked to anything, as indicated by the (0))