The AIS Desk Staff LibGuide: Cards (all types)

Application Process

Patrons must apply for and renew Community Cards online.

The link to the online application can be found here: Community Card Application

There is no expedited service for processing Community Card applications. The patron will be notified by email when their card is ready for pick up. 

Assisting Patrons with Card Pickup

• Staff may need to assist patrons who come into the library to pay for their Community Cards.   
• Patrons will need to use the public lookup computer located behind the services desks, to the right of the Holds shelf. 
• Do not use a staff computer for this process. 

Find Staff FAQ directions for helping patrons complete the payment process here: 

 Help Patrons Pay for Community Cards

  Visual Directions:

Community Card Pickup by Patrons

Take these visual directions with you!

Scan with your phone to take these directions with you.  Be sure you are logged in to Box. 

Removing the Patron Block

Newly issued patron cards are blocked in Alma. The block must be removed before patrons can check out items. Do this when the customer picks up their card at the 2nd Floor Ask Us Desks. 

Before removing the block, verify:

• the patron's identity using their driver's license or ID.
• the patron has no charges showing on their Alma account.

Once both have been verified, follow the steps below to remove the block from the patron's account.

• Go to Manage Patrons
• Type in the patron's new card number  (Note: cards all begin with 6017 followed by 6 zeros)
• In the right-side menu under Patron Information, click on the ID number
• Click on the Blocks tab
• Locate the block titled "Verify eligibility for library card"
• Click on the ellipsis on the right side of the block title to open a dropdown menu
• Select delete

The block is now removed. You can check this by swiping the patron card to confirm no block message warning appears. 

RFID Tags

Community cards will now be fitted with RFID tags to allow the cards to be scanned rather than staff having to type card numbers in manually. 

The RFID tags will not read on the tap readers in the same way CatCards do. Since it is the same tag as what is in the books, it reads the same way as books do. For the self-checkout machines, after the patron selects Check out, they can simply place the card on the bed of the machine. 

Cards will always be tested to make sure they work with the scanners before they are placed in the envelope to be given to patrons. Instructions on how to use the cards will also be included by email to users. 

At this point, all active community user cards should have RFID tags. Any community users with a card that does not have an RFID tag have been contacted within the last year about visiting the library to have one added, and have not yet visited in person to do so.

A block has been placed on the accounts of all active community users with cards that do not yet have an RFID tag. See below.

This block prevents:

• Checking out new items
• Automatic renewals on items already checked out

Please do not override this block. We want for all active community user cards to have RFID tags.

Let patrons know to contact the systems@lib.arizona.edu email address, or try to locate Lucy and Mona via slack/email/phone. If one of them is available, they will do their best to meet with the patron right away.

"Generic" Accounts

Accounts with a user group of "Generic" are created for the sole purpose of adding charges for services by 3D Printing staff and CATalyst staff.  In addition, CATalyst staff use these accounts to track certifications taken. 

These types of accounts do not grant circulation privileges. They are for non-UA users who don’t have and don’t wish to purchase a UAL card.  

Digital CatCards

• UA Affiliates can opt for a digital CatCard instead of a physical card.
• Digital CatCards appear on a patron's phone in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, and can be scanned using card readers like a normal CatCard.
• Digital CatCards don't display a patron's CatCard number in their app. If a card won't scan at the AskUs desk, we can look up the patron using their UA NetID in Alma.
• EAF Forms - Digital CatCard numbers will scan in as 11 number instead of 16. We can accept that number for an EAF.

Digital CatCards Questions and Referrals

• General Questions
  If patrons are wondering which card option is best —digital or physical—or have other questions about card types and policies, refer the patron to the CatCard Office website or the CatCard office. They are the best source for up-to-date and official information.

• Library Access Issues
  If a CatCard (digital or physical) isn't granting access to library spaces—such as entrances outside regular hours or specific rooms you’re authorized to enter— contact systems@lib.arizona.edu or submit a ticket via the Helpline. Be sure to include the door location and the date/time the issue occurred and the person's UA NetID. The appropriate staff members will assist or escalate as needed.

• Questions from Library Users
  If patrons experience issues related to borrowing, access, or using their card within the library, please create an AskUs ticket that will be forwarded to the Systems Queue.

Proxy Accounts

Some of our users have designated other individuals as 'proxy' users, which allows others to check out materials on their behalf. The patron acting as the proxy should already have the subsequent account added to their record in Alma.

How to Access a Proxy Account

Follow these steps to access a proxy account.

1. Click on the "Fulfillment" tab; click on "Manage Patron Services"
2. Before trying to access an account, check the box next to "Use Proxy"
3. After checking the box, under “Scan patron’s ID or search for a patron”, scan their CatCard.
4. Select the patrons name when it appears below the search box and click on “Go”.
5. The proxy attached to this account should now appear below the first search box.
6. Click on “Go” again.

Freezing Accounts due to Lost CatCards

When patrons lose or misplace their CatCards, we can place a block/freeze on their account to prevent it from being used. To do this, first bring up the patron's Alma account.

1) On the right side of the screen, click on their User ID number.

2) Once you have opened up their User Details, click on the Blocks tab. From there, click the button with a plus sign to Add Block.

3) A small pop-up will open allowing you to add a block. Under Block Description, click the dropdown menu and select Lost card. 

4) From there, you can click Add and Close.

5) Finally, be sure to click the Save button in the top right corner.  

We can place this block over the phone, but patrons will need to come into the library in person and present their CatCard to have the block removed.

Removing a "Lost card" Block

To have a "Lost card" block removed from their Alma account, patrons will need to come into the library in person and present their CatCard. No exceptions can be made to this rule. 

When a patron arrives in person to have the block removed, follow the steps below. 

If the patron has gotten a new CatCard:

1. First, verify that the number of the CatCard in their hand matches what is in Alma.
2. Check the patron's account history. If the system shows that the CatCard number was updated, then the block can be removed/deleted.

If the patron found their original CatCard:

1.  Verify the person standing in front of you is the actual account holder by looking at the picture on the CatCard.
2. If all is well, then the block can be removed/deleted.