Age Protection allows libraries to prevent holds on new books (on an item by item basis) from outside the owning library's branch or system for a designated amount of time. This gives the library's local patrons* a chance to check out the new book before making it available for holds to other libraries. Libraries typically use this feature for all new items; but, may choose to use it on only popular titles or not at all.

Age protection is counted from the item active date. Item create date is when the item is created in the database and is not necessarily the same as the item active date. Items are set to active when they are placed in statuses Available, Checked out, ILL, On holds shelf, On reservation shelf, Reserves, or Reshelving. In process or on order statuses do not make the item active but either will be the status when the item is created.

Each item (copy) has an age_protect flag which may be set to 3 month, 6 month, or None. The total amount of time the item is in age protection is 6 months, regardless of whether 3 month or 6 month is selected at cataloging.

• If set to 3 month and the copy was made active less than 3 months ago, the item is only holdable by patrons whose home library* matches the circulating library of the copy. (Note: The system interprets 3 months as 90 days.) After 3 months, the item will automatically roll over to 6 month age protection rules for the remaining 3 months; but, the age_protect flag will still appear as “3 month” in the item attributes.

• If 6 month is set and the item active date is less than 6 months old, the item is only holdable by patrons whose home library* is within the same system as the circulating library of the item. (Note: The system interprets 6 months as 180 days.) After 6 months is over, the item will no longer be age protected and holds may be placed on it from any PINES location, but the age_protect flag will still appear as “6 month” in item attributes.

• If age protect is set to None, then no age protection occurs and holds can be placed on the item from any PINES location at the time the copy is created as In process, or on order for those libraries allowing on order holds.

*Please note that the software defines a patron as local based on their designated pickup library and not their home library.