Child patrons

Child patrons are members under 13 (or whatever age your library configures).

Why distinguish children

• Some programs (book clubs) require parent approval for children to join
• Loan limits may differ
• Different content notes apply (libraries can flag mature content for child accounts)

Creating a child patron

• Patrons → Add Patron → check "Child"
• Required: first name, last name, age
• Optional: email (kids may not have one; leave blank)
• Required: assign to a family

Parent approval

For programs that require approval:

• The child requests to join (or a librarian requests on their behalf)
• A pending approval appears on every adult in the family's portal
• An adult reviews and approves or denies
• The child is notified of the outcome

Age cutoff

Default: 13. Configurable in Settings → Child Settings → Age cutoff.

Children's catalogue filter

Many libraries set up a "Children's books only" filter for child accounts so they see only age-appropriate books. Settings → Children → Restrict catalogue.

Aging out

When a child turns the cutoff age, the system auto-converts them to an adult member. They keep all loans, holds, and history.