Troubleshooting
Updated Jun 04, 2026
"I can't check out this book"
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What you might see: An error message like "Item not available," "Patron is blocked," or "Loan limit exceeded."
Why this happens: There are several possible reasons:
| What you see | Why it happens | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| "Item not available" | The book is checked out, on hold, being repaired, or withdrawn | Check the book's status. If it's checked out, process the return first. If it's on hold, check the hold queue. If it's being repaired, wait until it's fixed. |
| "Patron is blocked" | The student has overdue books or unpaid fines | Go to the Returns page to process their overdue returns, or go to Fine Manager to record payments |
| "Loan limit exceeded" | The student has too many books out (usually the maximum is 3) | The student needs to return some books first |
| "Patron enrollment status is 'graduated'" | The student is no longer enrolled | Contact the registrar to check if the enrollment status is correct |
Detailed steps to resolve each cause:
If the book shows "Checked Out":
- Go to Return Books.
- Search for the book by barcode.
- Process the return.
- Then go back to Borrow Books and try the checkout again.
If the book shows "On Hold":
- Go to the catalog and find the book.
- Click Manage Holds to see who has the hold.
- If the hold is no longer needed, cancel it.
- The book will become available.
If the book shows "In Repair":
- Find the book in the catalog.
- Once the physical book has been repaired, update its status to "Available."
- Then you can check it out.
If the patron shows "Blocked":
- Check what is blocking them (the checkout page shows the reasons).
- If they have overdue books, process those returns first.
- If they have unpaid fines, record the payments in the Fine Manager.
- Try the checkout again.
Still stuck? Contact SchoolAide support with the student's name and the book's barcode.
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