Parameters — Complete Reference
Everything you need to configure Papyrus Cloud before going live
Parameters are the foundation of how Papyrus Cloud behaves. They define who your members are, what your collection contains, and the rules that govern how items are lent, fined, and returned. All three parameter groups — General, Member, and Publication — must be configured before your library can begin circulating items. This page provides a single index to all parameter screens with guidance on how they connect.
General Parameters
System-wide settings that affect how the entire library operates — library identity, dates, physical locations, barcode printing, and email communication.
Global Parameters
Library identity, cataloguing defaults, stock barcode prefix and length, member defaults, OPAC settings, fine frequency, and payment options.
Manage → MaintainGlobal
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System Dates
Days the library is open, the front desk no-issue deadline, stock take date, and budget period dates.
Manage → MaintainSystemDates
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Holidays
School and public holidays that are excluded from loan period calculations and fine accrual.
Manage → MaintainHolidays
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Users
Staff accounts with access to the back-office system. Distinct from library members. Five permission flags control what each user can do.
Manage → MaintainUsers
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Locations
Separate branches, departments, or sites within the organisation. Stock, members, and users can each be assigned to a location.
Manage → MaintainLocations
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Barcode Settings
Barcode number generation, prefix and length, label content and layout, PDF paper sizes, ZPL thermal printer support, and member ID card settings.
Manage → MaintainBarcodes
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Email Settings
SMTP server credentials, overdue reminder email template, member statement format, and test email sending. Email is disabled until SMTP is validated.
Manage → MaintainEmail
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Member Parameters
Define how library patrons are classified and what borrowing rules apply to each group. These settings sit on the member side of the circulation privilege matrix.
Member Types
The primary classification for every member — e.g. Grade 1 through Grade 12, Staff, Teacher, Parents. Sets top-level borrowing ceilings, the promotion chain, and external system import mapping.
Manage → MaintainMemberTypes
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Categories
A secondary optional grouping within Member Types — typically used for class groups (e.g. 7C, 7L, 7S within Grade 7). Informational only; does not affect borrowing rules.
Manage → MaintainCategories
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Privileges
The detailed lending rules for each Member Type × Publication Type combination: quota, loan days, grace period, fine rate, fine period, renewals, and maximum fine. The core of the circulation system.
Manage → MaintainPrivileges
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Publication Parameters
Define how library stock is classified, catalogued, and managed. These settings sit on the publication side of the circulation privilege matrix.
Publication Types
The primary classification for every stock item — Fiction, Non Fiction, Ebooks, Board Games, Textbooks, and any other material type. Drives Privileges, reports, OPAC filtering, and barcode labels.
Manage → MaintainPubTypes
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Publication Templates
Default cataloguing field values for each Publication Type. When a new item of a given type is catalogued, its fields are pre-filled from the template, speeding up data entry.
Manage → MaintainTemplates
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Stock Status
The condition or availability codes that can be applied to individual stock items — e.g. Available, Lost, Damaged, On Repair. Controls whether an item can be issued at the Front Desk.
Manage → MaintainStockStatus
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Fine Types
The categories of fines and charges that can be applied to member accounts — overdue fines, lost item charges, damage fees, and other levies.
Manage → MaintainFines
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Privileges
The same Privilege data as Member Parameters → Privileges, viewed by Publication Type rather than Member Type. Shows all Member Type lending rules for a chosen publication type.
Manage → MaintainPrivilegesPubType
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The Privileges screen appears in both Member Parameters and Publication Parameters. Both show exactly the same underlying data — the difference is only the perspective: Member Parameters → Privileges shows all publication types for a chosen member type, while Publication Parameters → Privileges shows all member types for a chosen publication type.
How the Three Groups Relate
The three parameter groups form a connected system. General Parameters set the stage; Member Parameters and Publication Parameters each describe one axis of the circulation matrix; and Privileges sit at the intersection, defining the precise lending rule for every Member Type and Publication Type combination.
| Fiction (01) | Non Fiction (02) | Ebooks (EB) | Board Games (G) | Textbooks (T) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 (01) | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege |
| Grade 7 (07) | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege |
| Staff (S) | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege |
| Teacher (T) | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege | Privilege |
Each cell in the matrix is a Privilege record — defining the quota, loan period, grace period, fine rate, and renewal limit for that specific Member Type borrowing that specific Publication Type. The total number of Privilege records equals the number of Member Types multiplied by the number of Publication Types.
Member Type–level restrictions (Quota, No Issue After, Max Fine) and Publication Type–level restrictions can tighten — but never relax — the rules set in the Privileges matrix. System Dates (No Issue After) form the absolute outer limit above both.
Recommended Setup Order
When setting up a new library in Papyrus Cloud, configure parameters in this sequence. Each step depends on the previous ones being in place:
1. Global Parameters
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2. System Dates
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3. Holidays
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4. Locations
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5. Users
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6. Member Types
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7. Categories
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8. Publication Types
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9. Stock Status
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10. Fine Types
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11. Privileges
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12. Barcode Settings
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13. Email Settings
Privileges must be configured last — after both Member Types and Publication Types exist — because each Privilege row links one Member Type to one Publication Type. Adding a new Member Type or Publication Type after Privileges have been configured is fine, but the new combination rows will have blank (unrestricted) values that need to be set before those items go into circulation.
Quick Reference — All Parameter Screens
| Screen | Group | Key purpose | Menu path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Parameters | General | Library identity, cataloguing and stock defaults, OPAC settings | Parameters → General → Global Parameters |
| System Dates | General | Open days, no-issue date, stock take date, budget dates | Parameters → General → System Dates |
| Holidays | General | Date ranges excluded from loan period and fine calculations | Parameters → General → Holidays |
| Users | General | Staff back-office accounts and permission flags | Parameters → General → Users |
| Locations | General | Branches, sites, and departments (multi-site licence) | Parameters → General → Locations |
| Barcode Settings | General | Barcode generation, label layout, ZPL support, member ID cards | Parameters → General → Barcode Settings |
| Email Settings | General | SMTP server, reminder template, statement template | Parameters → General → Email Settings |
| Member Types | Member | Primary member classification, quota/fine ceilings, promotion chain | Parameters → Member → Member Types |
| Categories | Member | Secondary member grouping (e.g. class groups), informational only | Parameters → Member → Categories |
| Privileges | Member | Lending rules per Member Type × Publication Type (member view) | Parameters → Member → Privileges |
| Publication Types | Publication | Primary stock classification, Textbook flag, type-level restrictions | Parameters → Publication → Publication Types |
| Publication Templates | Publication | Default cataloguing field values per Publication Type | Parameters → Publication → Publication Templates |
| Stock Status | Publication | Condition codes for stock items (Available, Lost, Damaged, etc.) | Parameters → Publication → Stock Status |
| Fine Types | Publication | Categories of fines and charges applied to member accounts | Parameters → Publication → Fine Types |
| Privileges | Publication | Same Privilege data as Member view, sliced by Publication Type | Parameters → Publication → Privileges |