Multiple Check outs on same date

We are finding multiple instances where a single item is showing as being checked out many times on the same day. The example below is one of the worst; 11 times. We have had problems with our library helpers not selecting the proper status when checking items in so they are inadvertently checking it out again, but I don't see how they could do it so many times on the same day. Has anyone else had this problem?

3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023
3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023
3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023
3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023
3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023
3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023
3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023
3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023
3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023
3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023
3/20/2023 Checked out 4/19/2023

Hmm, I would be curious to see if others are having similar issues!

Would you mind giving me the title for that particular checkout issue, so I can take a closer look? Feel free to DM me privately if you need. Thanks.

There are dozens of titles that this occurs on, most of them 4 or less checkouts on a single day. I could send you a transaction export spreadsheet if possible, but I'm pretty sure it is operator error. We keep a manual log of helpers and I tried to match up the dates each helped with the checkout dates in the transaction list. While the log isn't complete, we have two older gals that have a lot of trouble with computers that were helping on most of the dates that this problem occurs. What I can't figure out is how in the world they could repeat the checkouts so many times. I can replicate the repeated checkouts on the same day, but I have to add and save the same item multiple times to do it. If the item is already in the list, it won't re-add it. I tested this by typing something in, but they are using a bar code scanner, so maybe that is part of the problem. My wife and I have used the scanner too, but without this happening. Maybe I can test it with the scanner by holding the scan button for awhile and then seeing if it registers multiple entries. I usually just try a quick click with the scanner.

One thing I noticed is this is mostly occurring after January 2023, but I think that's when they started helping again.

We will be at the church on Monday and I will test the bar code scanner as mentioned above.

They main reason this is a problem is that it skews any possible analysis of popularity by title.

I was finally was able to run a pivot table on the transaction date. Below is the absolute worst date. The numbers on the left are the book IDs and the numbers on the right are the number of CHECK OUT transactions on 2023/03/20. Very interesting how consistent it was. I will test the scanner tomorrow.

2023/03/20 332 total
205865028 11
206507468 11
207969892 11
208058512 11
208058554 11
208069689 11
208346753 11
208346829 11
208346934 11
208347580 11
209531148 11
209531282 11
209531363 11
213486454 11
213702109 11
215431574 11
217193551 11
217773383 11
218674201 11
221872784 11
224030505 2
224452260 11
226133015 11
226149441 11
226559418 11
229687259 11
232697429 11
232705364 11
235560145 11
235560972 11
235908472 11

I was NOT able to replicate the duplicate check out transactions with the scanner today. When the trigger is held, it flashes regularly until the code is registered and then stops. One line appears in the list and only one check out transaction shows for the day. Back to square one.

I was able to remove all duplicate 'check outs' of the same item on the same day.

>3 whbclibrary: through >6 whbclibrary: Thanks for the updates! I was unfortunately thinking operator error, as well, as I haven't seen similar reports of this issue.

Is there a slow internet connection where your volunteers are working? Could you reproduce by double (or triple/etc.) clicking on the Save button, perhaps, when checking items out? That's another thought you might want to troubleshoot... let me know if I can be of any further help in the meantime.

We were finally able to replicate the problem and change something to stop it. Especially when we are checking out multiple books with one save action, it can take some time for the save action to complete. When we clicked Save again while waiting it registered two checkouts. When we made sure to only click save once it was a single check out. So yes, the slow internet connection was involved, but we will train people to only click once. Thanks for your help.

Ah, great troubleshooting! Glad you found (and have fixed) the problem! Let me know if there's anything else I can help with.