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SBC-Standard The data standard for libraries

11 Checkout

Request
11
Response
12
Set
core
Position in BX
1

Checkout is what a self-checkout unit exists for. The device names patron and item, the library system charges it and answers with the due date.

Only the response decides: As long as the device has not seen 1 in the result flag, it must not deactivate the item's security and must not print a receipt.

Request 11#

11<renewal policy><no block><timestamp><nb due date><AO...><AA...><AB...>
  <AC...><AD...><BO...><XK...><XL...>
Field Length Required Content
renewal policy 1 yes Y the device may renew if the patron already has the item
no block 1 yes Y transaction filed later, see below
timestamp 18 yes date and time on the device
nb due date 18 yes due date the device assigned in offline operation; otherwise blank
Identifier Required Content
AO yes institution identifier
AA yes patron identifier
AB yes item identifier
AC yes terminal password
AD no patron password
BO no Y the patron has acknowledged a fee
XK no type of item identifier: BAR, ACC or UID
XL no type of patron identifier: BAR, ACC or UID

Transactions without checks#

If the library system fails, a device can carry on provided the system status allows it: It remembers the transactions, assigns a due date itself and files them once it reaches the system again. Such transactions carry Y in "no block" and the self-assigned date in "nb due date".

The library system books them without further checks: The patron left long ago, the item is out of the building – a refusal would come too late and would only falsify the holdings.

Fee acknowledgement#

If the checkout incurs a fee, the library system first refuses it and states the amount in BV. The device shows it to the patron; if they agree, it sends the request again, this time with BO set to Y. Only then is the item charged.

Library systems that do not collect checkout fees at the device charge the item straight away and ignore BO.

Response 12#

12<ok><renewal ok><magnetic media><desensitize><timestamp><AO...><AA...>
  <AB...><AJ...><AH...><AQ...><CK...><BH...><BV...><AF...><AG...><XZ...>
Field Length Required Content
ok 1 yes 1 charged, 0 not charged
renewal ok 1 yes Y the patron already had the item, it was renewed
magnetic media 1 yes Y/N magnetic security, U unknown
desensitize 1 yes Y the device should deactivate the security, N not, U unknown
timestamp 18 yes date and time on the library system
Identifier Required Content
AO yes institution identifier
AA yes patron identifier
AB yes item identifier
AJ yes short title
AH yes due date
AQ no location the item belongs to
CK no media type
BH no currency; only together with BV
BV no fee for this checkout
AF no message for the screen
AG no message for the receipt
XZ no transaction number

If the library system does not track security technology – the normal case with RFID, because the device knows it itself – "magnetic media" and "desensitize" are U. The device then follows its own configuration.

If the checkout is refused (0), AF gives the reason in plain text: blocked card, limit reached, reference stock, already charged to another patron. The device shows this text unchanged – it should not phrase its own, because the rule behind it is known only to the library.

Example#

11YN20260728    14301220260728    143012AOBVS|AA1140360000042|AB1140360000123|ACsecret|XKBAR|XLBAR|AY5AZE694<CR>
121YUU20260728    143012AOBVS|AA1140360000042|AB1140360000123|AJEnde, Michael: Momo|AH25.08.2026|AQCentral library|CK001|AF|AG|XZ12345|AY5AZD992<CR>

Charged (1), no renewal, due on 25 August 2026.

This page was translated automatically from the German original. If anything reads oddly or looks wrong, please let us know — the German edition prevails.