Each branch should be able to select if it will accept patrons checking in books from other branches. 3 steps proposed:

• global syspref: should Koha manage checkins globally or on a branch by branch basis? 3 choices:
  • Check-in allowed globally? Y/N → any branch will accept books initially checkout from any other library
  • check-in allowed on a branch by branch basis? Y/N
• if choice 2 is ON, in each site's parameters, one can select the list of branches for which transfer of items are a-ok.
• in UI in circulation, when one checks in an item initially checked out from another library, Koha has different messages according to the situation:
  • “transfer to library OTHERLIBRARY” if transfer is allowed
  • “Checkin from library OTHERLIBRARY is not allowed. Do you want to override?” Y/N. If Y: do as preceding step; If N: do nothing, the item stays on the patron's account.

Q: How would this handle holds since transfers are done automatically? - David Schuster dschust1@gmail.com

A: Hi David. Your question made me realize I wasn't clear enough: I meant to talk about the checkins, rather than the transfers themselves. I don't think that changes the current working of transfers or holds as such. It's just that if you scan a book from another library that you shouldn't be scanning in, Koha tells you so; you can override this, in which case the return of the document is registered and the rest of the usual settings (as to transfers, holds, etc) kicks in; if you don't override, the item stays on loan on the patron's account. All the rest stays the same. Unless I'm missing something in your question.