Actually, we have to be careful about the using the term ‘in the same way’. Currently, it applies blocks that would have to be manually removed (one by one) in SIMs.
My proposal is that it is built with a little for thought and would automatically add those with blocks, while removing those without blocks. (eg the people that recently paid their fines.) Technical details aside, yet this could easily be accomplished without extra work (more work than simply placing the blocks) required in putting this in place.
Several libraries has asked for it, so OLS has requested that this be put into place.
Technical summary for those wanting the high level view:
‘Extract those with fines from Aleph. Drop table for those with blocks. Add Table, and insert records.’
Now you have a database table listing only the people that owe money to libraries. It can be automated and run on a weekly (or possibly daily) basis.