NoShare cards
Just in case everybody hasn't heard this, as part of the continuing de-Nancy Smith-ization of the library, the TexShare program is being tightened up immensely. It was announced at the last SLA meeting that borrowers will have to have a completely clear record -- including overdues--for six months to be issues a TexShare card. As John can attest, some area libraries regard IPL as a TexLaughingStock, and we were the most permissive issuer around. However, I think the new policy is ludicrous. First, we can't guarantee that patrons' materials will be checked in within the three week/10 day window. Sometimes it takes a location 48 hours to check something in if it is busy on the weekend-- we are punishing patrons for something they didn't actually do wrong. Furthermore, our no overdues policy sends the clear message to our patrons that it's OK to return items a little overdue, as long as they bring them back (just like Blockbuster).
I would suggest that patrons be barred from having a TexShare for losts, and even extend the clean record period to a year or more, but nothing about overdue library books should reasonably indicate that a borrower will abuse the TexShare system.
posted by Anonymous at 3:43 PM
7 Comments:
It's possible, but you do have wiggle room. At IPL, we have a 10-day grace period written into the books, so items returned late but within that period don't actually count. Also, overdues are an abuse of the tex-share system. The other participating libraries don't have standards as lax as ours, so if they're going to meet the more stringent requirements of other libraries in the area, they need to prove that they can before we bother. After all, with a tex-share card the IPL is fiscally responsible for items our patrons go borrow from other libraries. In any case, I can tell you that we probably aren't going to actually block people from getting a Tex-Share card just because they have a few reasonable overdues.
6:18 PM
You know I understand the reasonableness of setting some kind of stricter standard considering that IPL will be liable for any lost items checked out by IPL Tex-Share card holders, but stringent requirements really defeat the entire purpose of even offering the cards. We had several patrons at NL come back to us telling us that other libraries had nearly completely different policies for TexShare card holders, including what of a collection they could actually check out, including restrictions on items that circulate normally to their own patrons. The point of TexShare is not to offer a sort of 2nd class membership to TexShare patrons so as to technically comport with the program, but to make library materials MORE available. I think it's important to keep that in mind, though I think IPL is right to tighten up their reuqirements somewhat.
7:37 PM
What's with all this library shit? Can't we talk about tubgirl again or something?
8:41 AM
No Adam, not now. Remember how this blog was created with the library in mind?
Maybe overdues are not good enough predictors of behavior, but it really doesn't matter. Us being a bit more stringent won't hurt us in the least. We're certainly still going to be far less demanding of our patrons than other libraries are.
This is partly political though. Patty, via Marilyn, expressed the concern that we need to be more conscientious about giving out cards and collecting fees and anything that makes us financially responsible to anyone. We are playing with the City's money, after all.
The only real consideration is whether this hurts IPL in any way or unreasonably withholds a service from patrons. I can't see that it does, so I don't really care to argue against it.
4:32 PM
I don't think items take any longer than an hour or so, at the most, to be checked in at most locations. I know it's true for NW, CL, and SW; and EB as far as I know.
If double check-in is the reason that books take 48 hours to be checked in, then the system needs to be changed. If a location can handle a double check-in while still checking all the items in for the first time on a practically immediate basis then everything is fine, but a 48 hour time period on returned items is a real problem. Doesn't that damage the aura of confidence that double check-in is supposed to engender?
5:26 PM
I think Daniel was referring to cases of consecutive closed days. At East it certainly does not take more than 10 minutes to get everything checked in, but they are closed both Saturday and Sunday. Those are actual closed days, not working closed days. And at Central the max time is about an hour depending on the bookdrop.
10:51 AM
As far as I know, VY is open 6 days a week. There are no consecutive closed days. BUT, they have no shelvers on their closed day, for some reason.
8:17 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home