[ILL-L] charging for ILL?

[Pat Johnson]

We are a public library system of 38 public libraries.  We started 
charging our patrons $1.00 in 1995 for any book we receive from an out 
of system library (basically through OCLC).
We have a white band we put on those out of system books when they come 
here, and the stamp on the white band states "There is a $1.00 postage 
charge" - and that $1.00 is included when the book is returned to us 
from our member libraries.   It is up the member libraries to collect 
the $ from the patron, and see that the dollar is in the book when 
returned on our System delivery.   If the patron doesn't ever pick up 
the book, then the member library must pay that $1.00.   We leave the 
responsibility up the our member libraries for collecting the money.

We have an online interlibrary loan form and on the form it says there 
is a $1.00 charge for the out of system book being requested - so the 
patron is told upfront that there is a $1.00 charge.

The dollar does not cover our postage costs, but it helps.  The money is 
kept here in the ILL office, and then goes to our Business Office as our 
ILL Postage money.

The charge does eliminate patrons ordering anything found in print on a 
subject and then not bothering to pick up the material.   The cost is 
low enough that for those in need of the material, the charge is still 
affordable.




ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org wrote:
> If your institution charges patrons to borrow ILL materials, would you 
> mind letting us know how you handle that process?  Currently, we are 
> not allowed to keep any funds related to fines and fees that our 
> patrons pay--the money goes back into the university's general fund 
> budget instead of the library's.  We are trying to figure out an 
> alternative method for dealing with ILL charges.  Any comments much 
> appreciated.
>

-- 
Patricia A. Johnson	
Interlibrary Loan librarian
Chautauqua Cattaraugus Library System
106 W 5th ST
Jamestown NY 14701
716-484-7135, x243
716-483-6880 fax