[ILL-L] Best way to avoid charges?

[Sharon Bleau]

This works well for us, too.


On 17 Dec 2009 at 13:27, Didham, Reginald wrote:

> We always keep our maxcost set to $0.  Our custom holdings are set
> up to provide free lenders.  If we need to go outside our custom
> holdings, I hit the policies directory and see who charges what. 
> Once I have a lender string, I check with student borrowers to see
> if they're willing to pay the maximum charge.  If it's faculty, we
> pay.  Before submitting the request, I re-set the maximum charge to
> the highest cost in the lender string.  We're a small operation, but
> we are rarely charged unexpectedly, almost never.
> 
> 
> 
> Reg Didham
> Cataloging & Acquisitions Librarian
> Alphin Library
> The Boston Conservatory
> 8 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02215
> www.bostonconservatory.edu
> 
> Tel:  617.912.9130
> Fax: 617.912.9101
> rdidham at bostonconservatory.edu
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Harbin, Jeff
> E.
> Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 1:22 PM
> To: ill-l at webjunction.org
> Subject: [ILL-L] Best way to avoid charges?
> 
> What is the best way to avoid being charged for borrowing ILL?
> 
> Maybe I'm asking for too much here, but I hope there's someone else
> out there who's had experience with this predicament.  TMJ's
> constant data records have included "PLEASE CONDITIONAL if you
> charge!" in the Borrowing Notes since before I took over ILL nearly
> a year ago, but we still get charged by lending libraries (who have
> not conditionaled my requests) on a regular basis.  Just yesterday I
> received two invoices in the mail (though we prefer IFM) from
> libraries who charged me for a loan well after the transaction had
> been completed.
> 
> I have my maximum cost set to $15 so we can still borrow from
> libraries who do charge us.  Essentially, I'm ok with paying
> necessary charges most of the time--our grad students request theses
> on a regular basis, and I understand why charges are usually
> associated there--but I'd like to know that I'm being charged before
> I'm sent the item so I can pursue a free option if one is available.
> Does that make sense?  I don't like charges snuck in there because
> the lending library didn't bother to read my borrowing note.
> 
> Would it be better to set my max cost to $0?  My only fear there is
> that libraries who do charge would just reply "No" without a
> conditional.  Again, I'm fine with paying charges via IFM if
> necessary, but both my library director and I would like to keep
> costs down as much as possible, and being more proactive and aware
> of charges seems like a good first step.
> 
> Perhaps just thinking out loud, on a listerv. I appreciate any
> ideas.  Thanks as always!
> 
> Jefferson E. Harbin
> Public Services Librarian
> P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library
> Milligan College
> (423) 461-8495
> jeharbin at milligan.edu
> 
> 
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Sharon Bleau
Reference Librarian
Mountain State University