[ILL-L] Processing Fees: Do you charge them? What is yourbest practice?

[Campbell, Heather]

We charge them.  We used to list them separately from the other costs
but someone from the agency who paid for books lost in our courier
system said very imperiously "WE don't pay processing fees!"  Until
recently, they represented the majority of the monies coming in for
reimbursements so I just raised the cost to include the processing fee.


 

Heather Campbell, Senior Librarian

Manager- Interlibrary Loan 

Jacksonville Public Library (JPL)

303 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202-3505 heatherc at coj.net  (904) 630-2986

 

________________________________

From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Laura Barnard
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 11:38 AM
To: Interlibrary Loan Listserv
Subject: Re: [ILL-L] Processing Fees: Do you charge them? What is
yourbest practice?

 

Carrie,

 

We are a public library.  We do not charge processing fees for our own
books, either to our own patrons or to our ILL partners.  We do pass on
the fees that other libraries charge us and we do not  allow refunds on
them if the owning library won't refund them to us.

 

WHAT I REALLY CARE ABOUT processing fees is: if you charge them, PLEASE
itemize them separately from the lost charges.  

 

The one thing I think processing fees (the non refundable kind, whether
charged by the borrower or the lender) accomplish is to perhaps set a
break on the practice (of patrons, and you know which ones you have) of
keeping books out for very long periods and then returning them for
either no penalty or for only overdue fines.  It costs both the lending
and the borrowing libraries plenty to track and process books that have
gone to lost status even if the items are eventually returned at the end
of the semester or when the paper is finally published.

 

May you all have a great holiday.

 

 

Laura Barnard

Coordinating Library Technician

Interlibrary  Loans

Seattle Public Library (UOK)

206-386-4601

 

 

From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Eastman, Carrie
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 7:47 AM
To: 'Interlibrary Loan Listserv'
Subject: [ILL-L] Processing Fees: Do you charge them? What is your best
practice?

 

Hi,

 

I think I pretty much know what some folks would say about this.  But
the question came up in conversation today and I thought I would put it
out on the list to see what others have to say.  

 

For many, charging a processing fee for lost interlibrary loan books, on
top of the cost of the book, is standard practice.

 

For some libraries, processing fees are standard even when overdue books
are returned or a replacement copy is given.

 

Some, correct me if I am wrong, prefer not to charge a processing fee in
these situations.

 

I have been inclined to charge a processing fee on top of the cost of
lost books.  If overdue books are returned I do not charge a processing
fee.  

 

I have been working under the assumption that most do charge a
processing fee along with the cost of a book.  And that is partly why I
have been charging the processing fee (on the rare occasion that I
actually have to bill for a book).  Our Circulation Desk also charges a
processing fee on top of the cost of lost books.  However, I have
sometimes wondered if tacking on a processing fee really makes sense.
In a time when budgets are shrinking, tuitions are going up, and we are
trying to rethink interlibrary and resource sharing is it really a good
idea to be tacking on a processing fee?  Does is work against our
efforts to foster stronger and better collegial relationships between
libraries?  Maybe, maybe not.  Granted, there are still a set of rules
we need to adhere to in order for the interlibrary loan system to work.
If we didn't the system would fall apart.  

 

So, in the spirit of some good conversation, do you charge processing
fees?  If yes, why?  What is the background/history behind your library
instituting such fees?  

 

What would not charging processing fees mean for your library?  Less
money?  Less work for ILL staff?  Abuse of your good will?  Anything
else?

 

Are the reasons you charge processing fees in line with our Circulation
Desk's reasons?  Or, are they different?  Why?

 

And for a harder more philosophical question, separate from you
institution's policies, do you like charging processing fees?  Why or
why not?  If you feel at odds with the library's policy, what
differences of opinion are causing the tension?  

 

Please, share if you like,

 

Carrie

________________________________________________________________________
______

 

Carrie Eastman

Information Services/Interlibrary Loan Librarian

Purchase College Library-SUNY

735 Anderson Hill Rd.

Purchase, NY 10577

914.251.6428

carrie.eastman at purchase.edu

 

 

 

 

 

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