[ILL-L] Textbooks and ILL

[Linda Clausen]

One thing we started doing in our public library is making all books that look like textbooks--that are published in the last few years-library use only. Then the book is here when it is due (Hopefully) and we can return it on time. This really has put a damper on the students using us to supplement their book budgets. Although some still use us and try to get through what they need in the time alloted.
Linda Clausen
Fort Vancouver Regional Library 

-----Original Message-----
From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Richard Samford
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:47 PM
To: Interlibrary Loan Listserv
Subject: Re: [ILL-L] Textbooks and ILL

ILL_PSC ILL_PSC wrote:
> I sympathize with public libraries, but a loan is a loan is a loan is a loan. It doesn't matter what the patron is using it for, they still have to follow the lender's restrictions/policies/due dates. My students only get 6 weeks use, so I am sorry, but your patrons only get six weeks use.
>   
... but that's really the crux of the whole matter.  They DON'T follow the lenders' due dates...  "I'll return it when I'm done and just pay the fine..."  I've heard that time after time.  Even with a dollar per day overdue, and the ability to block university records, administration maintains we cap our overdue maximum at $30, and usually, by the time we realize it's going to be a problem, we can't get a replacement cost and issue payment before the end of the semester, when the patron gleefully brings the book back with a $30 check.  Better than paying $120 bucks for the thing, and only getting $6 from the U bookstore buyback. 

    So, a loan is not a loan is not a loan is not a loan.  It's another library wondering if they should ever loan anything to us again, since "they still have three of our books that they can't get back". 

    It's also one student telling ten......... 

    Thus:  "Textbooks and other titles assigned for PSU classes are not obtained on Interlibrary Loan".  Period, finito, end of story.  We get a list from the bookstore too.

    "But I'm not taking that class"...we've had art undergrads request "underwater theoretical reconstructive brain surgery" titles (highly specialized graduate level textbooks in a way-nother field) "because it sounded like it would be fun to read"...  

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.  :|


-- 
Richard Samford            | samford at pittstate.edu 
Interlibrary Loan          | voice:  (620)235-4890 
Leonard H. Axe Library     | fax:   620/235-4090 
Pittsburg State University | http://library.pittstate.edu/ 
Pittsburg, KS   66762-5889 | OCLC:  KFP



_______________________________________________
ILL-L mailing list
ILL-L at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/ill-l