[ILL-L] borrowing books for college classes

[Joe Ellison]

Not to open the "should we lend/borrow textbooks" debate again, but... If
she's requesting the books for her son who is attending a school other than
yours, the big issue is that she's making herself responsible for their
timely return. If you have a policy of not borrowing anything that isn't
work-related, then there's really no question as to your response. If you
generally do borrow non-work-related material for your patrons, and would
have borrowed them had she not told you they're for her son, then you need
only reiterate that she's making herself responsible for the books. You
could also suggest that she or her son place the requests through their
public library, reminding them that 1) many libraries won't borrow obvious
textbooks, and 2) the due dates on the books probably won't coincide with
his school calendar.

Joe Ellison
Document Delivery and Digital Initiatives Assistant
Transportation Library, Northwestern Univ Library (OCLC = JCR)
1970 Campus Dr, Evanston, IL 60208-2300
voice: 847-491-8600, fax: 847-491-8601
j-ellison at northwestern.edu
http://www.library.northwestern.edu/transportation/

From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Lowman, Lisa
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:10 AM
To: Interlibrary Loan Listserv
Subject: [ILL-L] borrowing books for college classes

Good Morning All:

I just had a patron come to me inquiring about ordering books through ILL
for her son who is in college(10) books in all.  I do remember sometime ago,
an email discussion on this topic, but do not remember what the final
response was.  Of course, I did tell her about the use Barnes and Noble book
store in NY on 18 & 5th and the strand book store too.  I don't think we do
this because it is not medical or related to the job so I need your help so
that I can respond to her properly and forward her on to the next resource.


Thank you as always my back-up!


Lisa Lowman-Sheppard
Library Technician
Medical Library 3-142D
VA New Jersey Healthcare System
385 Tremont Avenue
East Orange, New Jersey 07018
973-676-1000x11969
Email: lisa.lowman at va.gov