[Publib] Re: Charging for ILL

[Sue Bowser]

I do cringe at the thought of not offering ILL. It can be a great public relations tool.  When we were trying to get a referendum passed one of the most vocal and enthusiastic supporters was a man who used our ILL services extensively. Recently we had a very happy camper when we got a technical volume for a gentleman who needed it for his profession.  The cheapest copy he could find was over $300.  He immediately knew the financial value of the library to him.

Our library doesn't charge with two exceptions.  Several years ago we instituted a policy that after a person had received 25 fulfilled ILL requests there would be a charge for each additional request.  The person must pay $1.00 when they place the request and $2.00 when they receive it. This only applies to a few people a year.  We put it in place because of, surprise, a few people abusing the system.  One genealogist placed over 600 requests in a year and a college professor placed over 900.  It turns out we were more effecient than the university where he worked.  It's amazing how his school's services improved when the minimal charge was instituted.

A new fee that has kust been instituted in the last few months is a $25.00 fee for not picking up an ILL book.  Again it was the result of people abusing the system.  We have a form that people must sign that states they have been apprised of the possible charges and agree to them. As far as I know, only one person has incurred the fine since the new policy was instituted. 

Sue Bowser
Manager, Adult Services
Lancaster Public Library
125 N. Duke St.
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 394-2651 x117
Fax (717) 394-3083
sbowser at lancaster.lib.pa.us
 




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