[Publib] A question for you

[Denise Johnson]

My first thought is, what will you do when 15 or 20 (or whatever is an unusually high number of copies for your library) people are willing to pay the library discounted price for the next Danielle Steele and your library has never purchased more than some number significantly less than that? Will you purchase that number of copies? 

Will the money go into your governing body's general funds "lost" to you for the rest of the year. Or do you have a donation fund or memorial fund that comes directly to your library? Could your Friends operate this? They might purchase 75 copies of a Danielle Steele and then be able to sell whatever you do not need Quickly after the first rush is over for you but the interest in the latest Danielle Steele is still strong? Or how will those patrons feel if "their" gift is summarily sold within a few months?

What about absorbing the cost of processing significantly more copies of a book than you might otherwise want? Will you include in the cost of the book the funds needed to process significantly more copies than you really need (those extra bar codes, pockets, book covers) in the patron's cost? Or could you circulate copies minimally processed, without the covers and really process what is left after the rush?

The idea is interesting and maybe others have had success. Maybe the actual number of people willing to purchase a copy just to be first is not overwhelming? 


This e-mail contains the thoughts and opinions of Denise Johnson and does not represent official Midland County Policy.

Denise Johnson, County Librarian
Midland County Public Library
301 W. Missouri Ave
Midland, TX 79701
Direct Phone:(432) 688-4333
Fax: (432) 688-4939
e-mail denise_johnson at co.midland.tx.us
Main Library number (432) 688-4320


>>> "Monica Casanova" <mcasanova at monticello.lib.in.us> 5/2/2008 8:41 AM >>>

Hello All,

Here's a question our director wanted me to throw out there.  Have any of your libraries tried this: 
"Patrons who are interested in a newly published book be given the opportunity to donate the price of the book for the privilege of being first to borrow it."
They would be "donating" the price of the book at the discounted library rate that we get through vendors like Baker and Taylor.
It doesn't quite feel right to me, but I'd like to get some feedback on this idea.

Monica Casanova
Adult Services Librarian
Monticello Public Library
321 West Broadway Street
Monticello, Indiana 47960-2047
www.monticello.lib.in.us
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