Some authorities already have! - if it's on the shelf in any of our
libraries and the person is prepared to go and fetch it (Bournemouth is
pretty small - wouldn't work in large urban or rural areas before you reach
for your return button!) then we don't charge. If there is a social
inclusion issue eg lack of transport, disability, child and a host of other
reasons left to the discretion of the local staff, then again we wouldn't
charge for the item to be sent to the library (works for av items too which
we don't stock at all libs). Only if the item is on loan or not in stock
would we then charge - now that opens another debate!
With another hat on (Chair of the LA's Public Libraries Committee) I have
been reading the debate about main library with interest - it must be the
most hotly debated topic! Intend to raise the debate at the next committee
meeting.
Shelagh Levett
Bournemouth
-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Lawson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2001 12:38 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: main library
Steven Heywood writes,
"if you've got a networked cataloguing/circulation system it doesn't matter
where a book
physically lives, it's available for loan anywhere on the system".
Why then, should someone using a tiny local library have to pay to
reserve/read, say, the new Joanne Harris, when someone in a another area in
the same city can pick it up from the shelves for free? Obviously we can't
afford to buy everything for everywhere due to budget restrictions, but
wouldn't it be more socially inclusive to scrap reservation charges?
Sue Lawson
Librarian
Crumpsall Library
Manchester City Council
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
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