I'm definitely in favour of charging fines where appropriate. If you're
issuing items on an automated circulation system then you'd use the due date
set by the system. I take the point that this date may be wrong due to
someone putting in the wrong settings on the system but there's no more
reason for it to be wrong than the date on a date stamp or the date someone
writes on a date label, and a good likelihood for it to be wrong less often.
Steven
Steven Heywood
Systems Manager
Rochdale Library Service
Wheatsheaf Library
Baillie Street
Rochdale, England OL16 1JZ
Tel: 01706 864967
Fax: 01706 864992
Feeling glum? Go to
http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/living/libraries.asp?url=pageOfFun and see what
real misery looks like!
> ----------
> From: Rhian Williams[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To: Rhian Williams
> Sent: 17 January 2002 15:53
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Date stamps
>
> <<File: InterScan_Disclaimer.txt>>
> I've also seen this correspondence and, while bearing in mind what has
> been
> said about self-service and renewals through the web, we would still find
> it
> very difficult to measure use without date-stamping partly due to the
> limitations of our bibliographic system.
>
> What worries me more is how we could legally be justified in imposing
> fines
> for late return when we had not (at the staffed issue counter) put in
> writing what the date of return was? If I was a customer thus being
> charged,
> I would be justifiably annoyed. Does that mean that everyone in favour of
> not stamping would not charge fines?
>
> Rhian Williams
> Prif Lyfrgellydd / Principal Librarian
> Gwasanaeth Llyfrgell Gwybodaeth ac Archifau / Library, Information and
> Archives Service
> Cyngor Bwrdeisdref Sirol CONWY County Borough Council
> E-Bost / E-Mail : [log in to unmask]
> Gwę / Web : www.conwy.gov.uk
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Hilary Hammond" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: < >
> Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 3:29 PM
> Subject: Re: Date stamps
>
>
> > Dear Michael,
> >
> > I've seen this correspondence today, and am quite fascinated by it. I
> am
> a
> > cultural consultant working from my office at home, so I am a "library
> user"
> > rather than a "library service supplier".
> >
> > The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library has recently introduced self
> > service terminals for all book issues and returns. These are my
> preferred
> > means of issuing and returning because I can avoid queues at the staffed
> > desks. The system provides me with a receipt for all transactions,
> > including returns. I think this is an improvement on the previous
> staffed
> > system with a date stamp. The stock seems to be lasting longer at a
> high
> > physical quality as well, as the books are not forcibly opened to apply
> a
> > date stamp.
> >
> > My advice is to take the plunge.
> >
> > Best wishes
> >
> > Hilary
> > _________________________________
> > Hilary Hammond, O.B.E, F.L.A.,
> > Managing Partner
> > Hilary Hammond - Cultural Consultancy
> >
> > 1 Beech Drive, Strumpshaw ,
> > Norwich, Norfolk
> > NR13 4AF
> >
> > Tel/fax. (+44) (0) 1603 717750
> > email [log in to unmask]
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: michael.tidd <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 9:53 AM
> > Subject: Re: Date stamps
> >
> >
> > There seem to be two separate asects being considered here -
> > the usefulness of date labels to library staff (mainly
> > those who are higher up the system, and who are
> > interested in the stats, etc.) and the
> > usefulness/requirements of the reader. I am personally
> > more interested in the latter.
> >
> > What are those branches/authorities who have stopped/reduced
> > date stamping finding is the feedback from library-users?
> > Are the front-line staff finding an increasing number of
> > disgruntled/confused/unhappy readers? Has anybody asked
> > the public what they think?
> >
> >
> >
> > Michael
>
>
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