What a shocking figure! And I think we are included there.
The responsibility for chasing Hays lies with the library which sent the book back to you. They should contact Hays and ask them to instigate a search. On a couple of occasions I have done this and the book has turned up in a couple of days, but we have no idea where it has been in the meantime. In most cases I am given a log number and someone rings me back a couple of hours later and reports nothing has been found. The only practical thing to do is to make it clear when you lend books that they must be returned by post and not by HAYS. Perhaps write it clearly on your Return labels? The problem is that most of us do not know a book has gone astray until we get an overdue from the lender and then start checking.
Given that Hays seems to have the contract from many of the regional library organisations, those libraries which know they have a poor service from Hays can perhaps warn us when they send out books (presumably by post) that returns must be made by post.
Dr Jenny Brine
Interlending and Document Supply
Lancaster University Library
Lancaster LA1 4YH
Tel: 01524-592528
Fax: 01524-63806
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-----Original Message-----
From: Stockton ILL mailbox [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 05 June 2003 16:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Hays
Re the recent correspondence about Hays, we are a sectional library of
Durham University at Stockton on Tees. We make a modest number of loans
to, and borrow a modest number from other libraries. We rely on the
Royal Mail this end and up until this year have never had anything go
astray. Since the beginning of 2003, 20% of our loans out have never
made it back to us. They have been sent back by the borrowing libraries
via Hays. Being unfamiliar with Hays and their procedures can anyone
tell me the best way of finding out where our books are. Admittedly we
are located in that erstwhile wilderness famously walked by Mrs Thatcher
but nowadays the area is flourishing - we have proper streets and street
names and even feature on maps so it isn't unreasonable to expect a Hays
driver to find us.
I'd be grateful for any advice.
Linda Bromley, Durham University Library Queen's Campus Section,
Stockton on Tees.
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