Dear Lis-Link,

Below are the results to my questions regarding short loan collections.
Many thanks to those who replied. I'd also like to ask have any
institutions tried issuing their short loans for "rolling" time periods
e.g. 4 hours at a time, and how they find this works. Does anyone use a
booking system for their short loans? Has this helped?

Many thanks to all who reply!

Sally

Discrete Short Loan Collections Results

Institutions were asked:

* Is it necessary to retain a discrete collection?
* Could the SLC be housed with the reference collection?
* Are there any other options?

Aston University
Currently have a discrete short loan collection with a separate security
gate and issue counter. They are considering abandoning this arrangement
and interfiling the SLC with the main book stock, but retaining its short
loan status to maximise availability.

Reading University
Currently have a discrete short loan collection beside the issue deskand
have no palns to alter this arrangment at present. they are considering:
changing the way liaison works to ensure that the items on short loan are
the ones most in demand, investigating eReserve options and purchasing a
security gate and self issue machien to reduce staffing.

Roehampton University
Have interfiled their SLC with reference and journals in an areas the at
can be segregated from the rest of the collection and opened 24/7 along
with a PC suite.

National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Have interfiled their SLC wit their main collection and identify the short
loan items with labels. they find that this works well as users can see
what other copies or similar material is available, however it is slightly
more time-consuming to manage.

St Andrews University
Currently have a separate SLC and intend to keep it so. Students enter the
SLC (which is held behind a service desk)through a turnstile and help
themselves to the items they want which are then issued on 2 terminals on
the way out of the collection. They are currently considering a completely
separte SLC away from the service desk. For this they are hoping to install
2 self issue machines and 1 self return machine. Books will be barcoded on
the front covers to make issues and returns easier.

De Montfort University (Bedford Library)
Currently have a separate SLC beside the main issue desk. Students enter
the SLC through a security gate and help themselves to items which are then
issued at a counter. We are currently considering interfiling our short
loans with either the reference collection or the main library stock but
things are still very much at the debating stage.