Here is a little cat among the ILL request pigeons!
Under the Public Library Act 1964 , the local authority is obliged to provide a
comprehensive and efficient library service
Authorities can fulfill this obligation by "the keeping of adequate stocks, by
arrangements with other library authorities, and by any other appropriate
means" ILLs are presumably an "other appropriate means". 2a
The act says that "Except as provided by this section, no charge shall be
made by a library authority (otherwise than to another library authority) for
library facilities made available by the authority". 8(1)
An exemption is given i.e. "but this subsection shall not prevent any
regulations under this section from authorising the making of charges in
respect of the use of any facility for the reservation of written materials" 8
(3d).
However, it is clear that many library authorities not only make a "charge in
respect of the use of any facility for the reservation of written materials" but
also make a separate charge as a contribution to the cost of obtaining an ILL
loan.
Is this later charge justified under the 1964 act? Could it not be argued that
the charge for reservation should be a single flat charge and that there is
nothing in the act to allow a variable charge related to the cost of obtaining
that reservation? In other words you can charge for a reservation, but the
provision of written materials has to be free irrespective of the means you use
to provide that material.
I don't pretend that this is helpful!! I just wondered if it had been considered.
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