Hi there,
We keep our reservations on open access and do not wrap them. The
customer's surname is written on a bookmark inserted into the book so
anyone looking would see ANDERSON, BALL, COOPER etc. and possibly the
library card number if they were hoping to delve a bit further by
pulling the bookmark out (unlikely).
The reality is that people are really only either looking for their own
stuff or browsing to see what's popular, not snooping to see if by
random chance there's a book for someone they know on an embarrassing
topic.
The library is self service so customers cannot borrow items reserved
for others. We have had no complaints at all.
I have visited libraries that wrap their books and it looks really ugly
and must be time consuming too. If there were any amateur sleuths
looking for juicy gossip, they would only have to pull back the wrapper!
Joking aside, we do keep our reservations in a location which is at the
end of a run in a corner, so they are not really eye catching unless you
are going there to collect your own stuff.
Hope this helps
Rebecca
Principal Librarian
Swansea.
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Madeleine Bentley
Sent: 02 November 2010 14:37
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Self Service Reservations: Anonymity issues
We currently keep books requested by customers on bookshelves behind the
counter until we issue them.
However, we are looking at reducing the size of the counter and there
will not be space to keep reserved items behind the counter. The
requests will therefore be on open access.
It would be useful to know from other authorities who keep requests on
open access what you have done about the issue of anonymity - customers
may not want others to know that they have reserved books on various
topics: divorce, health concerns etc.
I know that some authorities wrap their books - It would be useful to
know how time consuming this is and also what you wrap them in.
If you don't wrap your books, have you had any complaints from customers
re: anonymity or any other issues I haven't thought of.
I will summarise for the list.
Many thanks
Madeleine Bentley
Senior Adult Services Development Librarian
Reading Central Library
Abbey Square
Reading
RG1 3BQ
[log in to unmask]
0118 9015946
www.readingfestivalofcrimewriting.org.uk
|