On 31/05/12 11:44, Faye Langston wrote:
> I’m just wondering whether other institutions offer disabled students
> extended library loan periods still? Here we have a system where
> disabled students can bring books back ‘late’ and not be charged (upto a
> specific timescale) rather than them being ‘stamped’ with a longer loan
> period, so I wondered what you do.
We at Birmingham University can set up "extended loans" on the students'
library accounts for the first loan period then renewals revert to the
usual length. So if normal loan is 1 week, they get 2 weeks then
renewals at 1 week each.
Disabled students are then subject to the same recall rules as everyone
else if the book is in demand and I think they get fined on books as
usual too. I think this is reasonably fair as it is more like in the
real world where many public libraries will allow disabled people
enhanced/adapted borrowing conditions but still ultimately charge fines
if the material isn't returned on time.
Like Joanna at Chester the extended loans can't be done through the
self-service machines so the student does have to go to one of the desks
- they report that library staff are discreet and helpful and I don't
think they feel too singled out by that and no detail is given simply
what conditions they have on the card. This means the student is aware
of when they have extended loans or not by how they have checked the
book out - they can also check library books in their portal page which
most seem to use and the new iPhone/Android app.
Natalya
|