Graham, some of the following is Sirsi-specific but some of the points are valid to a wider audience.

I haven't received this yet though it certainly appears to be something that she is likely to have sent out en masse (though she uses the term borough in 1 so maybe it is London only)

Count Charges will do 2 easily enough.

Bill Totals by Bill Reason will help with 3 (assuming you have a unique bill reason for overdue fines) but will include all overdue fines not just those of the items that are presently overdue. It will also not show accruing fines.

3(ii) could be done by List Charges and a lot of trial and error I suppose. Much simpler with API training but I know Sutton do not have that. We (and I suspect many authorities) set long overdue items to assumed lost and bill a replacement fee rather than letting them gather fines indefinitely anyway.

4 is a bit cheeky really coming as part of an FOI request.

Robert Day, Cambridgeshire Libraries

From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dash Graham
Sent: 28 September 2011 12:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Freedom of Information Request

Has anyone else had this request from journalist Rebecca Seales? If yes, have you managed to answer all the questions?

I’m finding it very difficult as there’s obviously little understanding as to how fines/bill for replacement processes work.

I would like to request information about the following:

1. How many public libraries are there in the borough? (Not including those in schools, universities, prisons, etc - just the number run for the general public.)

2. How many books, DVDs and CDs are currently overdue at these libraries? (If calculating this will exceed the cost limit, please give a figure for books only.)

3. What is the total estimated value of fines on these items? If the council caps its fines, please also give the figure which would theoretically be owed if they had not been capped.

3. Which are the five most overdue items at public libraries in the borough? In each case, please give the title, author, when the item was borrowed and the size of the fine attached to it.

As above, where fines have been capped please outline what the fine would be if it had been allowed to increase unchecked.

4. If the council’s libraries have had any books or other resources returned which were overdue by several years, I would be grateful for information on these cases.

Thanks

Graham

Graham Dash, MCLIP, Library Services Manager (Systems & Development)
Environment & Leisure Group, Leisure & Libraries
London Borough of Sutton, Central Library, St Nicholas Way, SUTTON, Surrey SM1 1EA .

Tel.: 020 8770 4763, Mobile: 07515137830, Fax: 020 8770 4777

Borough web site: www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=907
Library Catalogue web site: www.sutton-libraries.gov.uk

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