In this university library our policy for all disabled students,
including those with dyslexia, who are referred by the Disability Co-
ordinator, is to offer unlimited renewals by phone once their self-
renewal limit has been reached, as long as no-one else has reserved
the book. And we do waive fines if they are returned or renewed a bit
late. Offering longer loan periods would be very complicated and
laborious to administer in our automated system.
The way it works is that our Disability Co-ordinator gives students a
form to bring to the library, and I (as librarian responsible for
services to disabled users) meet them all, and find out what their
needs are, explain the system that we have in place, and encourage
them to contact me any time they feel they are having difficulties. I
put a brief note on their record, indicating the arrangement without
giving any details, so that any fine incurred can be cancelled at the
counter without them having to explain each time. I also work closely
with Learning Support Services in the College, and with their support
and the learning strategies that students are taught there, we
usually find that they cope very well, and don't run up huge fines.
There was a survey done on this a couple of years ago on the
librarians' discussion list. There were 13 responses. 7 had longer
loan periods. 9 reduced or waived fines 'on an ad hoc basis', 4
didn't, as they felt their longer loan periods were sufficient.
Having said all this about students, this case concerning the member
of staff is quite different. We've faced arguments such as this from
academic staff who were not disabled, but who thought it quite
reasonable that library books should sit permanently in their
offices! If the book was issued to him for a year, and he's been sent
requests in various forms to return or renew it, he surely should
accept some responsibility for it? The library has to strike a
balance - service for disabled users whilst not disadvantaging
others. Incidentally, here we send out 2 reminders, and the third
time we send out a bill for replacement of the book, so there
wouldn't be a fine of 'hundreds of pounds'.
If, as he seems to be suggesting, he needs this book on a more-or-
less permanent basis, might it not be a more 'reasonable adjustment'
for his department to buy him a copy of the book (assuming it's still
in print) than to keep the library copy out of circulation?
Sorry this has been a long email, but I hope some of it has been
useful - I'm also interested to know what policies other libraries
have.
Regards
Eileen Nazha
Main Library
Queen Mary, University of London
Priority: HIGH
Date sent: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 09:42:14 +0000
Send reply to: "Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff." <[log in to unmask]>
From: "E.Coyne" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Library Fines
To: [log in to unmask]
> I wonder if anyone can advise me. A staff member with dyspraxia has run
> up huge library fines (several hundred pounds). We operate extended
> loan periods but this has not helped in this situation. He says that
> other HEIs waive the fines for people with dyslexia and dyspraxia so
> feels he should not have to pay the fines. I wondered if this was the
> case at other places and whether we should consider changing our policy
> on the issue? Any examples helpfully received.
> king regards
> Emma
> ----------------------
> Emma Coyne
> Disabilities Officer
> Disability Services
> University of Hull
> (01482)466833
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Apologies for any strange wording - this message may have been dictated
> by voice recognition software.
|