Andrew makes an important point. Just over 200,000 of our transactions this
financial year are telephone renewals. It's unlikely that all the customers
involved would have written the return date on all those date labels, even
though our staff ask them to. This situation can only get "worse" as
libraries move to allow self-service renewals on PACs, etc.
A well-managed library should use its computer system to identify
potentially moribund stock and then use any physical evidence to make the
final decision as to whether or not particular items should be withdrawn or
transferred to a library which might find it useful. You also need the
physical checks to spot any items which are physically decrepit - the best
the computer system can do here is show you those items that are working
their socks off.
I have so many arguments with colleagues about date stamping that I'll keep
my opinions to myself and allow for a civilised discussion on the list. (-:
Steven
Steven Heywood
Systems Manager
Rochdale Library Service
Wheatsheaf Library
Baillie Street
Rochdale, England OL16 1JZ
Tel: 01706 864967
Fax: 01706 864992
Feeling glum? Go to
http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/living/libraries.asp?url=pageOfFun and see what
real misery looks like!
> ----------
> From: Andrew Sandeman[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To: Andrew Sandeman
> Sent: 17 January 2002 09:01
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Date stamps
>
> I would just like to point out that using date stamps as a record of
> issues
> can lose a a considerable number of remote renewals. It was not until we
> were able to make use of Business Objects reports from our 'Talis' system
> that we realised the extent to which date labels were under-recording use.
> Andrew Sandeman
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Sumsion" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: 16 January 2002 16:03
> Subject: Re: Date stamps
>
>
> > Dear Rob,
> >
> > My work (at PLR and at Loughborough) has given me the opportunity over
> the
> > past twenty years to visit many public libraries both large and small -
> but
> > on an informal basis, and with a particular interest in bookstock
> > provision.
> >
> > In about 10 per cent of cases the practice of date stamping had been
> > discontinued, and the lack of an easy obvious record of issues was
> usually
> > felt to be a definite handicap in assessing practical stock performance
> and
> > making decisions on withdrawing or transferring stock. The book's
> location
> > and transfer history needs to be apparent also. In conversations with
> > staff I can remember few instances where they approved what had
> happened.
> >
> > In theory the data is all on the computer for reference: in practice it
> is
> > so time consuming to get at that it is often ignored. My conclusion is
> > that well managed libraries make good use of date stamp information for
> > stock control. It will be interesting to see whether or not this
> > represents a consensus.
> >
> > How important it is to the borrower is a different question on which I
> have
> > no evidence or view.
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > John Sumsion
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >In Lincolnshire, our Group Management Team have been having a
> fascintating
> > >discussion on the merits or otherwise of date stamping books. Is it
> > >necessary? Does it cause bad public relations if we don't do it?
> > >
> > >Has anyone abandoned it, and if so have you found it problematic?
> > >
> > >Rob McInroy
> > >Operations Manager
> > >Library Support Services
> > >Lincolnshire County Council
> > >Brayford House
> > >Lucy Tower Street
> > >LINCOLN
> > >LN1 1YL
> > >
> > >tel 01522 552851
> > >[log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
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