Kate,

As an authority which does not charge for spoken word materials as a matter
of policy with regard to the DDA and equality of access for the "written"
word our perspective may be useful as a point of comparison. However, do
bear in mind that we only have three lending libraries within the square
mile and this will be markedly different from your authority I am sure.

Cassettes are now beginning to drop year on year in issues whereas CDs are
gaining in popularity at a rapid level. For music CDs (we have not stocked
music cassettes for about 5 years)the position has also been positive since
we applied a new pricing policy of 1 week and 3 week loan periods (25p and
75p respectively)about 4 years ago.

2002/03 Cassettes (spoken word)                 43,499          39,308
-9.63%
          Talking Books on CD                           883
2,467                   179.39%
          Compact Discs                                 170,943
193,252         13.05%

2001/02 Cassettes (spoken word)                 47,575          43,499
-8.57%
          Talking Books on CD                           16
883                     5418.75%
          Compact Discs                                 193,252
201,466         4.25%


I am not sure whether you have spoken word CDs in your stock but this may be
a reason that demand is dropping. The format (as it was for Music) is
gradually dying for our customers. We have also expanded the range of spoken
word stock to include more mainstream contemporary novels on CD which are
now often published simultaneously.

I'd be pleased to discuss more if you want to call me.

John Lake
Librarian
Barbican Library
Silk Street
London
UK
EC2Y 8DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 382 7098
Fax + 44 (0) 207 638 2249
email: [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Kate Millin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 02 October 2003 08:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Loans of audio materials


We are experiencing a huge downfall in income from the loan of audio
materials and are reviewing our policies in the light of this. I would be
grateful if anyone else has any thoughts on this area of stock and changes
in the systems/ ways that they deal with it as I know that this is a common
problem. We are even thinking of dropping the service completely, and
wondered if any other services had gone that far, and what results/responses
they got from doing this?

Please send any responses to [log in to unmask]

We will post a review of responses to the list.

Kate Millin
Assistant Head of Libraries (South)
Dudley Library
St James's Road
Dudley
DY1 1HR

Tel: 01384 814745
Mob: 07900 161942






This Email and any attachments contains confidential information and is
intended solely for the individual to whom it is addressed. If this Email
has been misdirected, please notify the author as soon as possible. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, distribute, copy,
print or rely on any of the information contained, and all copies must be
deleted immediately.
Whilst we take reasonable steps to try to identify any software viruses, any
attachments to this e-mail may nevertheless contain viruses which our
anti-virus software has failed to identify. You should therefore carry out
your own anti-virus checks before opening any documents.
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council will not accept any liability for damage
caused by computer viruses emanating from any attachment or other document
supplied with this e-mail.



THIS E-MAIL AND ANY ATTACHED FILES ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND MAY BE LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, reproduction, copying, distribution or other dissemination or use of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error please notify the sender immediately and then delete this e-mail.
Opinions, advice or facts included in this message are given without any warranties or intention to enter into a contractual relationship with the Corporation of London unless specifically indicated otherwise by agreement, letter or facsimile signed by an authorised signatory of the Corporation.
Any part of this e-mail which is purely personal in nature is not authorised by the Corporation of London. All e-mail through the Corporation's gateway is potentially the subject of monitoring.
All liability for errors and viruses is excluded.
Website: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk