Proposal for Improving In-Person Borrowing by SUS Patrons at other SUS Libraries

The Circulation Services Subcommittee has developed recommendations for upgrading automation to facilitate in-person borrowing by SUS students, faculty, and staff at SUS libraries other than their home institutions.

The proposal that follows recognizes both the need in the SUS to provide enhanced and consistent library services between peer SUS institutions, and the requirement to adapt local library services within the distance learning framework characterized in the statewide Distance Learning Initiative proposals.

PREMISES:

1. The SUS Libraries are in agreement that in-person borrowing privileges will be extended to currently affiliated SUS students, faculty and staff with valid institutional IDs.

The special libraries in the SUS may not be able to fully or consistently comply with this agreement. The specialized nature of their collections require a more restrictive circulation policy. Moreover, ready access to these library materials by the primary clientele is essential.

2. Each university must issue official identification cards, with eye-readable library user ID numbers, to each of its currently affiliated students,faculty and staff. This ID would allow automated verification of eligibility and assure wide access to library services within the SUS.

LIBRARY DATABASE REQUIREMENTS:

Programming changes to the current NOTIS-based Circulation System are necessary in order to provide improved borrowing services now, and more patron-initiated online services in the near future. FCLA must initiate the necessary enhancements to the existing system in order to support the following scenarios:

Charge/Renew Function:

Automated verification of SUS ID, at the host location, during the charge/renew transaction.

The circulation policies of the host library will prevail during the charge/renew transaction.

 Discharge Function:

The discharge transaction by an SUS Library relieves the borrower of further responsibility for the return of the physical item. Financial obligations, however, may still be applicable.

Institution Group or Service Unit tracking commences at the time of the first discharge, and continues until the item is discharged at the owning institution.

 Billing Function:

Fines and bills for "overdue" or "lost" items will be calculated based on the circulation policies of the owning library.

Fines and bills charged for "overdue" or "lost" items are automatically attached to the patron's record at the home institution.

The system will notify the owning library and the patron home library, when "lost" items are returned after billing has occured.

Patron information remains attached to the "lost" item record until the item is discharged at the owning library.

 The Circulation Services Subcommittee submits this proposal to the PSPC to engender support and encourage action by the SUS Library Directors and FCLA. The Subcommittee will develop specifications as needed by FCLA to facilitate implementation of this proposal.