Local holds test
Information received as of 6/19/2006
CAMARGO DISTRICT LIBRARY
– VILLA GROVE
Dear
Jan & The Directors of the LTLS Board,
The
Local Holds Only issue that is on a trial basis is not working at as it was
presented. It also goes against
ALL Inter Library Loan policies.
It is
already asking our patrons from Villa Grove to drive to Champaign/Urbana to
pick up books that have been in the system for several months. The whole idea of Inter Library Loan is
so people can get what they need at their home libraries and not have to drive
long distances for material.
Think
about the disabled and seniors who are unable to drive, is this a way to punish
them?
Local
Holds Only is doing nothing but causing problems for everyone and
discriminating against people who are unable or cannot afford to drive to these
large libraries.
CAMARGO DISTRICT LIBRARY
– VILLA GROVE
Dear Jan, I am not sure if we have met officially, my name
is ,
I am the asst. librarian at VGN (Camargo Township District Library). I am writing
in regards to the local holds that has recently went into effect. We have
already had some problems arise with this. We have the book Dirty Blonde by
Scottoline, one of our patrons holds for this book came up, and she was to go
to URN to pick it up, our book came in the next day and was checked in and to
be sent to CHN. You can see why we would be upset with this new local holds. We
have patrons who are not able to drive because of various reasons-age,
disabilities, and so on, and I am not quite sure what we are to tell those
individuals. There seem to many things not factored in when this was set up. We
have had a book that only CHN owns come up for one of our patrons and of course
she is to go to CHN for the pickup--well she cannot afford to do this with gas
prices at an all time high(and she has already paid her property taxes to cover
her card cost). I was told that these are the concerns you (LTLS) would like to
hear about. Thank You for your time.
CENTRAL CITIZENS LIBRARY
DISTRICT -- CLIFTON
Our patrons are reporting to us that our owned copies must
be picked up elsewhere! So far we have been told that they must go to
Champaign Public for books they requested. At first the staff felt they
accidentally selected the wrong library for location. Then we realized it
was more.
Our library is dedicated to providing excellent library
service. We purchase many books annually. We send out many copies
weekly to these and other libraries in the system. We believe in the
mission of resource sharing. Personally, I feel this mission is being
compromised with this new policy.
I reviewed and reviewed this proposed policy. I did
not feel it supported the mission of library service in Illinois, and I chose
for our library not to participate.
CHARLESTON CARNEGIE
LIBRARY
I really don't know where to begin on this 'local holds'
thing. It seems to me that the libraries doing it are saying we want our
patrons to get everything but we don't want to share our own stuff. Sure,
people can run back and forth from Champaign and Urbana but they're not going
to want to travel 50 miles to pick up a book.
We've already had 3 patron complaints on the new policy
and I'm sure there will be plenty more.
One of the problems for our patrons that order off the net
is if they place 3 holds and the pickup point is Charleston Public Library and
then 4th hold is Champaign Public Library (local hold) they look so much alike
it's hard to catch. There needs to be a different color flagging or something
to signal local holds.
I think these new local holds are going to end up sitting
on the hold shelf instead of being read by anyone because the patrons who don't
notice this when placing the hold won't make the trip to pickup.
It is a shame I-types can't be linked to agency barcodes.
This policy is punishing the poor as many of our local
patrons don't have cars and walk to the library with no way to pick up at CHN,
DAN, URN or whatever library joins in.
How are the local hold libraries notifying our patrons
about theses local holds since we don't have the items in house isn't it their
responsibility to do the notifying?
Lastly, I want to know how the system handles the below
scenario:
There are 25 holds on an <on order> bib record of a
new item listing CHN local hold only. When the book gets published and non
local hold libraries start tagging on to the same bib record how will it
differentiate or will it? And if it doesn't is it fair that #10 hold gets a
delivery and #11 pops up local hold?
There doesn't seem to be any equity in fairness?
I personally have put CHN and URN items on hold only to
reach the #1 slot and stay there for months because their patrons are placing
holds and receiving the item. I have never minded because I knew the system
worked and I would finally get it.
I believe that we as a library contribute greatly to
resource sharing and would hate to have to adopt the attitude of, "I don't
want you to have mine because you won't share yours". I think everyone at
Sesame Street would be very disappointed to know we've forgotten one of their
basic teachings that of COOPERATION.
WILLOW BRANCH TOWNSHIP
LIBRARY - CISCO
Cisco staff and patrons think it is terrible that these
libraries are able to do this. Our patrons suggested that we not send
them anything at all. Why can they do this??
MAHOMET PUBLIC LIBRARY
DISTRICT
At Mahomet Public Library our patrons and staff have
experienced several problems with local holds testing. Here are some examples.
Patrons who always appreciated our ILL services were
accustomed to picking up their materials in Mahomet. They come into our library now looking for their items not
realizing that they must drive to another town to get them. They leave unhappy for the wasted trip
to our library and disappointed not to get the book they were anticipating
reading. Patrons donıt look
at the pick-up location because it never mattered before. They are not the least bit happy
about this.
When patrons request items through the PAC, they receive NO
MESSAGE that they will have to pick up the item elsewhere. The only way they learn this is IF they
happen to go back and look at their record once the hold has already been
placed. This is not acceptable! We were assured at the LINC Policy
Council meeting that there would be a message when the patron requests an item
letting them know it must be picked up elsewhere. This is a disservice to every patron and to all staff who
have to deal with the outcomes.
Because there is no way to know whether or not any item is
considered local hold, staff and patrons must ALWAYS place the hold, then check
the patron record for the pick-up point.
If the patron does not want to drive to the pick-up location, the hold
must be cancelled. This is two to
three times the work of a normal holds transaction (before the test), and it
must be done for every item placed on hold. That is thousands of items a month.
Acquisitions module holds are a major issue. When one library (Champaign) has a
record in the Acquisitions Module, as other librariesı new copies come in, what
happens to the holds? Do they stay
with Champaignıs acquisitions record or transfer to the owning libraries? If they stay with the Champaign record,
what a mess! Some libraries, but
probably not all, will use the Acquisitions Module. What happens to the holds of those that do not? When will Acquisitions training be
available?
A home-schooling patron discovered that she must pick up her
books in Champaign instead of Mahomet.
She wanted to know if we could override the pick-up point. The new policy was explained, and she
said this was a hardship for her because she lives in Farmer City. She used to teach a wonderful
childrenıs music program at our library but quit because of the cost of gas. Now our libraries have given her
an ultimatum—drive to Champaign or donıt get the books. She is one of many patrons who have
mentioned ³hardship² and ³inconvenience².
A patron had an item on hold for a long time believing that
it would be delivered to Mahomet.
Now she learns that her pick-up point is elsewhere. She didnıt know when placing the
hold that the rules would change.
Can we blame her for being angry?
A patron who requests a lot of ILL (because after all, we
have encouraged this for years) spoke to Champaign Library about the local
holds policy and then called us.
She thinks Champaign Libraryıs reasoning is not logical. Her comments were that she can still
place a request and have it held for her, so it is off the shelf and not
available for browsing. Also,
items can be returned at any library so that slows the process of getting the
item back on shelf.
We are ordering multiple copies of popular items to help all
patrons. We even send our new
materials to the libraries that refuse to reciprocate. Weıve had to stop telling our patrons,
³If we donıt have it, we can get it for you.² What a PR loss for small libraries.
We have a volunteer who delivers books to the
homebound. He told me that he also
used to deliver meals. He said
that when he delivered meals, people were withdrawn, sometimes embarrassed to
be in the position of having to ask for food. When he delivers books, people are happy to see him and
sometimes even grab the books from him.
Over hundreds of years libraries have earned the respect and gratitude
of the public. Libraries are
universally loved because they consistently, freely provide books to all
without discrimination. People are
proud of their community libraries, for sure, but their love for libraries is
universal.
Libraries used to be above the petty politics and squabbling
that have overtaken other forms of government. In countless cities when legislators tried to slash library
budgets, ordinary citizens rose up in protest. Today in central Illinois we put the reputation of libraries
in jeopardy and insult our patrons with petty arguments over whose books go
where. We cannot in good
conscience disregard the harm we are causing.
MARSHALL PUBLIC LIBRARY
Dear Jan & Staff: I am sending this email in reference to
the Local Holds issue. While I feel it is important that libraries have the say
over what materials they interlibrary loan, the local holds issue opens up a
different set of issues to deal with. It is my thoughts that when a hold is
placed on an item with an itype of local holds only, a pop-up box, or immediate
notification of some type be in place to alert the patron that the material
will not be sent via interlibrary loan, but that they must pick the item up at
the owning library. (I know how frustrating this is, as I placed a hold myself
for a book. When it became available, I received the email notice saying the
pickup point was Urbana.) I can tell you for a fact that the majority of my
patrons will NOT travel to Urbana, Champaign, etc to pick up a book. The time
and distance is too great, not to mention an inconvenience. It has taken us a
long time to educate and convince some of our patrons to the availability of
materials via interlibrary loan, how the process works, etc. To place a hold on
an item, expecting it to appear within the timeframe, and then to find it is
not available after waiting is creating problems that are tremendous for
library staff and the patrons will be extremely unhappy.
I was also made aware of the
issue in placing a hold on "on order" items with no holdings attached
(acquisitions), and the fact that patrons will have to go to the owning library
to pick that material up. It also seems to me to be penalizing libraries not
using the acquisitions module. This does not seem like a good solution to any
problems, but rather will only create more.
I do not understand why the
implementation of local holds without further studying the impact on libraries,
staff, and patrons. It is my hope that you will further think through this
issue and the impact on all libraries in our system.
MATTOON PUBLIC LIBRARY
June 11, 2006
Dear Patron,
The 30-odd public libraries in Lincoln Trail Library System
are always looking at ways to serve their patrons better and more
efficiently. To this end, the
Lincoln Trail Library System is currently undergoing a test period for a new
way to handle Interlibrary Loan requests.
The test period is going until Spring of 2007.
Under the new system, individual libraries may choose not send
out new items through interlibrary loan.
They now have the option of not sending the item, instead asking that
you pick it up at their library. For example,
it is possible that a book that you have requested from the Urbana Library may
not be sent to the Mattoon Library; instead, if you wish to read the book, you
will have to pick it up in Urbana.
The change should only apply to the newest items – you
should have no trouble receiving older materials.
The staff of the Mattoon Public Library realizes that this
is a change in the way that
Interlibrary Loan is being handled. We are choosing not to inconvenience other librariesı
patrons in this manner and are
not participating in the test.
However, individual libraries are being allowed to make their own
decisions as to whether this new method will serve their needs best.
Your comments and concerns will be shared with the staff of
Lincoln Trail Library System and the directors of other libraries. You can email mattoonlibrarian@yahoo.com,
or leave a comment with our desk staff.
We appreciate your patience during this trial period.
MOYER LIBRARY –
GIBSON CITY
We have confused and unhappy
patrons that don't understand why they have to go to Champaign or Urbana to
pick up a book. It doesn't make
any sense to any of us why a book that is being held and unavailable for local
patrons to check-out can't be sent to our library for our patrons. Thanks
Onarga
Community Public Library
TOLONO PUBLIC LIBRARY
DISTRICT
Please share with Jan and Joe - Patron #
called and has an item that is to be picked up at CHN and wanted to know
why. In looking further the item is actually to be picked up at CBN which
is the book mobile - I have called my patron back and told her not to go to CHN
to pick it up because it is on the book mobile.
WESTVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
PATRON
Hello Lincoln Trail;
I was informed by my brother who often as I goes to
the library Danville or Westville and was told we can no longer recieve movies
books etc from area libraries.
Excuse me Thats why I am in the Linciln Trail System we
are so small and enjoy receiving movies to take to the VA and watch with
the locked ward patients where I worked.
I also enjoy seeing the movies I could not afford so does
my MOM and Dad.
I had gotten for dad the skyKing I think with John
Wayne just released he loved it. So why are you doing this?? I
paid my money and will again in October and donated alot of videos and books
cassettes so Westville could maybe sell them and by more stuff. My sister
has too and my brothers both attended the sale to just buy something.
Please realize we utilize Champaign and Urbana's huge aray of books moives and
when I lived there did not at all begrudge anyone from Vermilion County who
wanted to see a movie or read a current book.
They have a bigger budget and can afford more stuff.
I used my card form Champaign alot in Danville when I visited mom and
dad. I think I speak for the multitude this new rule is crap and
targets us in Vermilion County because of our economic status.
Due this and watch the attendance plummett.
Thank You for your attention.