[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Auto-Renewal Functionality

[Hardy, Elaine]

Because of the policy implications to many libraries, auto-renew would
need to be optional - and by that I mean not default that you turn off but
something you turn on.

 

It isn't so much that overdues are revenue, consider the requirements from
your funding agencies for how stats are reported. When a library in
Georgia did something similar, it was considered wrongly inflating their
official stats. 

 

Elaine

J. Elaine Hardy
PINES & Collaborative Projects Manager
Georgia Public Library Service
1800 Century Place, Ste 150
Atlanta, Ga. 30345-4304

404.235-7128
404.235-7201, fax
ehardy at georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org/pines

From: open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org
[mailto:open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of
Ruth Frasur
Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2014 8:19 AM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group
Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Auto-Renewal Functionality

 

This is definitely something that I personally would be interested in.
I'm not sure that, as a consortium, Evergreen Indiana would garner enough
support.  I could be wrong.  I know I've heard that some Indiana
libraries, before we were all attached to one another, had this as their
standard practice anyway. As was stated by others, my concerns would not
be around fine revenue.  To hope that there's enough negligence and/or
carelessness among our patrons to raise a certain amount of money is akin
to speed patrol quotas.  My concern is also the timely and predictable
return of materials.  I also agree with Rogan that I wouldn't advocate on
one side or the other for this.  Holly also provides a good real world
example of what happens when there isn't pressure to return things on
time.  I worry that something that seems like good customer service
actually isn't.

 

On Fri, Jan 24, 2014 at 4:45 PM, Holly Brennan <haderhold at ci.homer.ak.us>
wrote:

The conversation on this has all been good. Great points from everyone so
far!

 

I don't have time to think too deeply about this now, but if it was picked
for development I would want to see a difference in a patron- or
staff-forced renewal vs. the automatic renewal when looking at an item in
the staff client.

 

I am also wary of the return rate and loan duration of items if this
happened. I think it would force patrons to place holds on items more
often to get them returned, rather than being able to browse on the shelf.
I know when we changed our DVD checkout policy from a 3 to a 7 day
checkout period, we ended up having more late fees. My thinking on this:
People watched the movie, felt no pressure to return, and so the item was
then forgotten laying on a table or pile somewhere in their house. Our
goal was to reduce fines, but it didn't work.

 

-Holly

 

From: open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org
[mailto:open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of
Scott Thomas
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 11:19 AM
To: open-ils-general at list.georgialibraries.org
Subject: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Auto-Renewal Functionality

 

I am wonder if this type of functionality has ever been discussed for
Evergreen: an item would be renewed automatically at the end of a loan
period assuming there are no holds on the item or anything other issues
with the patron or the item. The renewal would generate a circulation
statistic. Patrons would be able to keep an item longer without having to
take any action. We understand that fine revenues would take a hit. Does
anyone know if something like this being worked on?

Thank you,
Scott

 

Scott  Thomas

Board of Directors

PaILS

(570) 207-2379 <tel:%28570%29%20207-2379> 

 <http://www.palibrary.org/pails/> Description: Description: Training |
SPARK - Pennsylvania's Statewide Library System

Pennsylvania's Statewide Library System

 

 





 

-- 
Ruth Frasur
Director of the Historic(ally Awesome) Hagerstown - Jefferson Township
Library
10 W. College Street in Hagerstown, Indiana (47346)
p (765) 489-5632; f (765) 489-5808

 <http://hagerstownlibrary.org> Our Kickin' Website  Our Rockin' Facebook
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