I should be applying for jobs, but I'm mostly watching the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Cricket match anyway, so whatever, I thought I'd blog.
Side note: I'm cheering for NZ, but I think they're going to lose. Dang it.
I've been noticing some considerable differences between the ways that libraries are run here and the way they are run at home. For example, none of the libraries I've been to here charge patrons for getting a library card (hurrah!!!). Personally, I think it's a travesty to charge for a library card, but that might just be me. I think that charging for library cards was the hardest part about my job when I worked at the base library back home.
Anyway, that's fine and good and all that, but then I noticed that although my local library system doesn't charge for cards, they DO charge for some other things that I find quite odd. Like, borrowing a DVD, for example, costs almost as much as renting from a video store or even buying it out right! £3!!! You can get movies from second hand stores for way cheaper, and often at HMV for only a few £'s more. Crazy.
Side note: They call secondhand stores "Op Shops" here. Isn't that great?
Another thing they charge for (and I think this one is the weirdest) is placing a hold on library materials. Even if it's in your library, they charge you 50p to place a hold. £2 if they have to bring the book in from another library! Now, I'm the type of person that wholly abuses the hold system of my library back home. I really, really, really do. I admit that. And maybe charging for it would discourage people who sit up late watching TV, placing holds on movies they will likely never watch. However, I also haven't read a lot of books that I've wanted to read since I got here because there was NO way I was paying £2 to borrow it when I could probably find it in an op shop for much less!
Side note for my Canadians: 50p translates to about $0.78. £2 is about $3.12
What started this whole thing, though, is that I went to do a subject search on the local library catalogue, and it wasn't even an option. I get that most people that aren't librarians tend not to use subject searching, but it should still be an option, shouldn't it??
So, friends of mine, librarians and non-librarians alike, what are your thoughts?
Is it OK to charge patrons for placing holds because they don't pay for cards? Would it be OK to do it even if they were paying for cards? Is the money the library makes from the holds, and the time they save by not having to fill holds that people aren't serious about worth it when you compare it to the books that don't get read and the movies that don't get watched by people who can't afford it or are too cheap to place a hold in the first place? Does the fact that more popular books are available immediately to people (due to shorter hold lists) make up for the cost of placing the hold?
What about charging to borrow DVDs? Do you like it? Dislike it? Do any libraries back home do it and I'm just not aware? Does this prevent people from borrowing them and never returning them? Discourage people from broadening their horizons by picking a movie they wouldn't normally watch because it's free and who cares, but now it costs money so they have to be more discerning? SO MANY THOUGHTS!
Subject searching...should it be there even though some people don't use it? (I'm a firm believer that it should, but mostly because I like subject searching so much).
Non-librarian library users: What are your thoughts? Would you pay to borrow DVDs? Would you pay to place a hold? Other thoughts on the subjects at hand?
What differences have other people noticed in libraries they've travelled to, if any? I WANT TO KNOW!
Also, some of the libraries here, even main branches in large city centres, don't have Wifi. Most of the pubs and bars here do. Maybe if libraries started selling beer they could afford it? Oh, and a lot of the libraries here have social media sites blocked on their in-house computers. Feelings on this? What about the people who can't afford Internet at home, and this is their way of keeping in touch with people? Does the library have the right to decide that Facebook shouldn't be allowed JUST because it's "social media"? It's not like it's porn. Although, some profile pictures I've seen are pretty darn close.
Ok, that's it for now. Seriously, though, I want to hear your thoughts.
GRAR, BLOGSPOT, I had a lovely long comment and it "couldn't complete my request." *shakes fist* Trying again:
ReplyDeleteI am of the opinion that free public library services ought to be a right of citizenship in any civilized nation. However, I realize that this requires significant funding from the public sector, which is not always forthcoming, so I don't really judge too hard on libraries that do what they can to keep their heads above water.
As a library user, I think I would prefer paying for a card/membership rather than for specific services/materials. As a librarian, I am totes science-minded and I would try to track user stats to see what method of fee collection appealed to users (and which one generated the most money for the library).
As an aside, I am not a huge fan of subject searching in public library OPACs. I think the inherent imperfection of indexing means that your recall is going to be consistently rubbish (although your precision might be respectable, if the indexing's halfway decent). I AM a huge fan of subject searching in my academic library's catalogue, because it uses LCSH (and MeSH and a few others) for a thesaurus. But I don't think you were talking about thesaurus use, yes...?
You're totally right. I'd rather just pay straight up for a library card and then have all of the services included in that. But I like to track statistics too! Maybe that's what they've done and this is the result. I'll have to have a chat with one of the librarians and see what they say.
ReplyDeleteGood point re: Subject Cataloging being hit and miss in public libraries. Also, I figured out how to do a subject search in the text box, so all is well.
I don't know what the homeless community would do without free wifi at libraries in North America. Or if those libraries blocked social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter. The best homeless advocacy right now is based on the access they have to twitter and youtube. Check out invisiblepeopletv on youtube and @hardlynormal on twitter. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteI gotta say the same as Ky. Most of our street pop use the library for applying for jobs, keeping in touch with family (via Facebook) and just looking up things on the internet. I'm all for blocking porn, but really what's the problem with Twitter? It's not hurting anyone.
ReplyDeleteI think if there is a system in place for poor people to not have to pay for library cards, I would pay a yearly fee.
The Vancouver Public Library charges for holds too, so it's not just a UK thing. You get 50 free a year, and then it's $0.50 for every hold on top of that. And if you don't pick up your hold, you are charged $1.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vpl.ca/library/details/requests
I agree with Bron. I realize that libraries do not get the funding they need or deserve so I understand why a fee system is in place. Regina has a reduction on monthly transit passes for low/no income people. They should do something similar for library services.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa! I had no idea. I don't mind the 50 free thing and the charging for no pick up actually makes sense. It would prevent jerks like me from abusing the system. Hmmm. Food for thought.
ReplyDeleteI love that the Greater Victoria Public Library doesn't charge for placing holds (we do it all the time) or for borrowing DVDs and Wii games (which we also do all the time), and does not charge for library cards, either. It seems to me that charging for these services would place barriers in the way of using the library. I know we would make very different decisions about borrowing, and would probably use the library much less frequently if we had to pay fees for those services. The GVPL does make money from late fees, and doesn't allow patrons to borrow materials if they have more than $10 owing. We have pretty good advocacy and support for public libraries here. If I had to choose, I think I would rather pay for my library card than for individual services.
ReplyDeletep.s. I don't see any good reason for libraries to refuse access to social media sites.
Thank you thank you thank you. You just made sense of a line from a book I read on Monday:
ReplyDelete"all my dresses were op anyway".
Hey Lynmara! Good to "hear" you again! LOVE those crazy "not-some" guys! Hilarious! Okay, super bummed about the amazing job offer business. I am SO TIRED of people being stupid! Helloooo, I mean, what IS that??!! Anyways, one random post coming at you from California. Good to hear you're doing well!! :o) ~Stefanie
ReplyDelete