College and Research Libraries


have books out for such a long time (fif-
teen years at one college library) that 
they have frequently forgotten , about 
them, or the books have become part of 
their office fixtures. Often the books have 
been ,loaned to colleagues or even to stu-
dents that have departed from the cam-
pus. Nothing much is done except to 
continue sending routine notices which 
often are not well received or are just 
plainly ignored unless someone else 
wants the book or unless the borrower is 
leaving for another position. Other li-
braries do not give up the fight, but per-
sist in "requests, tears, threats and even 
prayers." Constant "nagging" and "per-
sonal harassment" are two other tech-
niques that seem to work for some col-
lege librarians. 

Among the research libraries, where 
more . efficient machinery and formalized 
rules are in operation to enforce loan 
time limitation, the problem arises of 
the great amount of staff time needed 
for the mechanics of recall, renewal, and 
overdue notices. As an example, one 
southern university is forced to use one 
staff member full time for two or three 
months each year to take an inventory 
of books loaned to faculty members. 

There is general agreement that fac-
ulty members should have extended priv-
ileges on library materials. This is nec-
essary in order that they may keep up 
with publications in their field, and for 
teaching and research purposes. But it is 
no excuse for keeping a book for more 
than one year-at this point, it appears, 
they should purchase it themselves. The 
retort that a needed book can be recalled 
is not always valid. Many library users 
in an open shelf building, it is pointed 
out, browse through sections pertinent 
to their interest and are not looking for 
specific titles. Even when a specific title 
is sought, it is perhaps needed immedi-
ately and not next week or even tomor-
row. Borrowers frequently hesitate to re-
quest a recall but rather see what else, 
if anything, they can find on the subject. 

The growing masses of students besieg-
ing academic institutions, the current 
trend toward greater library use by stu-
dents and the concomitant inability of 
libraries to keep up with these demands 
because of budget and staff limitations, 
are other factors cited which should deter 
libraries from allowing their books to 
lie unused and forgotten in faculty mem-
bers' bookcases. · • • 

Attention: Junior College Librarians 

486 

THIS YEAR the Committee on Instruction and Use of the Junior College 
Libraries Section of ACRL is making a collection of junior college faculty 
library handbooks. Please send a copy of your library's faculty handbook 

. to Mrs. Alice B. Griffith, Librarian, Mohawk Valley Community College, 
1101 Sherman Drive, Utica 3, New York for inclusion in this collection. 
Since the committee plans to organize and study the collection, handbooks 
should be mailed by January 1, 1964. Your cooperation with the commit-
tee in this project will be appreciated.-Mrs. Alice B. Griffith , Chairman , 
Committee on Instruction and Use. • • 

COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES