2 ISSUES IN MY WORKPLACE

ebooks and eAudiobooks - Just today a library patron came in to enquire whether Auckland libraries has ‘downloadable books’ as she had just returned from the United States and says that it is a common trend there. Although very convenient to some borrowers as items can be borrowed without stepping into a library, E-books and other new formats can present their challenges in terms of how the materials can be borrowed and accessed in a variety of ways. Staff should be familiar with the digital site, basic checkout and download processes and know where to go for help if they promote the service. Nonetheless the circulation of E-books comes with its own terms and conditions. According to Library Journal (Feb 2011), HarperCollins has announced that new titles licensed from library eBook vendors will only be able to checked out 26 times before the license expires. This is a significant revision to its lending terms and will affect librarians who are already sometimes bothered with its eBook lending policies and user interface issues I find that this seems to be a tactic by the publisher to get more money. 26 checkouts is a low number as compared to a hardcover book that can be circulated for a longer time before it becomes ‘tatty and drained’. Some librarians are already not supporting the eBook programmes as there is a sense of insecurity when there is no need of them to handle the transaction or a building to house the collection. How will librarians survive?

Courtesy Reminders - Has it been taken for granted? More and more customers these days are relying on automated courtesy reminders via emails to keep track on the due date of their items. If for whatever reason they have not received such a notice due to their lack of diligence, wrong email address and technical problems, they can become upset if they realise their items have been returned late and therefore face a late fee. I think that most of them do not realise these reminders are only a courtesy and not receiving them does not relieve the customer of any fines. By signing up as a library member, one should abide by its terms and regulations, including incurring a penalty on late returns. I have known many customers who do not keep track of their return date check out slips and therefore may not remember when their items are due. However technological enhancements such as logging in to your library online account and courtesy reminders are some ways to avoid late returns. Of course, all this is only possible if a computer is accessible. Perhaps, we should just go back to the old ways of stamping a due date on a label in the book. In such instance, there would be no argument as everything is transparent.