Comments on: Updating Library Policies

By: Swiss Army Librarian » On Helping Parents Instead of Students :: Brian Herzog

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:57:15 +0000

[...] Today’s post is a response to an email I received (thanks, Amber). She said she just started working in a public library again, and asked if I had any advice on helping parents when they are looking for resources for their child’s homework. This happens often enough that I’ve actually written it into our reference policy. [...]

By: Brian Herzog

Brian Herzog — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:07:01 +0000

@Jack: Yeah, lots of people think that library = attic, and they want us to store the old stuff they can’t bear to throw away. Sometimes I have taken things from people, knowing full well it was going right in the recycle bin, because it was clear they simply could not do it. Some people just don’t want to be the one making the decision, but they have no problem with someone else throwing it away.

Also, I don’t like turning donations away, because I’m afraid that next time, that person might not think to donate to the library.

By: Jack Black

Jack Black — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:19:19 +0000

I love that you specify “National Geographic”. Can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been offered 40 years of NG that the person “couldn’t bear to throw out”. As a medical librarian, in a field where information ages rapidly, I’ve adopted a policy of not accepting donations of books or journals. More of a headache than they are worth.

As for the money for reference issue, I agree. The implication is that we make so little (no longer true fortunately) that we should be grateful for any money thrown our way. I’ve had people get bent out of shape when I refused a “tip”. How dare I?

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:32:50 +0000

Awww – does the “Gift and Donation Policy” mean no more surprise cake?

By: Brian Herzog

Brian Herzog — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:37:05 +0000

Yes, they have. It’s always been the attitude that if they “donate” $20 (or whatever) to “the kitty,” then we will do all their work for them.

We don’t have the staffing to offer specialized research services like that and still be able to serve all the other patrons, but I also kind of resent the implication that we can be bought, or that we’d do anything for money.

By: Oleg K.

Oleg K. — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:59:18 +0000

Have patrons really tried to “buy” reference time?

I’m a hardened library staff member and have never heard of that being an issue.

By: Sara

Sara — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:13:33 +0000

I work at Kinko’s, which many people use as a substitute for the public library, either because they don’t know what the library offers or because they prefer the leverage that being a “customer” versus a “patron” gives them. Unfortunately, since providing reference help isn’t a service that our corporate office thinks we provide, and it’s not one that anyone actually pays for, they’ve never addressed it from a policy standpoint. That puts us in this weird position where we want to help the customer, but at the same time we never know exactly to what limit we should assist them. How much time should we help them until we move on to someone else? To what extent should we do the research for them versus teaching them to do it themselves? What topics should we NOT help them out with?

I was wondering how actual reference librarians handled the issue. I at least can always play the “sorry, that’s not my job” card if I need to, but you guys don’t necessarily have the option. Thanks for posting this as it’s answered a lot of my questions!