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In most libraries, the Circulation Desk and the Reference Desk have a complicated relationship. Their physical proximity to each other can affect where patrons go to get assistance and what kinds of questions they ask. Murphy Library at the University of Wisconsin—La Crosse has had the Reference Desk in three different locations in the last five years. In this article an analysis is provided that examines how the different locations have affected the nature and number of questions asked at the Circulation Desk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a study of how long library patrons at 28 college and university libraries kept books checked out before and after a policy change allowing for longer circulation periods and more renewals. The behavior of most patrons remained similar before and after the policy change, with only a slight (7–14 day) lengthening of the length of circulation for many patrons. A significant minority of patrons made more extensive use of the longer loan periods, demonstrating the usefulness of the policy change for many users. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The academic library, given its often privileged position on campus, is the information source that can include directional as well as general campus facts among the myriad of print and e-resources for reference. Also, an academic library's audiences can be quite varied and include prospective students or parents seeking more general knowledge of the building and the campus. Many times this need for information drives patrons to the library service desks. Sometimes, especially during the high-demand seasons of new student orientation and beginning of the fall semesters, the desk is so busy that many patrons will leave because they don't have the time to wait. To address this immediate need for information, Texas Tech University Libraries developed an interactive kiosk to provide general information for frequently asked questions in a more efficient, creative, and interactive way. The kiosk provides a fun method of satisfying a patron's information needs without the requirement of a staff member or the need to wait in line for help. The kiosk is available as long as the Library is open and provides a variety of useful answers to general questions, as well as facts about the Library. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article defines the elements of Access Services, explains the importance of those aspects in the library, and proposes a course centered on Access Services for library schools. The areas of circulation, interlibrary loan, course reserves, collection maintenance, and public relations are core components of Access Services. Each of those segments is a key aspect of a library's effectiveness and has a direct effect on a patron's perception of the library. Based on analysis of ALA-accredited Library and Information Science programs and their course catalogs, Access Services has not received the same attention as other areas of librarianship such as reference, cataloging, or archives. A course centered on Access Services would focus on each aspect of an Access Services librarian's job, using real-life experiences, scholarly publications, and new technologies to prepare students for success in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laptops have become ubiquitous in academic libraries, as has the practice of circulating laptops for student use. Several studies have analyzed the how-to of loaning laptops, and a number of surveys have focused on how they are being used. However, little has been written of the practical lessons learned; the trial and error of those on the frontlines in academic libraries. The pitfalls of wireless networks, battery life, high demand, and brutal usage make offering such a popular service challenging. The experiences of the University of Houston's M.D. Anderson Library, while possibly not typical, provide a snapshot of the pitfalls involved in making laptop circulation successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) serves a dispersed patron base, and its library has developed, over time, a circulation system for distributing physical research materials to its patrons throughout the United States. This article discusses the development of this system and its associated interface/database management system which links the disparate databases necessary for the processing and shipping of materials. Using the Object Oriented Programming language (OOP) Java, Unified Modeling Language (UML) and interface design techniques, a project team redesigned workflows, created a federated interface that is easy to use and streamlined the distance education circulation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prompt return of checked out materials has been demanded by libraries for more than a century. Together with other measures such as overdue fines, library notices are used to bring in prompt returns by informing the users of their checked out items that will soon be due or are already overdue. The analysis of library notices sent in the past five years indicates courtesy notices that alert users of their soon-to-be-due items fail to improve prompt return significantly. On the other hand, sustaining the library notice service takes effort and cost. In this age of technology, prompt return may perhaps be viewed in a new perspective that serves the users and the library better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the library and its patrons is damaged and the library's reputation suffers when returned items are not checked in. An informal survey reveals librarians' concern for this problem and their efforts to combat it, although few libraries collect objective measurements of errors or the effects of improvement efforts. Brigham Young University's Harold B. Lee Library is engaged in a quality improvement effort that includes the use of statistical process control and has resulted in an 86% reduction in errors over a two-year period. BYU's experience demonstrates the importance of objective measures in ensuring service quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]