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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
1973
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED086212 |
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| _version_ | 1867181370157039616 |
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| author | Baaske, Jan And Others |
| author_facet | Baaske, Jan And Others Baaske, Jan And Others |
| collection | Education Resources Information Center |
| contents | Overdue Policies: A Comparison of Alternatives. Baaske, Jan And Others College Libraries College Students Fines (Penalties) Library Circulation Methods Research Program Effectiveness Use Studies The use of overdue notices or threat of encumbrance (the withholding of students' grades until library books are returned) is a common practice in academic libraries. Yet the effectiveness of such policies has seldom been investigated. This study examined a circulation overdue policy, comparing selected variations in that policy. Three levels of the policy were judged critical: Group A, overdue notices and threat of encumbrance; Group B, overdue notices without threat of encumbrance; and Group C, no notice and no threat of encumbrance. The method of study used was a pretest-posttest-delayed post true experimental design, carried out over a 3-week period at the Purdue University General Library. All patrons, who checked out materials for the standard 21-day period, were randomly assigned to one of the three groups. At 28 and 35 days after checkout, the percentage of books still outstanding for each group was compared. It was concluded that overdue notices serve as important reminders and improve the rate of book return. The threat of encumbrance is effective near the due date, though its effect diminishes over time. But the encumbrance system does not appear to have the cumulating and deterring effect of a fines system, where cost to the patron increases, the longer a book is withheld. (SL) |
| format | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| id | eric_ED086212 |
| institution | ERIC Institute of Education Sciences |
| language | en |
| publishDate | 1973 |
| record_format | eric |
| spellingShingle | Overdue Policies: A Comparison of Alternatives. Baaske, Jan And Others College Libraries College Students Fines (Penalties) Library Circulation Methods Research Program Effectiveness Use Studies Overdue Policies: A Comparison of Alternatives. Baaske, Jan And Others College Libraries College Students Fines (Penalties) Library Circulation Methods Research Program Effectiveness Use Studies The use of overdue notices or threat of encumbrance (the withholding of students' grades until library books are returned) is a common practice in academic libraries. Yet the effectiveness of such policies has seldom been investigated. This study examined a circulation overdue policy, comparing selected variations in that policy. Three levels of the policy were judged critical: Group A, overdue notices and threat of encumbrance; Group B, overdue notices without threat of encumbrance; and Group C, no notice and no threat of encumbrance. The method of study used was a pretest-posttest-delayed post true experimental design, carried out over a 3-week period at the Purdue University General Library. All patrons, who checked out materials for the standard 21-day period, were randomly assigned to one of the three groups. At 28 and 35 days after checkout, the percentage of books still outstanding for each group was compared. It was concluded that overdue notices serve as important reminders and improve the rate of book return. The threat of encumbrance is effective near the due date, though its effect diminishes over time. But the encumbrance system does not appear to have the cumulating and deterring effect of a fines system, where cost to the patron increases, the longer a book is withheld. (SL) |
| title | Overdue Policies: A Comparison of Alternatives. |
| topic | College Libraries College Students Fines (Penalties) Library Circulation Methods Research Program Effectiveness Use Studies |
| url | https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED086212 |