June 1st is go-live date for 3-week circulation!

June 1st will see the 3-week loan period come into effect for nearly all library materials, as agreed at the last Directors Meeting- because of the scope of the changes that needed to be made to implement the three-week circulation rules, I am phasing them in over the week. Some item types have started to check out for three weeks from today, including playaways, some juvenile VHS/DVD, floating collection items amongst them. So don’t be surprised to see a three-week checkout from time to time for the next few days.

On Sunday night I will make the rule changes for the “big” categories- VHS, DVD, BOOK, CDBOOK, CASBOOK, so from Monday everything in the public libraries will be checking out for three weeks- either with 1 renewal (books etc.) or none (VHS, DVD).

I’ve sent out some teaser announcements, but am going to send a blanket email to patrons this week to supplement any local information you are giving out. This is the new policy in a nutshell:

• From June 1st, most library materials will circulate for 3 weeks, instead of the current 2-week loan period.
  
• Books and Audio books that are not on-hold for other patrons may be renewed for one additional 3-week period
  
• VHS and DVDs may not be renewed
  
• Shorter loan periods for certain high-demand items may apply- books and audio books with a substantial number of hold requests will be loaned for 2 weeks only, and VHS/DVDs will only check out for 1 week.
  

Also, please remember that books will also become subject to the shortened loan period for high demand items from Monday. Books which have a 4:1 holds ratio will continue to check out for two weeks only, and the ratio is being decreased for VHS and DVD, with a shortened check out of 1 week only (the way it is now).


I have also started work on the removal of the restrictions on Kent County DVD/VHS circulation to juveniles- I have started removing and revising the rules for these items, and would like to note that I will be immediately implementing the new 3-week circulation rules that were approved at last Directors Meeting. The rules will still be the ones named, but the circ will be 21 days/$1 day/$5 max/no renewals. Holds thresholds have been tightened up to 2:1, so you will see the circ limited to 7 days more frequently for items with demand.