[fvlc-l] Re: Courtesy Card questions
- From: "Lucy Hazlewood" <Hazlewood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <fvlc-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:18:45 -0500
-----Original Message-----
From: fvlc-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Peter J. Gilbert
Sent: Thu 4/29/2010 6:18 AM
To: fvlc-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [fvlc-l] Courtesy Card questions
Hey FVLCers,
Our friends down at COLAND (the Council on Library and Network Development) are
thinking about "statewide library access." As part of their discussion, they
started looking at programs in which multitype groups (like FVLC) had
reciprocal access agreements. The FVLC Courtesy Card program rose to the top of
their list.
So they'd like to know the answers to these questions -- and I'd like to hear
from you about any responses you have. What do you think about courtesy cards?
Are they used? How often (or why not)? That kind of thing.
a. What are the key elements of your program?
b. How has your program been marketed?
c. How is your program perceived by patrons?
d. Would you consider your program to be a PR success? Why or why not?
e. How is authentication handled? (This means authentication that the
person has a card at a Wisconsin library and is in good standing)
f. Can you share statistics/metrics on volume/frequency of use, patrons,
etc.
g. What is the anticipated next step or plan for expansion, if any?
h. Do you think your program could be replicated in other areas in
Wisconsin? Why or why not?
i. What advice would you give others areas considering this type of a
program?
I'm supposed to respond to them by Monday so if you could let me know any
thoughts you have about this by the end of the day tomorrow (Friday the 30th),
I'd appreciate it.
Thanks.
PG
--
Pete Gilbert
University Librarian
Lawrence University
Appleton WI 54911
peter.j.gilbert@xxxxxxxxxxxx
In response to FVLC courtesy cards, I know it exists, but I do not think anyone
has ever brought one in, nor have I issued one, nor do I have any idea what to
do if I was to see one. Snipe hunting comes to mind.
In response to a "statewide library access" I can see benefits such as it would
reduce the amount of people who go from one community to another leaving fines
in their wake. (I sincerely believe one lady who used to come to our library
chose her new place to lived because it was in a different shared system.)
On the other hand, I also know of one person in our community who would resist
his information being part of a statewide system because he thinks too many
people already could have access to him and/or his information. The whole
family uses the work address and phone. The whole family includes 3 generations
and 3 households, about dozen people. I say Good Luck to him.
But I do think there would be a majority of people who would like to have only
one card. From what I know of our library, I can name a dozen people who have
cards from neighboring systems who do not share our system. We just give guest
a new card/account, but I know other libraries put their own bar code on our
physical library card. And I agree, our plastic library card really is the
prettiest one around.
Lucy Hazlewood
Library Director
Markesan Library
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