DELINQUENT BORROWERS IN AN ACADEMIC LIBRARY
DELINQUENT BORROWERS IN AN ACADEMIC LIBRARY
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Date
1970
Authors
ANDERSON, LE MOYNE W.
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Abstract
In a post seminar discussion at the University of
Illinois one day in 1967, the question turned to the availability
of resources for users of American academic libraries.
The insatiable needs of the patrons in all college and
university libraries were generally acknowledged. The capability
of satisfying these wanton appetites was not so fully
understood.
It was conceded, furthermore, that resources seemed
destined to limitation on most campuses during the foreseeable
future. In order for a library to make available its
collections it was agreed, therefore, that it must require
its patrons to share the materials. No library can be a
repository of literary property for the exclusive use of one
person or one group, it was concluded.
These principles have been recognized for decades in
American academic librarianship. No seminar of scholars can
add much to these historical facts. The successes or failures
of the patrons* responses to this type of library service,
however, are amazingly enough rarely known. Even if a
library patron agrees philosophically that a collection is
assembled for the use of all members of the community, there
seems to be doubt that he actually practices what he knows
is the rationale for the establishment of academic libraries.
iv
The argument continues that all patrons do not or will
not share resources with others for several reasons. The
library is obliged, therefore, to establish regulations,
punitive rules, and other measures to elicit return of borrowed
materials. Libraries have also taken the position
that they must further encourage the sharing of materials by
providing reminders to stimulate patron responses. Substantial
programs of service and great amounts of time, effort,
and funds are expended annually toward this end, but with
unknown results.
A further exploration of the literature and a consideration
of expert opinion indicated that little information
existed about the results of these attempts to encourage
patrons to share materials by returning them promptly. It
was at this point that serious consideration of a study began
to germinate. Subsequent inquiries and discussions led
to the experimental research described in this document.
Although the impetus for selecting the topic was rather
simple as stated, the implementation and the execution and
the analysis and the interpretation were much more complex
in this assignment. These elements were included in an investigation
that continued with varying degrees of intensity
for nearly twenty-four months.
Description
THESIS
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library Science
in the Graduate College of the
University of Illinois
Keywords
DELINQUENT BORROWERS,, ACADEMIC LIBRARY