I’m doing some information gathering about patron registrations. Tell me more about how you handle it?

1. What do you do with all the registration forms when someone gets a new library card? Keep them forever? Scan them into a folder?

2. When someone needs a replacement card, do they need to fill out a new registration form? Do you go find their original form and update the card number on it?

3. Does a patron need to sign something giving you permission to add their email address to their account or change how they are notified of holds, overdues, etc.?

4. Do you ask for explicit written permission elsewhere to add them to your email newsletter?

5. What is the best way to make sure the address/email address/phone number stays current/accurate on someone's account?

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide! We’re evaluating some of our processes and thought it might be helpful to ask how other libraries do it.

Maggie McKeithan

Library Director

Spring Lake District Library

616-846-5770 ext. 1161