Megan:

We were losing hundreds of dollars' worth of materials to patrons who provided an ID with a bad address, so we instituted the following policy:

New card applicants may take up to two items out on the day they apply and we keep their library cards here.  For each applicant, we first call the phone number to confirm it and then mail the library card to her at the address given.  We stamp each envelope "Return Service Requested," which tells the post office to return to us any envelopes with an invalid address. 

We also contact the home library of anyone who requests a reciprocal card, asking only if the patron is in good standing.  If the home library tells us the applicant is not in good standing, we inform the applicant and hold the card until the issue is resolved.

The whole process takes no more than a week.  Once the applicant receives her card in the mail, the 2-item restriction is removed.  

When we first started this procedure a few years ago, we had lots of cards returned in the mail, and many, many reciprocal applicants were blocked at their home libraries.   Now we just have a few of each every month. 

Our losses to applicants have been drastically reduced; certainly we've saved far more than we spend on postage and envelopes.   We were concerned that this procedure might cost us goodwill, but we've had very few complaints, and we always do our best to speed the new cards to the applicants.

--Teresa
Teresa Stannard, Library Director

Parchment Community Library
401 S Riverview Dr.
Parchment, MI  49004

Ph. 269.343.7747 x203
Fax 269.343.7749

Library Hours:  M-Th 10-8; F 10-6; Sat 10-4
On 10/15/2015 9:54 AM, Megan Buck wrote:

Hi!


Do any libraries have a probationary period for new card holders?  If you do, is it for everyone or it is based on some criteria; how long is the probationary period; and what are the limitations? 

 

We currently do not have any restrictions – a card is valid immediately and the card holder can max out checkout limits on the first day.  Recently we have had a number of new card holders who do just that and are never heard from again. 

 

Any advice, examples, or suggestions are welcome!

 

Thanks,

Megan

 

 

Megan Buck

 

Dickinson County Library

Iron Mountain, MI 49801

(906) 774-1218

www.dcl-lib.org

 

 



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