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Unit 10: Circulation Section
Charging routine Notes
Discharging routine
Reserves
10.5.1 Browne Charging System
The Browne Charging System was devised by Nina E. Browne who was librarian of the Library
Bureau in Boston and served as the secretary of the Publishing Board of the American Library
Association.
Even though the system originated in the United States, it is not much in use in the country of its
origin. But it has become quite popular in India.
1. Equipment and materials used: The special equipment and stationary materials required
to operate the system are the following:
Registration cards of all borrowers arranged alphabetically.
Borrower’s tickets or pockets. Each borrower is given as many tickets/pockets of
manila or rough paper as he/she is entitled. This ticket is in the shape of a pocket of
3" × 2" size with openings on two sides. This ticket bears the names and address of
the borrower, the date of expiry of membership. In many libraries a code number is
devised and written/typed on the top of the card to represent category/subject of
interest and date of validity of the membership. It also bears the signature and
stamp of the librarian and the signature of the borrower on it.
Book cards of size 4" × 2" bearing the call number; accession number, author and title
of the book.
Book pockets of size 5" × 3 " which are pasted on the inside back/front cover of the
book. The book cards are kept in these pockets when they are not in circulation.
Date slip on which the date due or date of issue are stamped, to be pasted on the back
or front flyleaf of the book.
Date stamp and ink pad
Date guide cards
Charging trays
Circulation statistical sheets
Reminder cards, reservation cards, overdue fine slips, etc.
2. Charging Routine: Charging is the issue of books that are presented at the circulation
counter to borrowers. This routine involves the following steps:
The book to be borrowed and the borrower’s ticket are presented by the user to the
assistant at the circulation desk counter.
The counter assistant after the identification of the reader either by familiarity or
through the identification card/membership card, takes the book card out of the
book pocket or slips it into the borrower’s ticket/pocket.
The due date is stamped on the due date slip pasted on the back or from the flyleaf
of the book and the charged book is handed over to the patron. The book card
coupled with the reader’s pocket is filed in the charging tray behind the respective
due date card by call number.
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