Page 169 - DLIS007_LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Library Automation

Notes or other consideration, are not allowed to be taken out of the library. In other words, books are
allowed to circulate among readers.

Notes All jobs related to a method of borrowing books and returning them after use,
creation and maintenance of relevant records and files, and so on are referred to, as
circulation work.

We shall discuss the goals and scope of circulation work in the next two subsections.

9.1.1 Goals of Circulation Work

Circulation aims to maximise the availability of all library material to users and thereby optimise
their use. The major concern of any circulation service is to perform this task with economy and
efficiency. This means, adopting effective charging and discharging systems, and procedures of
lending for all types of users with reference to the different types of documents. It also implies
the formulation of policies that will serve to make library material optimally available to users
while ensuring effective control of their movements.

Did u know? Archiving these goals through the circulation division of a library is a
management objective.

9.1.2 Scope of Circulation Work

Circulation work includes:
Registration of members,
Lending, i.e., charging and discharging,
Renewals, i.e., persons who seek extension of time for borrowed books,

Recall, i.e., requesting a borrower to return a book,
Holds, i.e., books that are reserved for a member that are already on issue,
Notification, i.e., communicating with members on all the above, as needs arise.
The other activities of the circulation division may include additional lending services such as
interlibrary loan and reserve book collections. As circulation counters are usually located close
to the entrance/exit gates of libraries, the circulation division of a library may also control the
gate register and the property counter.

Notes The exact range of circulation work, however, varies from library to library.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
1. There are two popular and widely practised systems of issue and return of documents in
libraries, known as …………………… and …………………… Systems.

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