Last Wednesday November 13, circulation heads of the CUNY libraries endorsed the Graduate Center’s proposal to extend graduate student, doctoral student, and CUNY faculty loan periods from the current 42 days to 120 days. They also proposed and endorsed extension of undergraduate loan periods from 21 days to 42 days. This endorsement comes just before the December 2013 implementation of a CUNY Board of Trustee measure imposing higher $0.25/day overdue fines on all classes of library users, including faculty, CUNY-wide. The circulation heads have yet to formulate a recall policy. Features of this policy will include a guaranteed loan length (3 weeks? longer?) and $1/day recall fines. A respected recall policy is required to channel books to any waiting readers. The Office of Library Services Circulation Committee endorsement, if accepted by the CUNY Council of Chief Librarians, brings CUNY library loan policy into line with other university libraries, including SUNY.
Graduate Center Chief Librarian Polly Thistlethwaite created a short Prezi presentation to inform discussion about the proposed policy: The Case for Longer CUNY Library Loan Lengths. Give it a look and let us know what you think!
Prof. Polly Thistlethwaite is CUNY's Interim University Dean for Library Services. 
Yes- with the longer loans it’s important to have a robust recall mechanism in place. The circ committee hasn’t developed it yet, but features include a guaranteed loan period (such as 3 weeks) and a generous reminder policy – email for the book to be due in 10 days after the request is placed, e.g- and stiffer fines for overdue recalled books – e.g. $1/day (already in place for current recalled titles. In addition, the GC has lots of other delivery and retention options: scanning, NYPL loans, and Interlibrary Loan, should the CLiCS CUNY single copy be recalled.
This seems like a good proposal for avoiding late fees but it also seems to mean that if someone wants a book that is already checked out they will have to wait longer for it. Had this been considered? Also, will people still be able to renew books they already have checked out for the same period again? Thanks!