CUNY Library Circulation Leaders Endorse 42- and 120-day Loans

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!

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About the Author

Prof. Polly Thistlethwaite is CUNY's Interim University Dean for Library Services.