Book drops

Annie Armour <aarmour [at] sewanee__edu> writes

>My boss asked me to look into stand alone book drops because our
>Friends of the Library want to give money for one to make it easier
>to return books. There is a parking problem around the library and
>many older or handicapped persons find it pretty impossible to get
>close to the building.
>
>I told him I was against the idea (and for all the reasons listed in
>the list archives) but would look into brands people found as good
>compromises.

I cannot recommend any particular stand-along book drop to be used.
What I can mention, however, is that at least two public libraries
in Massachusetts have discontinued the use of their book drops
within the past couple of years.  In both instances the reason was
because of the damage that was being done to the volumes by the book
drops.  It is also important to note that many libraries unlock
their book drops only when the library is closed, but they have
slots in their circulation desks that serve exactly the same purpose
and have the same result.  My own personal recommendation is to
eliminate the use of book drops and the slots in the desks.  Books
should be returned to the top of the circulation desk and then put
on a book cart upright by the staff.

I know that the use of book drops have in many cases become an
unwanted necessity, but I think that it does have a lot to do with
the pace of our life these days.  It only takes a little amount of
time to get out of one's car and return the volume to the desk.
Granted there are extenuating circumstances.  Unfortunately, too
many "service-oriented" librarians do not see it my way.  We keep on
trying.

Gregor Trinkaus-Randall
Collection Management/Preservation Specialist
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
648 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02215-2070
617-267-9400, 800-952-7403 (in-state)
Fax: 617-421-9833

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 12:53
                Distributed: Thursday, December 17, 1998
                       Message Id: cdl-12-53-005
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