suggestion: send more reminder emails about overdue books.
I have a suggestion for helping people to return books in time. Recently, I accidentally returned some books quite late. It was my fault, but I didn't intentionally return them late and I know that if I'd received more notifications that they were overdue I would have realised they were overdue and brought them back much earlier.
I had received a notification from the library a few days before it was due, but I was on holidays at the time and it got lost in the constant stream of emails. Then, as far as I know, I didn't receive any more emails about the book being overdue. The only reason I realised it was overdue was that I checked the mail one day, which hadn't been done for about a week (our fault), and found a letter saying that if the books weren't returned by a certain date I'd have to pay for them. After which I immediately returned the book. (I think part of the reason I'd forgotten about the books is that the loan periods these days are quite long -- or at least as a postgrad student -- so the due date can slip out of your mind. I know it's still ultimately your responsibility to get them back on time, but I'm just suggesting something to make it a bit easier to remember).
I think it'd be helpful, and most people would appreciate it, if they received emails about about overdue books on the due date, and once every few days after that point. That make it much harder to accidentally overlook due books and would help get books returned more promptly.
Regards,
James.
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Dear James,
Thank you for your suggestion. The library is constantly monitoring the borrowing conditions for our borrowers. Whilst there are some borrowers who would prefer to receive more notices, many would not.
For standard loans of 14, 28, or 84 days, the Library sends the following notices:
A Reminder notice 7 days before the due date
First overdue notice one day after the due date
Final overdue notice at 7 days after the due date.
If items are not returned at 14 days after the due date, a bill for non-return is generated and sent by Australia Post.
As 3 and 7 day loans are in demand, the notice period is shorter and the Library sends the following notices.
For 3 day loans, A reminder notice 1 day before the due date.
For 7 day loans, a Reminder notice 3 days before the due date.
First overdue notice one day after the due date
Final overdue notice at 3 days after the due date.
If items are not returned at 5 days after the due date, a bill for non-return is generated and sent by Australia Post.
As you can see, we do send quite a few notices, to send more may annoy some of our borrowers. It is a balancing act.
Please remember that you can check your record anytime to see when your items are due at https://www.library.uq.edu.au/uqlais/iiiss
Helen Cook
Information Access Service
Hi! I wanted to comment on this post - for most of us, the notice for standard and 7 day loans a week and three days in advance is usually a bit too early to actually help us do something - a notice the night before would be SO MUCH more useful for these loans. I've had several items overdue and accrued fines simply because I returned 4 7-day items ... 1 day late, after getting the overdue notice.
Thank you in advance!!!