RESOURCE CENTRE MANUAL
HEALTHLINK WORLDWIDE
7.5 Lending
Lending allows users to read or view materials in their own time. It is especially
useful for users who are based some distance from the resource centre.
There is, however, a problem with lending - the failure to return materials. For
this reason, some resource centres only lend materials to staff in the same
organisation, or to users in the same town as the resource centre. If materials
are to be lent to people who are based further away, there will need to be a
system to prevent materials from becoming lost. For example, a deposit could
be charged for borrowing materials –- a sum of money that would be returned
to the borrower when they stop being a member of the resource centre, or kept
if they fail to return the materials.
If the postal system is unreliable, registered post could be used for any materials
that need to be posted to or from the resource centre. Registered post is
expensive, and the cost would need to be covered by, for example, charging an
extra fee for materials supplied through the post.
MHaetaelrthialIsnftohramt caatinonnoPt rboejercetploacaends,psoulcihcyaasntdhopsreotcheadtuarrees out of print or are
very expensive, could be unavailable for lending. Alternatives to lending include
c1u.rrTenhteafwolalorewniensgs bpueollpetleinms,aeynqbuoirrrioews smeravticeerisa, lisn:fTorumtoartsi,osntupdaecnktss aanndd other
newMsleitnteisrtsry(soeef HSeecatilothnspe7r.s9o, n7n.1el1., 7.12 and 7.13).
B2e.foTreheofnfuerminbgera olefnitdeimngs stehravticme,ayit biseibmoprorortwaendt tvoardiecs,iddeepheonwdimnganoynmthaetetryipaels
a peorsfounsemr:ayTubtoorrrsoawreanaldlohwoewd lsoixngittehmesy amnadysktuedepentthsetmhr.eTehiteesme ds.ecisions will
depend on the number of materials in the resource centre, the number of users,
h3o.wMeaastielryiaulssemrsacyanbecobmoreroinwteodthfoerreuspoutorctewcoenwtere,kas.nTdhheoywmfaayr buesebrsorarroewbeadsed
fromagthaienriefsonuortcreeqceunirterde. bAy saanmopthleerlouasnesr.policy is given in Section 7.5.1.
74..5.A1llSmamateprliealslomaanys bpeobliocryroawnedd.procedures
5. If an item is overdue and a reminder has been sent, a fine of [small amount]
per day will be charged.
7.5.2 How to set up a lending system
I6t .is Iafdavnisaitbelme toishlaovset aorsydsatemmagfoerdi,dtehnetiufysienrgwainlldbregriesqteurinregdutsoerpsawyhtohbeocrorostwof
materreiapllsa.cFinorgeoxramrepplaei,ruinsegrsitc. ould be asked to complete a membership form (see
Section 7.5.3: Sample membership form). Membership forms should be filed
a7lp. haWbehteicnalleynbdyinsgurannamitemso, ethitahtedretails can be checked when required.
• the name and membership number should be written in the loans book
If there aarnedotnhlye daafteewwuhsenrstwhehoitbemorrioswdumeabtearcikals,haousilmd pblee wrergiitstetenr ocorusltdambepekdepotnin
a large etxheercdiusee bdoaotek.laDbeetlailnssoidfeththeembaoteorkia,lo, trhe person who has borrowed it and the
date,•couthldebloeaenntcearred sinhothueldrebgeisptelar ceeadchintsimidee mthaeteursiaelr'iss lbooarnropwoecdk.eWt ahnedn ftihled by
materialtihseredtautrenethde, tihteemreitsurdnudeabteaciska, dadneddtthoeisnadmiceatdeattheatwthriettmenatoerrisatlaims bpaecdkoinn the
collectiotnh.e due date label (loan slip) inside the book.
8. To check for outstanding loans, a check should be made once a week (on
the same day each week) to see what items are overdue, and a reminder
should be sent to the member who borrowed the item(s).
8 SECTION 7: INFORMATION SERVICES