Comparing patrons' renewal behavior before and after implementing more permissive loan rules. Issue 4 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Irwin, Ken
• Is Part Of: Journal of access services. Volume 13:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 237
• Page End: 246
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Renewals -- statistics -- consortia -- circulation -- interlibrary loan; Libraries -- Periodicals; Documentation -- Periodicals; Library science -- Periodicals; 025
• DOI: 10.1080/15367967.2016.1250001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1536-7967

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article reports on a study of how long library patrons at 28 college and university libraries kept books checked out before and after a policy change allowing for longer circulation periods and more renewals. The behavior of most patrons remained similar before and after the policy change, with only a slight (7–14 day) lengthening of the length of circulation for many patrons. A significant minority of patrons made more extensive use of the longer loan periods, demonstrating the usefulness of the policy change for many users.