Recalling books

Q: I am writing to suggest the removal of “recalling” books. This policy is ridiculous! I would suggest that books not be able to be taken out for a full term, if they can be taken back a week later. In the case of myself, I borrowed three textbooks from the library with the notion that I had them for the full term. Not even a week later I was sent an email that one of the texts was to be returned by the end of the month. The fact that books can be recalled is totally unsupportive of students who rely on the library for their texts. If someone else requests the book they should get it when the book has been returned at the original due date. I don’t know of any other
library that allows texts to be “recalled” before the due date. Please either remove the recall policy or don’t allow for texts to be taken out for a full term, as it really messes up student financial woes. And now I have to repurchase the text which I can’t afford.

A: Thank you for your suggestion and your comments. When it comes to textbooks in the library, we normally do not collect undergraduate textbooks, aside from textbooks specifically requested for course reserve by professors. When there are textbooks in the general collection they are usually placed there after they are no longer on course reserves. Once a textbook is in our general collection it follows our general collection book policy. 

All circulating general collection books may be requested ie. recalled or hold placed, by other patrons. This allows us to ensure that anyone who may need access to a book will get access in an orderly and timely manner. Everyone is encouraged to place a request and this will reduce the loan period in the cases of semester loans or multiple holds. This allows the book to be flagged so that you are next in line. If there is high demand for specific books we may also purchase extra copies of the books, but that does not apply to textbooks.

The cost of textbooks can be expensive and one thing that you can do if this process does not provide you what you need, is talk to your professors and instructors about using Open Access texts or publications whenever possible to potentially ease the costs of your in-class materials.

Mark Christensen
Division Head, Access Services