University of Virginia Library

Book Check Now A Reality

New System Causes
Changes In Library

By Chuck Hite
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

After a controversial, year-long
study by the Honor Committee
and administrative University
committees, a book checker
at the door of Alderman Library
is now a reality.

The door-check and several
other changes in the library system
are a result of a new, automated
circulation system introduced
this week.

Under the new system only students
holding Master's degrees
and working for their Ph.D.'s can
check a book out for a semester.
All other students may check
out books for a month with a
renewal period of an additional
month.

In the past semester loan periods
had been extended to all
graduate students, honors students
and University employees.
Faculty loan periods will continue
to be a maximum of one year.

Plastic In Card

The new automated system is
designed to speed up the handling
of books with a minimum
investment in new equipment.
Each student will now receive a
plastic identification card embossed
with his name and social
security number. The card is to
be presented with all books
charged out at the circulation
desk.

The staff member will write
the book's call number on a two-part
charge-discharge card separated
by a carbon, and will then,
using the borrower's ID card, imprint
the borrower's name, Social
Security number and the date
due on the two-part card. After
the cards are separated, the discharged
card, with the date-due
stamped on it, will be inserted in
the book and the book may then
be taken from the library.

Keypunch System

The charge card will be keypunched
at a later time and entered
into the automated system
from which printouts of the
books in circulation, computer
printed overdue notices, and statistics
of library use will be produced.

These printouts will be put out
three times a week. A public copy
of the latest printout will be
available to students who wish
to find if a book they need is
currently checked out.

When a book is returned the
discharge card will be removed
and sent to the Data Processing
Center in Garrett Hall. A list of
returned books will then be
checked against a list of books
due.

There will be a fine of $1 for
every book returned without a
discharge card.

Library Benefits

Benefits to the Library staff
will include speedier handling of
books, no maintenance of the
circulation card file, few handwritten
overdue notices and easier
access to all information about
books charged out.

The new system will replace a

procedure which involves filling
out a detailed card for the borrower,
and repetitious filing for
the staff members. The old system,
said librarian Ray Frantz,
was designed for a library of
10,000 volumes or less. "It's fine
for small circulation, but we're
charging out an average of 500
books a day, and sometimes as
many as 1,000.

No Major Equipment

The new system does not involve
the purchase of major
equipment. "We're renting a keypunch
and already have some
small imprinting machines," said
the University librarian. "This
system is based on the one used
at American University. For us
the new system is a mid-step between
a manual and a fully automated
system which would require
new equipment that we
can't afford."