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Megan:<br>
<br>
We were losing hundreds of dollars' worth of materials to patrons
who provided an ID with a bad address, so we instituted the
following policy:<br>
<br>
New card applicants may take up to two items out on the day they
apply and we keep their library cards here. For each applicant, we
first call the phone number to confirm it and then mail the library
card to her at the address given. We stamp each envelope "Return
Service Requested," which tells the post office to return to us any
envelopes with an invalid address. <br>
<br>
We also contact the home library of anyone who requests a reciprocal
card, asking only if the patron is in good standing. If the home
library tells us the applicant is not in good standing, we inform
the applicant and hold the card until the issue is resolved.<br>
<br>
The whole process takes no more than a week. Once the applicant
receives her card in the mail, the 2-item restriction is removed.
<br>
<br>
When we first started this procedure a few years ago, we had lots of
cards returned in the mail, and many, many reciprocal applicants
were blocked at their home libraries. Now we just have a few of
each every month. <br>
<br>
Our losses to applicants have been drastically reduced; certainly
we've saved far more than we spend on postage and envelopes. We
were concerned that this procedure might cost us goodwill, but we've
had very few complaints, and we always do our best to speed the new
cards to the applicants.<br>
<br>
--Teresa<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Teresa Stannard, Library Director
Parchment Community Library
401 S Riverview Dr.
Parchment, MI 49004
Ph. 269.343.7747 x203
Fax 269.343.7749
Library Hours: M-Th 10-8; F 10-6; Sat 10-4</pre>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 10/15/2015 9:54 AM, Megan Buck
wrote:<br>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
Do any libraries have a probationary period for new card
holders? If you do, is it for everyone or it is based on some
criteria; how long is the probationary period; and what are
the limitations?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We currently do not have any restrictions –
a card is valid immediately and the card holder can max out
checkout limits on the first day. Recently we have had a
number of new card holders who do just that and are never
heard from again.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Any advice, examples, or suggestions are
welcome!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Megan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Megan Buck<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dickinson County Library<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Iron Mountain, MI 49801<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(906) 774-1218<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.dcl-lib.org">www.dcl-lib.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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