[Libs-Or] Library cards for homeless/those without permanent address

[Zaborowski, Lindsay A.]

Hello Kirsten,

What an interesting discussion you have sparked! I was talking it over with one of my student workers, and she suggested that you could perhaps have a 'holds' area where those people who cannot provide the information needed to get a library card can have books held for a certain amount of time, so that they can revisit the book without having to worry about another patron checking it out and removing it from the library.  That way, they can have access to the book for the normal checkout period, but it never leaves the physical library location.  I don't know how well this could work, but it seems like a way to give them most of the regular privileges while keeping account of library property.

Lindsay
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Lindsay Prescott Zaborowski, MA, MSIS, '07 | Project Manager | Washington County Heritage Online
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-----Original Message-----
From: libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>] On Behalf Of Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2012 3:43 PM
To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: [Libs-Or] Library cards for homeless/those without permanent address

We're currently exploring ways to better serve our transient population here in Lincoln City. In the past we have worked out cards for individuals staying at a nearby domestic violence shelter, and we allow anyone to make use of our computers, but I would like to set up something more permanent and wide-ranging that would allow individuals without a permanent address to better access library services.

We have some ideas here on staff, but I would be very interested in hearing how other libraries have tackled this. What kinds of requirements do you have in order to obtain a card? Do cards for those without permanent address have the same borrowing privileges, or modified privileges? Have you experienced a great deal of material loss, or no? I suspect I may have to work pretty hard to get 100% buy-in from my board and from staff, so any information you've got would be great!

Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney
Library Director
Driftwood Public Library
801 SW HWY 101, #201
Lincoln City, OR 97367
(541)996-1251<tel:%28541%29996-1251>
kbrodbeck-kenney at lincolncity.org<mailto:kbrodbeck-kenney at lincolncity.org>