Borrowing books can be carried out flexibly in various ways:

The borrower registers in the library system, and then the system automatically sends reminders to the borrower and the librarian, and then the librarian is responsible for giving the book to the borrower (delivering the book to the door, the librarian picking it up at the desk, or meeting near the bookcase, etc.). ). In the reminder email sent by the system, it is best to indicate the words "Next, the administrator will contact you". In the process of managing the library, I often need to answer a question from first-time borrowers: "Hello, librarian, what should I do next?" . Unfortunately, the reminder message cannot be simply modified in OpenDB system.

The borrower directly contacts the librarian (let me know when you meet, ping on the instant messaging software, or send an email directly), and then the librarian is responsible for registering in the system.

If the bookcase is open and unlocked. Then employees can borrow books directly without the knowledge of the administrator (after registering in the system or contacting the administrator). In this case, the administrator needs to be responsible for regularly verifying the correctness of the book information. Because our bookcase is located in an area where outsiders sometimes pass (equipment maintenance personnel, foreign interviewers, visitors, etc.). ), for the convenience of management, we didn't adopt this method.

Return the book

The return of books is relatively simple. After the books are handed over to the administrator, the administrator can register in the system. Under special circumstances, the borrower lends the book directly to others ("I have almost read this book, and someone in the same group wants to read it, so I will give it directly to him"). In this case, the administrator can make corresponding changes in the system. Of course, if someone borrows books in advance, the administrator needs to coordinate communication conflicts.

Book renewal

A perfect book lending system should have a function module for book renewal, so that borrowers can operate it themselves. Unfortunately, OpenDB does not have such a function. So we adopt the way of "telling the administrator", which is realized by the administrator in the system (returning the book and borrowing it again).

Reminder of books

A perfect book lending system should have the function of automatically sending reminders: sending emails every day to remind borrowers and administrators when books are about to expire or expire. OpenDB has this function, and we can also customize it according to our own needs. However, it is frustrating that these reminders are not necessarily effective, or even mostly ineffective-as an employee, I receive a lot of emails every day, including emails automatically sent by various systems, and book reminders are easily drowned in daily emails; At the same time, because it has nothing to do with business, the priority of book reminder emails is generally low, which makes it difficult to attract the attention of borrowers. In fact, from another point of view, book reminder is not a high priority for internal libraries-internal libraries are different from public libraries, and it is unlikely that there will be such a situation of queuing to borrow books that are in short supply. Moreover, strictly enforcing the book borrowing reminder can easily lead to formalism problems: the book borrowed by the borrower has expired, but he/she still has some unfinished books. If the book borrowing reminder is strictly implemented, it will only lead to the absurd situation that the borrower borrows the same book immediately after returning the book.

Then, under what circumstances, the manager should take the initiative to contact the borrower and urge him to return the book?

The book was overdue, and other colleagues borrowed it in advance.

Books are overdue for too long (for example, several months). In this case, the administrator needs to remind the borrower to avoid losing the book.

How to deal with the problem of lost books

As long as the library continues to operate, the loss of books is 100% inevitable. So, what should I do if the book is lost in the process of borrowing?

Delete the entry directly from the system, and there is no other measure. This is more humane, but in the long run, it is not conducive to the maintenance of books.

Borrowers compensate for lost books. This practice is understandable, but it is blunt.

Borrowers pay for the same book (second-hand).

The borrower donated a book of similar value in this field as compensation.