A staff member requests a book not in the department library. What is the most advisable course of action?

A staff member requests a book not in the department library. What is the most advisable course of action?

• A. Tell the employee to come back later after you search the catalog.
• B. Do nothing.
• C. Attempt to obtain the book through the department's borrowing/issue service.
• D. Suggest they buy the book themselves.

Answer: (C)

When a staff member asks for a book not in the department library, the best move is to use the department’s borrowing/issue service to obtain it. This leverages established resource-sharing channels, such as interlibrary loan or cross-branch borrowing, so the item can be sourced from other libraries or departments without directing the staff to make a purchase themselves. It also keeps the request tracked and within budgeting and licensing constraints, and it typically provides a clear timeline for when the item will be available. This approach respects the library’s acquisition and access processes, ensuring the material is obtained legally and returned if needed, and it avoids unnecessary delays or bypassing procedures. Options like asking the staff to search the catalog themselves, doing nothing, or suggesting they buy the book bypass the formal pathways and can lead to inefficiencies or improper purchases.

When a staff member asks for a book not in the department library, the best move is to use the department’s borrowing/issue service to obtain it. This leverages established resource-sharing channels, such as interlibrary loan or cross-branch borrowing, so the item can be sourced from other libraries or departments without directing the staff to make a purchase themselves. It also keeps the request tracked and within budgeting and licensing constraints, and it typically provides a clear timeline for when the item will be available.

This approach respects the library’s acquisition and access processes, ensuring the material is obtained legally and returned if needed, and it avoids unnecessary delays or bypassing procedures. Options like asking the staff to search the catalog themselves, doing nothing, or suggesting they buy the book bypass the formal pathways and can lead to inefficiencies or improper purchases.