Should academic libraries lend LIS journals?

Abstract

The practice, in some academic libraries, of lending periodicals to staff and students can frequently lead to frustration and disappointment on the part of other users pursuing the same articles. Reports results of a survey of periodicals lending policies in university libraries, focusing on library and information science periodicals which are unique in that they have an additional user group in academic libraries, namely professional library staff. Explores the views of users, level of complaints about these policies, and compares loan periods, recall policies, photocopying charges and other related issues. Questionnaires were sent by electronic mail and post to academic departments and libraries in the UK, Ireland, North America, Australasia, and Scandinavia. Concludes that: the lending of periodicals causes problems for academic staff, library staff and, especially, for students; only a minority of academic libraries lend periodicals, with lending being more popular in the UK than the USA; and there is a clear difference of perception between librarians and their users about the difficulties involved. Suggests possible solutions, including: electronic access; duplicate copies of key periodicals for circulation among library staff; study packs and short loan arrangements; lending of older, bound volumes; and the making of loose issues reference only.