June 27, 2008Jan Sung

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Myth Busting: Using Data to Challenge Assumptions

ALA Conference 2010, Washington DC LLAMA / MAES

Do overdue fines and grace periods affect patrons book

return behavior?

“What will you do, if you were asked to call

all patrons with overdue books?”

Well, if there were too many, I don’t think we can . . .

Or if there were too few, why do we need to . . .

Let me see what I can do . . .

Charleston

Chicago

Eastern Illinois Univ.

Univ. of Hawaii

International 1%EIU

Pacific ,

Mixed, 10%

Hispanic, 3%

African

Pacific Islander 12%

Asian 47%White 27%

UH

African American 10%

White 79%

Hispanic 3%

Asian / Pacific Islander 1%

Unknown 6%

African America 1%

EIU

Faculty Grad Under

UH

EIU

4 M / 10 R 4 M / 10 R

1 M (Fall 06)

2 M (Fall 07)

1 M / 10 R

Loan Periods --

Fines & Fees -- EIU

Faculty Grad Under

UH

EIU

Since Fall 06

Same as Under

.25 / day

10 day grace p.

X X

Faculty

Graduate

e-Courtesy e-Overdue

Loan period changedFines imposed

Loan period revisedFines remained

Books returned before due at EIU

Undergrad

UH vs EIU

Faculty Grad Under

UH6 M / 99 R 3 M / 5 R 1 M / 5 R

EIU 4 M / 10 R 2 M / 10 R 1 M / 10 R

Loan Periods & Fines and Fees

$.25 / Day with 10 day grace p.

$.25 / Day with no grace period

X

Books returned before due - - Graduates

EIU – Graduate (No Fines earlier)

UH -- Graduate (Fines with no grace period)

Loan period changedFines imposed

Loan period revisedFines remained

EIU – Under (Fines with 10 Day Grace Period)

UH – Under (Fines with No Grace Period)

Books returned before due - - Undergraduates

Books returned before due - - Faculty

UH– Faculty (Fines without grace period)

EIU – Faculty (No Fines)

Mahalo

jansung@hawaii.edu04ww778