Good news for Hanover library patrons, the interlibrary loan system is back.
After taking a two-month break to examine their options and the costs involved, the Hanover Library has reinstated the inter-library loan program.
In an effort to ensure the program’s sustainability, Chief Librarian Agnes Rivers-Moore says the program will be somewhat limited from the original.
Hanover is restricting patrons to no more than 5 inter-library books a month and has also set a limit as to how many books it will loan out to other libraries.
This is because of the additional cost that Hanover will now have to absorb to participate in the program.
In a letter to the Town, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Lisa MacLeod has stated that the Southern Ontario Library Service will reimburse libraries for eligibility costs such as postage.
However many libraries are questioning exactly how much they will be reimbursed for the cost of mailing books .
Rivers-Moore says it is her understanding that at this time there is no funding coming forth in this year SOLS budget to cover the library’s cost associated with Canada Post.
Because of all of the cost uncertainty surrounding the Canada Post postage reimbursement, the Hanover Library has decided to proceed cautiously with a limited inter-library loan program involvement.
In the past, with the exception of staff time, the entire program was covered through the Southern Ontario Library Service.
This Spring, SOLS announced the discontinuation of the van courier system used to transfer the books from library to library due to major government funding cutbacks.
A short time later after working with the Province, SOLS announced the resurrection of the program, however going forth it will be done through Canada Post rather than courier van.
Once staff time, supplies and postage is factored in, Rivers-Moore estimates it costs about 11 dollars in total to ship a book for the inter-library loan program.
Rivers-Moore says the inter-library loan program is a very important service for small libraries like Hanover, and that is why the Library decided to reinstate it.
She says the program will be closely monitored, and if it is deemed cost prohibitive, she says the program will be reevaluated.
