Circulation Services

Home > Library and Museum Studies > User services (library and museum studies) > Circulation Services

Handles the lending and borrowing of library materials, including check-out, check-in, renewal, and placing holds on items.

Circulation policies: These are the rules and procedures governing the circulation and use of library materials. It includes loan periods, overdue fines, and the borrowing privileges of different user groups.
Library automation systems: These are computer-based systems that manage library materials, patron records, and circulation transactions. Common examples include Koha, Alma, and Sierra.
Collection development: This refers to the process of selecting, acquiring, and discarding library materials. It considers factors such as the library's mission, user needs, and collection assessment.
Reference services: This involves providing assistance to users in finding information, using resources, and conducting research. It includes both in-person and virtual reference services.
Interlibrary loan: This is a service that allows patrons to borrow materials from other libraries outside of the local system. It requires collaboration and cooperation between library systems.
Circulation statistics: These are data points that measure the usage of library materials and services. They are often used to evaluate the effectiveness of circulation policies and services.
Marketing and promotion: This involves the development and execution of strategies to promote library materials and services to potential and existing users. It includes outreach, advertising, and public relations.
Recordkeeping and reporting: This involves the maintenance of accurate and up-to-date records of library materials, patron transactions, and circulation statistics. It includes reporting to library management and external agencies.
Shelving and inventory management: This involves the physical organization and maintenance of library materials, including shelving, labeling, and inventory control.
Security and loss prevention: This refers to the measures and policies in place to prevent theft and damage to library materials, as well as ensuring the safety of patrons and staff. It includes monitoring and enforcing circulation policies, as well as implementing security measures such as alarms and video surveillance.
Loan Services: It is a primary circulation service, where the user can borrow library materials for a specific time period. This service enables users to access books, academic resources or other materials with ease.
Reserve Services: This service allows users to reserve materials that are already checked-out, so that they will be kept aside and ready for the borrower to checkout as soon as they become available.
Renewal Services: This service allows the user to extend the loan period of borrowed material beyond the initial duration if they wish to keep them for longer.
Recall Services: This service is used when the library finds a high demand for a particular material and recalls the item from the borrower, even if they have not yet reached the due date.
Interlibrary loan Services: This is a service where libraries can lend or borrow materials from each other to fulfill patron requests. It allows users to obtain materials that are not in their own library's collection.
Document Delivery Services: This service provides users with copies of articles, reports, and other materials that can be delivered electronically or in print.
Reservation Desk Services: In this service, the library staff can assist users to reserve rooms, equipment or other materials online or in-person for the required date(s).
Hold Shelf Management: This service involves the staff monitoring the materials on hold by users, ensuring that they are available for checkout and returned to the shelf once they are no longer needed.
Fine Management: This service is designed to handle overdue fines, lost item fees, and other penalties for borrowers who are unable to return materials on time.
Bookmobile Services: These are mobile libraries that provide circulation services to underserved areas where traditional libraries are not easily accessible.
Access Services: This involves creating and managing a seamless user experience for borrowing library resources, including working with library information systems and making sure user accounts are up-to-date.
Book Stack and Sorting Services: These services involve shelving and organizing library materials to ensure that they are easily accessible and checked-out as needed.
Circulation Desk: This is the central point of contact for users to check out materials, renew or reserve materials, and obtain assistance from library staff.
E-resource Access: This service allows users access to e-books, electronic databases and other online resources needed for research and academic work.
Reference Services: This service provides assistance to users in answering reference queries, finding materials and making recommendations to users in need.
"Library circulation or library lending comprises the activities around the lending of library books and other material to users of a lending library. A circulation or lending department is one of the key departments of a library."
"The main public service point is the circulation desk or loans desk, usually found near the main entrance of a library."
"It provides lending services and facilities for return of loaned items. Renewal of materials and payment of fines are also handled at the circulation desk."
"The circulation desk is in most cases staffed by library support staff instead of professional librarians."
"Circulation staff may provide basic search and reference services..."
"...though more in-depth questions are usually referred to reference librarians at the library reference desk."
"It provides lending services and facilities for return of loaned items."
"Renewal of materials and payment of fines are also handled at the circulation desk."
"...provides lending services and facilities for return of loaned items."
"The main public service point is the circulation desk or loans desk, usually found near the main entrance of a library."
"A circulation or lending department is one of the key departments of a library."
"usually found near the main entrance of a library"
"...staffed by library support staff instead of professional librarians."
"A circulation or lending department is one of the key departments of a library."
"...provides lending services and facilities for return of loaned items. Renewal of materials and payment of fines are also handled at the circulation desk."
"Circulation staff may provide basic search and reference services..."
"...more in-depth questions are usually referred to reference librarians at the library reference desk."
"...library lending comprises the activities around the lending of library books and other material to users of a lending library."
"provides lending services and facilities for return of loaned items."
"A circulation or lending department is one of the key departments of a library."