Factors Affecting Patron Behavior Regarding Return of Library Materials:

Statistical Analysis on Return Rates of Two Academic Libraries

10.24.2008

Jan SungUniversity of Hawaii, Manoa

Why do people return books?:

1. Human Nature 2. Policy (Loan Period, Fines, Fees etc)

How effective are fines?

“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 . . .

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

Chicago

St. Louis

established 1895

10,700 FTE (9,500 undergraduates)58% female, 42% male

Eastern Ill Univ.

Faculty Grad Under

Manoa

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 -- Eastern Ill Univ.

Faculty Grad Under

Manoa

EIU No FF No FF

Since Fall 06

.25 / day

.25 / day

10 day grace p.

90%

93%

95%

91%

80%

84%

71%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Fall 02

Spring03

Fall 03

Spring04

Fall 04

Spring05

Fall 05

Spring06

Fall 06

Spring07

Fall 07

Faculty

Graduate

e-Courtesy e-Overdue

Loan period changedFines imposed

Loan period revisedFines remained

Books returned before due at EIU

Undergrad

MANOA vs. EIU

Faculty Grad Under

Manoa 6 M / 99 R 3 M / 5 R 1 M / 5 R

EIU 4 M / 10 R

NO FF

2 M / 10 R 1 M / 10 R

Loan Periods & Fines and Fees

$.25 / Day with 10 day grace period except for AV

$.25 / Day with no grace period

91%

93%EIU -Grad

95%

91%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Fall02

Spring 03

Fall 03

Spring 04

Fall 04

Spring 05

Fall 05

Spring 06

Fall 06

Spring 07

Fall 07

MANOA - Grad94%

96%

91%

93%EIU -Grad

95%

91%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Fall02

Spring 03

Fall 03

Spring 04

Fall 04

Spring 05

Fall 05

Spring 06

Fall 06

Spring 07

Fall 07

Books returned before due - - Graduates

EIU – Graduate (No Fines)

MANOA – Graduate (Fines without grace period)

Loan period changedFines imposed

Loan period revisedFines remained

91%

86%

92%

90%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Fall02

Spring 03

Fall 03

Spring 04

Fall 04

Spring 05

Fall 05

Spring 06

Fall 06

Spring 07

Fall 07

91%93%

89% 91%

86%

92%

90%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Fall02

Spring 03

Fall 03

Spring 04

Fall 04

Spring 05

Fall 05

Spring 06

Fall 06

Spring 07

Fall 07

EIU – Under (10 Day Grace Period)

MANOA – Under (No Grace Period)

Books returned before due - - Undergraduates

Books returned before due - - Faculty

MANOA – Faculty (Fines without grace period)

EIU – Faculty (No Fines and Fees)

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

Spring 01

Fall 01

Spring 02

Fall02

Spring 03

Fall 03

Spring 04

Fall 04

Spring 05

Fall 05

Spring 06

Fall 06

Spring 07

Fall 07

Spring 08

Undergraduate

Graduate

Faculty

Number of items borrowed at MANOA 2001-2008

It is very important or essential . . . . .

Developing a meaningful philosophy of life

Keeping up to date with political affairs

1970 1980 1990 1995 2000 2005

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

79%

57%

45%

36%

Statistical Abstracts 2008 Table 278 – The Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA

Being off very well financially

36%

75%

1970 1980 1990 1995 2000 2005

50%

40%

30%

20%

Average High School GradeA- ~ A+

47%

20%

“But professor, my daughter deserves an A!”

Mahalo

jansung@hawaii.edu