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ERIC Number: ED385287
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1995-Jul
Pages: 144
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0160-3582
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Library Photocopy Operations. SPEC Kit 209.
Almony, Robert A., Jr., Comp.; O'Brien, Francis, Comp.
The kit and flyer examine library photocopy operations, including services, personnel, equipment, and financial management practices by member institutions of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). To find out about these operations, ARL surveyed its 112 members, and received 93 replies. Forty-nine academic libraries (58%) described their photocopy operations to be "run/operated under library administration." Nineteen academic libraries (22%) described operations as "run/operated by their university administration." Twelve academic libraries (14%) described them as run by a third party vendor with some revenue returned to the library. The survey requested additional information only from the 49 libraries who ran their own photocopy operations. It was determined that 27% of the respondents prepared a mission statement concerning photocopy use. Only 33% of the library-managed photocopy operations are staffed all hours the library is open. Two-thirds of the respondents provide self-service copying with no staff present for a low of 12 hours per week to a high of 69 hours per week. Ninety percent of the respondents allowed debit card payments. Ninety-two percent allowed departmental charges. Twenty-two percent allowed patrons to charge to an individual account. Reported revenue from cash was a low of 1% and a high of 85%. Percent from debit cards was a low of 32% and a high of 100%. Departmental charges averaged 20% to 30% of revenue. Among the libraries who allowed debit cards, an average of 67% of their total revenue was derived from card use. Forty-five of forty-nine libraries reported their photocopy operations to be self-supporting, paying for staff salaries and other expenses from generated revenue. Money remaining after expenses was generally put to use to purchase new photocopy equipment (80%). Fifty-three percent of the libraries are permitted to use excess photocopy revenue outside the photocopy unit. Seventy-three percent of respondents indicated that they had a plan for equipment replacement; 39% indicated the existence of funds for this purpose. Twenty-nine percent advertised their photocopy services in campus newspapers, bulletin boards, or other sources outside the library. When asked to rank seven current issues for their importance to photocopy operations, respondents selected copyright and preservation as most important, followed by ADA compliance, recycling, document delivery, and resource sharing. Examples of library operating budgets, photocopy machine statistics, services and pricing, and advertising are provided. (Author/MAS)
Association of Research Libraries, Office of Management Services, 21 Dupont Circle, N.W., Washington, DC 20036.
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Association of Research Libraries, Washington, DC. Office of Management Services.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A