Stock Verification is Troubling the Sleep of Librarians

[Manavta Jugeshh]

Dear Friends,

The Devil called Stock Verification is troubling the sleep of Librarians. But in view of the safety and dignity of the Profession, I wish to bring the following points for the kind perusal and needful action ( by each and every Library Professional and the Teachers of Library Science ) in their respective posts, capacities and abilities.

I am writing this after observing many Librarians who are suffering because of handful of Book thieves- while retiring.

SV should be done annually.But if the loss is under permissible limits, it should be written off the same year.
In case the loss is not written off the same year or within three years, the Heads of the Institutions should be held responsible, not the Librarian.
The existing norm of permissible loss 5 Books per 1000 Books consulted/Borrowed should be raised to 10 Books.
In many Institutions, only Librarians are targeted and forced to pay the losses. Why the other supporting staff are not made responsible?. If one knows for sure that only the Librarians are required to pay the losses, he may become negligent. Sometimes he may also involve in the racket, because of low morale and low salaries.
The Libraries that work for extended periods should be given special consideration; as more loss is likely.
In some institutes, either the cost or a latest edition of lost Book is accepted. But in majority of the cases, poor Librarians are made to pay the double the cost of the Books.Is it fair? Is there a documentary evidence for such punishment?. It is OK to fine the negligent user if the lost Book is a rare one. But Librarians as such, are not responsible for the loss.

Let us think, practice and spread our wings unitedly for the safe and dignified exits of Librarians.
I HUMBLY seek the opinion AND GUIDANCE of the Senior Teachers of Library Science and LIS Professionals in this regard,
CHANDRU

[Dr. Vijay Raghav Tiwari]

Dear Charu

I have certain points to make.

If a librarian joins on day one of the establishment of the library, he may be held responsible otherwise not.

If the library opens without his presence too, he cant be held responsible.

The SV helps in getting rid of the torn and lost books  should be made use of every year.

One should try these loop holes in this regard.

If some more suggestions are there please add .

regards

vrt

[Siddu]

Mr. Chandru

Rules clearly stipulate the frequency of SV, which is as under-

Rule 194. Physical verification of Library books, Government of India; Ministry of Finance ;Department of Expenditure. General Financial Rules, 2005 say SV has to be done -
a)annually if a library has a collection less than or equal to 20,000
b)Once in three years if the collection is more than 20,000 and less than 50,000
c) Sample physical verification at intervals of not more than three years should be done in case of libraries having more than 50,000 volumes.

II) The existing permissible norm of loss 5 Books per 1000 Books consulted/Borrowed is already a good norm. Why do you want that to be raised to 10?.

III)Is there a specific rule which says only librarian is responsible for the loss and not the supporting staff?  If a library is functioning 18-20 hours a day, it is impossible for only librarian to be present all these hours, the loss therefore, has to be a collective responsibility.

IV) I don't agree with your suggestion of making heads of institution responsible for the loss as well.  How do you justify this? If we abdicate our responsibility of periodical SV, how are the heads answerable for this?

With the advent of technology, we have a host of gadgets to minimize the loss of books, why not make use of them?

[Manavta Jugeshh]

Siddu Sir, 

I'm not able to understand the following theory, please elaborate- 

Supposing, my library has just 1000 books. Average consultation of all 1000 books per day is say 35. Then annually (with 280 working days presumably), overall consultation is 35*280 =9800 consultations. Then going by the rule of 5 loss per thousand books consulted - the annual permissible loss in this case is 49! [(5*9800)/1000] which is a comfortable figure to manage.

[Siddu]

This is not a part of my reply.

[vijay choudhary]

Hi,
Myself Vijay Choudhary. I am working as a guest faculty in Govt Degree college and I am fully agree with you only Librarians are targeted and forced to pay the loss. It is not justified. Only Librarian is not responsible for it.Many college management private and govt also made responsible only for Librarian and they dont give them salary many months,which thing is not fair.
I dont say other staff is responsible or not.... but only librarian is not responsible for it. We should think more this type problems and its solution also. Otherwise librarian (GRANTHPAL) will be Watchman(DWARPAL)

Thanks & regards

[vijay choudhary]