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The University of Zambia Library like other libraries formulates library circulation regulations/policies to ensure that library resources are used effectively. For consistency of service, high productivity, and efficiency, organizations provide guidelines to be followed by those involved in the service delivery or production process. According to Kang, Wang & Wang (2019), library circulation is the function of lending library materials to the users of the library. They further assert that the circulation service is an important, traditional library service. Circulation policies are the rules that govern borrowing and renewing materials and the penalties for overdue, lost, or damaged items.
Borrowing services are the most popular library service, and they are typically listed as the first service type on library websites. Correspondingly, circulation polices are necessary, including rules for the length of checkout, loan quotas, overdue fines, renewals, recalls, and loss or damage of library materials, based on user group and material type. Many articles have been written about academic library fines and circulation policies over the past few decades (Reed et al., 2014; Sung & Tolppanen, 2013; Wilson et al., 2015). However, there has been little research on such policies at the University of Zambia Library. This study aims to investigate and explore the status, features, and patterns of circulation policies employed in the University of Zambia Library.
Statement of the Problem
Circulation of information resources is one of the most important library services that the university library provides. Circulation rules stipulate who is eligible to borrow books and how many books may be borrowed at a time and for what duration. Academic libraries such as UNZA library usually increase the number of library books a user is permitted to borrow based on the category of user and their borrowing privileges. Undergraduates may be allowed to borrow up to four books for two weeks, while graduate students and members of the academic staff are usually allowed to borrow eight books for three months. The problem of delays in returning library books is common to all categories of library users at UNZA. Available circulation records in the university library under study reveal the incidence of delayed returning of information resources. However, little is known about why there is this tendency among students and what causes the delay or failure to return library books. Seeking to address this gap, the authors pursued a study of circulation policies at Zambia’s leading academic library to establish whether the circulation regulations set out by the library cause the delay or failure to return library books on time.
Objectives of the Study
The main objective of the study was to investigate circulation regulations and their effect on user return of books. Specific objectives were to: