Thanks. I got over 30 responses! This has been very helpful.
At least 18 public libraries issue borrowing cards to businesses or agencies
(several libraries had more than one firm reply). These include Chicago
Public, Providence Public, Boston PL, Milwaukee, Dallas, Indianapolis,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Omaha, Louisville, Toledo, Fulton County,
Cincinatti, Phoenix, Seattle, Miami and Columbus (OH).
I believe all were free to businesses located within their city (or
sometimes county) and charged a small fee for those outside their area.
Responses seem to be divided as to whether the cards are issued to the firm
for use by anyone in the firm, to the library, or directly to individuals as
employees of a firm, but in very few cases were the cards actually used by
anyone in the firm other than library staff.
All the firms used their cards to borrow books. Many used the card to
access electronic resources. (This seems to be a real sticking point. On
the SLA's Solo Listserv, the question came up whether databases could be
used by for-profits or whether DBs were for personal use only. No concensus
was reached.)
Cincinnati and San Francisco Public Libraries have both recently stopped
issuing corporate library cards and librarians in both cities are working to
recind these new policies.
Thanks again.
Paula Lichtenberg, Librarian
Keker & Van Nest LLP
-----Original Message-----
From: Library
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 4:28 PM
To: 'law-lib@ucdavis.edu'
Subject: Law Firms with Public Library cards
I'm interested in hearing from librarians in private law firms or corporate
libraries who have firm borrowing cards from their local public libraries.
The San Francisco Public Library is discontinuing issuance of business
library cards, a decision that has upset many current business card holders,
who would prefer not to use their personal cards to borrow books or work
online. We'd like to know whether other public libraries issue cards to
businesses - for anyone in the firm, for the librarian only or in some other
borrower configuration. Do those business card holders pay a fee or is it
free? I will summarize the responses.
Paula Lichtenberg, Librarian
Keker & Van Nest LLP, San Francisco
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