Circulation Policies for External Users: A Comparative Study at Public Urban Research Institutions

Abstract

This paper is a study of the policies that govern the use of the main university library by external users at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and twelve peer institutions used by IUPUI for comparative purposes. A search of each institution’s website was conducted as well as interviews with circulation librarians and managers. Although it was useful to learn of common practices developed by similar institutions, it was especially beneficial to learn about policies that differed substantially from those in place at comparable institutions. Creative solutions developed to address problems at other libraries can be used to influence policy development.