[OPLINLIST] checking for overdue books compilation

[Maria Vega]

Hello,
Many libraries responded to my question about checking shelves for 
overdue books.  Here are the results:

5 libraries check shelves for only lost or claimed returned items
5 libraries check shelves daily for all overdue items
3 libraries check shelves roughly once a month for overdue items
10 libraries check shelves weekly for overdue items
3 libraries check books before a final notice goes out to patrons
5 libraries check for books only before notices go out (between two and 
four weeks on average)

General comments include:
Most of the time we don't find any
We only find one or two
It seems like a waste of time and resources
It gives us credibility with our patrons if we check before we send notices
It is good PR and customer service for the library to check for the books
It keeps patrons from getting upset if they returned the book but it 
wasn't checked in

Lastly, several libraries said that they require all books be placed on 
a cart and that before the books on the cart are put away they are 
scanned again to make sure that all the books are checked in.  This 
takes less time than checking for overdues.

Thanks to everyone who responded.
Maria Vega
Flesh Public Library