No, not quite like that. Toshokan Sensou i.e. 'Library Wars', good series; watch it.
The war I speak of is not one where opposing teams engage each other in firefights outside of library structures or brutal close quarters combat within the confines of the hallowed halls of these repositories of learning. No this is a far more insidious war yet no less enraging or provoking. This is a war that is conducted through the internet as a medium with the tapping of book titles into the search bars of library catalogues and clicking of mouse buttons on ‘Request’ icons within the interface of one’s library account.
I speak of the war for library books. Opponents lie cunningly in wait for their unwitting foes to borrow a particular tome – namely those belonging to Fisher Research – and the trap is sprung! As soon as the poor sod borrows the book, soon the dastardly enemy ‘requests’ their coveted book, forcing the unfortunate first borrower to return the book within a week. Most evil.
Ok I exaggerate (severely), am likely not making sense or being clear at all. I’ll start the tale from where one would start it – at the beginning.
Over the past two years of uni I usually make it a habit to borrow some of the recommended texts of the subjects that I am to take in the coming semester to take a peek at their nature. Often this has proven to be a useful guide as to how I’ll do, for example prior to torts I did take a look at Balkin and Davis, and abhorred it. I did terribly in the subject. It’s not always accurate but still I have some guidance, albeit not logical at all, as to the feel of the unit of study e.g. looked at Carter for contracts beforehand, didn’t seem good, ended up doing alright.
Thus on Sunday evening I preceded to gather a list of the requisite texts form S1 2012 and handed the list over to my father to borrow at Fisher the next day.
The next day – all books successfully borrowed, a rarity in itself. Smiles all round.
Today. Two phone calls from Dad, two books have been recalled. Both books were from Fisher Research (borrow for eight weeks, unlimited renewals till recalled). When a book is recalled it must be returned within a week from date of last loan.
I haven’t had qualms about this, having utilised it before. Nevertheless on those occasions where I have used it its because there was the only 1 copy of the book across all sections of the library (Reserve doesn’t count – two hours loaned out in the library desk is of no utility in whatever pursuits).
HOWEVER, on this occasion the persons who requested the two items of mine (or more accurately my father’s) had other alternatives open to them – there were copies of the books available from Fisher Short Loan (one week loans, non renewable). This is where my ire lies and I’ll not hesitate in verbally abusing them.
The copies in Short Loan were available for borrowing. If those bastard’s needs were urgent why not pursue the Short Loan items? On the contrary one would think that by requesting my items the need was not urgent as the bastards would, potentially, have to wait up to a week before the items would be returned. Clearly their need was not urgent.
If it was for the sake of looking at the item over the university down time (a two week period spanning 17 December to 2 January – dates are approximate) then as opposed to hassling the borrower of the Research item, the sounder stratagem would be to borrow the item from Short Loan, return it after the week’s loan period, then borrow it again, which if borrowed after 9 December would mean that it wouldn’t be due till after the university’s shut down time. Ample time for perusing the texts at one’s leisure.
Additionally though the subject maybe a Summer School Course, then as a student you ought to have purchased the bloody item.
A legitimate question then arises; why would I myself not pursue such a strategy? Well I was there FIRST – first come first serve. I dislike being inconvenienced for the convenience of others where (emphasis added) there are alternatives as I have outlined above. If there were no other alternatives then I’d be understanding – I’d grumble a bit but I’d still understand and hand over the text without further passive retaliatory action (passive as in non violent). Still there were alternatives. Go figure thou bloody morons.
Nonetheless two can play at this game – I myself placed in recalls for those items which were the subject of the recalls. If those fools pick up and borrow those items prior to or on this Friday (9 December) then they must return it by next Friday or face approximately $40 in overdue fees (uni downtime overdue).
Yes this seems incredibly petty and this one would acknowledge such points, but its something that this one is quite irritated by.
NB 1: Given the sheer number of missing queries for one of the items that I wanted borrowed from Short Loan; I’m get the distinct impression that persons have been hiding library resources – no way that many books are ‘lost’ by borrowers.
NB 2: Quite certain that I’m complying with the University of Sydney (Library) Rule 2011.
