North Tyneside Libraries has developed an innovative approach to stock circulation amongst branch libraries which has proven highly effective and very popular with borrowers.  Val Page, Senior Librarian (Information) at North Tyneside Central Library, set up the scheme and describes the approach.

Every three months the branch libraries send on 50 fiction titles to the
next branch on the list - we have a predetermined circulation route.

The books chosen for circulation must answer three criteria.  They must:

• have been in stock for less than 12 months
• have been regularly issued to readers
• be in good physical condition

Branch Seniors usually begin collecting titles as they are returned during
the 4 weeks prior to the swap date.  Because of the way we select and
allocate our stock there is little chance that the book is already in stock
at the receiving branch so we don't do any unnecessary checking - saves
staff time and simplifies the process.  The books are moved on through our
internal courier system (man with a van!).   When they are received at the
next library the locations are changed on Talis and they are then displayed
separately under a New to this Library header.

When we allocate new titles at our selection meetings we tend to keep most
of the really risky stuff at the main library in North Shields.  Every six
months our fiction librarian makes up a collection of 50 titles from our
shelves and we send them off to a branch library.  This allows us to ensure
maximum coverage.

We have also recently introduced a couple of new collections to two of our
branches. Heatseekers  (title stolen from The Bookseller).  These are
collections of up and coming authors/titles.  Prepped in a similar way to
our Best Sellers collections (coloured date labels, flashed across the front
cover) - these are loaned for 1 week only guaranteeing a fast turnover.

Some of our libraries also loan out the proof copies we receive through
HarperCollins.  We don't add them to library stock or prep them at all
(other than pinning in a date label).  They have proved very popular as
an extra book issue and generate a good number of reviews.

And.... we also circulate our Check it Out collections - made up of the
multiple copies we get through our subscription to NewBOOKS.Mag - kept in
multiples and displayed on a table top.

For further information or queries, please contact Val directly.  Also see Talking Shop to contribute to the discussion on different approaches to exchanges of stock.