21. The RENEWAL OF BOOKS is generally allowed without question, if no inquiries for them in the interval have been recorded. In other cases, such renewals must, of course, be refused, unless the books are not returned, in which case nothing can be done. Here again the eternal fiction question arises, and there are reasonable doubts if the right of renewal should be allowed in the case of recent popular novels. With classic fiction and other books it is quite another matter, and students should be allowed to renew within all reasonable limits, and by any reasonable means--post-card, telephone, message or other--providing that readers give the necessary particulars. A form of renewal slip is used at some libraries which may be useful. Copies are taken away by any borrower who thinks he may require them, and if he desires to renew a book, he simply fills up a slip and sends it by hand or post to the library. The assistant then picks out the charge from the charging system, inserts the renewal slip in the pocket, and re-issues it under the current date. The renewals may be picked out and sorted in one sequence behind a special guide, so that when a book is returned which has not been re-dated, it is easy to find it; or a “dummy” book card may be inserted in order under the original date of issue bearing a reference to the date of renewal--this is perhaps the more effective method. Renewals should count as re-issues, and a record should be made of the issue of all books which are thus renewed. +--------------------------------+ | _Book No._ | +--------------------------------+ | _Issued_ | +--------------------------------+ | _Renewed_ | +--------------------------------+ | _Fine_ | +--------------------------------+ | This Ticket should be returned | | when renewing the Book. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +--------------------------------+ | LIBERTON | | PUBLIC LIBRARY. | +--------------------------------+ FIG. 132.--Renewal Slip (Section 361 (21)).