[Michlib-l] Coupon Exchange Etiquette

[Lois Hartman]

Erin ,
I found this very interesting.  We have a coupon exchange box, but have only done this for about a half year.  So far it has been very well received and popular.  But I can totally see a scenario such as you describe possibly taking place.  Have you considered putting them out at random times and/or random days, instead of always right away on Monday morning when you open.  We do not always have ours ready to put out right away so it is sometimes later on Monday or perhaps even Tuesday or Wednesday before we get them all out.

Lois Hartman 
Watervliet District Library
 

________________________________
 From: Erin Schmändt <e.schmandt at vlc.lib.mi.us>
To: wp-discuss-l at vlc.lib.mi.us; michlib-l at mail.mcls.org 
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 10:24 AM
Subject: [Michlib-l] Coupon Exchange Etiquette
  

(Please excuse cross postings)

Hoping for suggestions on a particular situation.  We have hosted a
coupon exchange at the library for years, possibly decades.  We have
a table with several boxes where people can donate their unused
coupons, go through the ones that have been donated and also donated
out of date coupons for the military. We also add all the coupons
that come in the papers the library subscribes to, and often,
residents drop envelopes of unused coupons in the drop box. Recently,
we have had several people waiting in line when we open on Monday
morning to get to the coupons first.  One woman, if she is the first
through the door, will grab the entire stack of fresh weekend
coupons, stuff them in her bag and take off.  The other patrons who
were waiting are quite angry about this.  We've offered this casual
service for years and this is the first problem we've had.  Does
anyone else offer this service? Do you have a suggestion on how to
offer the Monday morning coupons equitably?
Erin Schmändt, MLIS
Library Director
River Rapids District Library
227 E. Broad Street
Chesaning, MI 48616
(989) 845-3211
e.schmandt at vlc.lib.mi.us


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