Circulation Regulations and their Effect on User Return of books

Abstract

The problem of delays in returning library books is common to all categories of library users at the University of Zambia. However, little is known about what causes the delay in returning the borrowed books. To address this gap, the authors investigated circulation policies at Zambia’s leading academic library. The objective was to establish the effect of library regulations on the return of library books. Using a survey method, the study targeted 90 full-time students who were randomly selected. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences while qualitative data were coded and analyzed thematically. The results revealed that circulation policies have an effect on returning the borrowed books by users. These findings provide a useful contribution to the dearth of literature on this subject and offer valuable information to inform future planning.