Lending Library?

[PostDoula]

For those who have a Lending Library:

1) what % of clients utilize it?

2) generally, have you had difficulty getting your books back?

3) what are your guidelines?

4) What are your most requested/borrowed books?

(While I'm a Postpartum Doula, any doula could respond!)
Thanks!

[tlcdoula]

I have a lending library and have never had a mama use it. I have had a few people look at the books I have in my library while they are standing in my office, but no one has ever borrowed any books.

[DouLaura]

A majority of my couples borrow books. I would say it is in the 7-8-% range.
I have had one problem with getting a book back. A couple was taking my class and borrowed a book and then dropped out of class. It was at least 6 months before I got the book back and it was damaged.
I had another one that I didn't write down who had it out and I couldn't find it but then the mom gave it to me.
As far as most popular, hmm I'll have to think about that.

[earthgirl]

Well most Mamas are willing to borrow books (I bring a few with me to the prenatal visit) They usually ask which I would reccommend.....so most of them read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and the Sears Breastfeeding Book.
I have not had any trouble getting books back at the postpartum visit.
I bring the books at the prenatal, so I can add them to the contract under Other....so I remember what they have, and they also know b/c they have a copy of the contract that I mail to them.
I like when clients read a book or two, b/c it seems to open communication, they seem to have more questions. Especially since they only had one book themselves -What to Expect when Your Expecting I like offering alternatives.

[MothertheMother]

I don't ask the couples if the want to borrow books, I just bring the ones I think they should read! lol
I found some library cards in a Christian book store to help me keep track. When we are discussing something at a prenatal I'll try to bring a book that addresses that subject and I leave it until the next. Of course this is different with labor vs pp since they really don't "need" the books once the baby is born. With pp they might take longer to read it. I do have a line in my contract saying they are responsible for any damage/loss to books and videos' from my lending library. I hope I don't ever have to make a stink about it

[Amydoula]

I would say about 50% of my clients borrow books. I have a fairly large lending library and I list my favorite books on my website. Getting the books back is fairly easy as on my last day with them I just take them back. The most popular ones are the breastfeeding ones, second would be Happiest Baby on the Block and third would be the infant massage one.

[tlcdoula]

I guess I am lucky because most of the time if they find a book they like they buy it themselves so that they can have their own copy. Many times the parents will thumb through my books and then will write down the titles and purchase their own copies. I had one dad who bought his own books and brought them to the hospital so that he could go through them during labor looking for support ideas. He had pages marked, highlight, etc - it was great!!!

[PostDoula]

Thank you ladies! All very interesting. I'm contemplating incorportating this, as many books have really expanded my horizons! (i.e. Newman's BFing book, Happiest Baby, and most recently: the No-Cry Sleep Solution)

[1stimestar]

I almost require some of my clients to read The Thinking Woman's Guide...
For some reason I always manage to get that one back.

Some of my clients don't need it so I don't press the issue. I have lost several books to clients, mostly Dr. Sears' Breastfeeding and Baby books, especially to clients whom I lowered my fee for and my OSD client. I am making a seperate page for my contract that states the replacement cost of each book I have before another one leaves this house.

[K.hills]

I like to loan out "The Year After Childbirth" to my postpartum clients and especially Sears' "Becoming a Father". I have picked up older editions of "Pregnany, Childbirth and the Newborn" and "The Baby Book" at thrift stores so I don't overspend or feel bad if one doesn't get returned. Clients usually like them and go on to buy their own copy.

I lost my copy of 'Nursing Mother's Companion" to a young client- I hope it at least helped her!

[AussieDoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PostDoula For those who have a Lending Library: 1) what % of clients utilize it? 2) generally, have you had difficulty getting your books back? 3) what are your guidelines? 4) What are your most requested/borrowed books? (While I'm a Postpartum Doula, any doula could respond!) Thanks!

1. I have required reading for all my mamas (one book each for birth and postpartum clients) and suggested reading for partners, but otherwise I would say around 70-80% of my clients choose to borrow other reading materials.
2. I have never had any difficulty getting my books back (yet). Books are all due by the end of our contracted time together, so I am usually at their house for a postpartum visit and just ask for it back if they haven't already returned it. Also, clients can only check out one book at a time.
3. Books need to be returned in the same condition they were borrowed. I keep a running list of any dog-ears, pen marks, notes, etc. I used to charge per page for marks and tears etc, but I found that some mamas took that to mean they could go ahead and highlight passages or make notes in my books since it was only $2 a page "penalty". Now I charge replacement value for any lost, damaged, or overdue books (2 weeks past last prenatal together). Replacement value is often much higher than the book's list price because I add on rarity of the book, shipping costs, etc. Since I started doing this, I haven't had a single book turn up marked.
4. Without pulling out my "official statistics" I think the books most often checked out are -
   Birth Clients Top 5: Thinking Woman's Guide (Goer) - required reading, The Birth Partner (Simkin), Complete Book of Pregnancy & Childbirth (Kitzinger), The Expectant Father (Brott), Birth Without Violence (Leboyer), The Pregnancy Book (Sears).
   Postpartum Clients Top 5: Mothering the New Mother (Placksin) - required reading, After the Baby's Birth (Lim), The Baby Book (Sears), Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (LLL), The Post-Pregnancy Handbook (Brown), The Year After Childbirth (Kitzinger).