ABSTRACT
Librarians are perceived by the public as inflexible and rule-oriented; such an image discourages library use. Contributing to the image are rules such as those dealing with overdue materials. Such restrictive rules stem from an ambivalence about who the library’s patrons are and from restrictive administrative structures. Since the effectiveness of strict overdues policies has been questioned, the author encourages librarians to reassess such policies. All policies and other details of the library should be consistent with attempts to encourage library use.
