A borrowing request from another department arises while the supervisor is away. What is the best initial action?

A borrowing request from another department arises while the supervisor is away. What is the best initial action?

• A. Lend immediately
• B. Tell them you'll check and call back the next day.
• C. Refuse
• D. Ask for written request

Answer: (B)

When a borrowing request arrives while the supervisor is away, the key step is to verify who has authority to approve loans and what the policy allows before acting. The best initial action is to acknowledge the request, tell the requester you need to check the policy and any delegated authority, and commit to calling back with a definite answer after you’ve reviewed it—typically by the next business day. This protects the library from unauthorized lending, ensures you follow established procedures, and still provides timely service by giving the requester a clear timeline. Lending immediately risks violating policy, and refusing right away may damage service and relationships. Asking for a written request can be appropriate in some procedures, but the first move should be to confirm policy and authority and then respond.

When a borrowing request arrives while the supervisor is away, the key step is to verify who has authority to approve loans and what the policy allows before acting. The best initial action is to acknowledge the request, tell the requester you need to check the policy and any delegated authority, and commit to calling back with a definite answer after you’ve reviewed it—typically by the next business day. This protects the library from unauthorized lending, ensures you follow established procedures, and still provides timely service by giving the requester a clear timeline. Lending immediately risks violating policy, and refusing right away may damage service and relationships. Asking for a written request can be appropriate in some procedures, but the first move should be to confirm policy and authority and then respond.