[Publib] Overdue fines

[Patty Wanninger]

Angie,

I am with you regarding high daily fines, and I have worked at a bigger,
"richer" library and a smaller, "poorer" one. 

I think high daily fines are a barrier at the check out desk and make it
hard for the circulation staff. And it doesn't matter if the patron can
"afford" the fine - you've just turned what should be a positive service
interaction into a judgment of shortcoming on the patron's part, and people
are put on the defensive and are embarrassed and it makes them contest their
$1.50 fine.

We recently made the fine and loan period the same for all our materials -
$.10/ day overdue, 2 week loan, even DVD's. It's easy to remember,
convenient for patrons, friendly and fun. And people are noticing, in a good
way.


Patty Dwyer Wanninger
Director
Blue Island Public Library 
2433 York Street
Blue Island, IL 60406
708-388-1078 ext 14
-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of A. Cope
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 9:20 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Overdue fines

Hi Sheila,

I appreciate your comments. Under no circumstances did I suggest that 
it's okay for people to keep things as long as they want. I think all 
the other discussion that has come up on the list is important to factor 
into a decision. Raising the maximum cap on fines, sending overdue 
notices (phone, email or snail mail) earlier, etc. all play an important 
role in this matter. Obviously, some libraries have unique overdue 
issues - but does raising the daily fine really change the behavior of 
your problem patrons?  I still feel that gearing your daily fine toward 
the problem patron punishes the average user. What about, 10 cents a day 
for a week and the 25 cents a day after that with a max of $10 or $20.  
Also, working with local law enforcement to prosecute delinquent 
accounts is a good way to get problem patrons to take the rules seriously.

One thing I sort of noticed is that it's the larger libraries that are 
really adamant about higher fines. Maybe the smaller libraries are just 
not speaking up. There will always be abusers of any "rule" and I feel 
basing a policy on the minority punishes the majority. Just my unworthy 
opinion - as that no one on the list has agreed with me in any way. ;-)

Angie

Sheila Brown Evans, Director wrote:
> Angie,
>
> I'm afraid I have to respectfully disagree with your take on library 
> fines.
>
> <rant on>
>
> Taxpayers, you and I included, pay for library materials and services 
> all right, but only for our portion of the cost of making those 
> materials and services available, fairly and equitably, to all 
> citizens of the community. Such payment does not entitle anyone to 
> keep library materials as long as they feel like it, regardless of 
> need, and regardless of their inability to purchase, borrow, or 
> otherwise access the items elsewhere.
>
> Overdue fines are not intended as punishment for "using our 
> collections", but for the BENEFIT of "the people who really need [my] 
> library"....most especially, the ones who really need an item that 
> someone else has checked out and kept overdue....by serving as an 
> incentive not to misuse our collections.
>
> <rant off>
>
> If Renee's library does decide to raise their fines, one thing to 
> consider is making sure that renewing library materials is convenient 
> and that patrons are well-educated in the availability of this service.
>
> I'd also recommend having a flexible policy for allowing partial 
> payment of any fine the patron can't afford to cover all at once, so 
> that access to library services can continue while the debt is paid.
>
> Thanks for sharing your views and considering mine.
>
>
> Sheila
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> Renee,
>
> You're right that a 25 cent fine would encourage people to return things
> but it might also encourage them to stop checking things out all
> together. People in your community already pay for library services
> (taxes) and by increasing your fines you risk alienating and upsetting
> your patrons. I know if my library went to 25 cents for adult items I'd
> be ticked. It's one thing to charge more for videos/DVDs and other
> things with shorter check out periods but I really feel you'd be making
> a PR mistake with this change. So what if things are late - people pay
> the fine or the item is renewed. Try to be happy that people are using
> your collection rather than punishing them for using it.
>
> Plus, the people who really need your library - the people who can't
> afford to buy books or who don't have computers and internet at home are
> the same people who can't afford to pay the higher fines. Try to find
> another way to get things returned.
>
> That's my opinion! Good luck with your decision.
>
> Angie
>
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