[Publib] Fees for expired holds

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings,

 

I was never called a large asset steward when I was a library director.  

At least not to my face. :-)  I did manage to raise a couple of

million dollars to renovate and rejuvenate services from outside

sources and folks willing to part with their own money to help.  

 

Those would be the same folks that you would most likely irritate

 with petty fines.

 

Sue referenced an item  that could be used to educate members

of the public who do not understand how to share or how sharing

works.  Instead of charging a fine or a fee, why not recommend 

'All I really need to know'?  Why not give a program on sharing?

Why not creating a sharing display near your circulation desk?

 

Charging a fine and creating a new rule is not creative.  It is

business as usual in library land.   

 

*************************************************

Robert L. Balliot

1-401-421-5763

Skype: RBalliot

Bristol, Rhode Island

http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm

*************************************************

  _____  

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Sue Kamm
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 5:44 PM
To: Tom Kemp; Linda Ballard
Cc: mpld at lists.more.net; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Fees for expired holds

 

Remember the book :  All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten :
uncommon thoughts on common things 

by  <http://worldcat.org/search?q=au%3ARobert+Fulghum&qt=hot_author> Robert
Fulghum?

 

An important lesson was sharing.  The library exists to share resources
among its clientele.  If a book is made unavailable to others because a
borrower has kept it out long after its due date, or has it sitting on a
shelf because someone didn't pick it up within a reasonable time, there's a
penalty.   

 

IMSHO, charging for lateness or not picking up a hold is NOT a petty matter.
The public, through taxes, pays us to be stewards of a large asset.  We are
remiss in that stewardship if we allow people to be selfish in denying use
of materials or resources to their neighbors.  

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tom Kemp 
Sent: Apr 25, 2007 1:24 PM 
To: Linda Ballard 
Cc: mpld at lists.more.net, publib at webjunction.org 
Subject: Re: [Publib] Fees for expired holds 

I recommend that you do not do this. 

Charging these nickle/dime fees just aggravates the public. 

 

Maybe there is a way to have them called (by volunteers?) to expedite the
process, confirm continuing interest etc. 

 

Recommend that you find a way to keep the books moving without reinforcing
the old library stereotypes of petty fines. 





Your friendly CyberGoddess and candidate for re-election as
Councilor-at-large,

Sue Kamm

Inglewood/Los Angeles, CA

Truest of the Blue, Los Angeles Dodgers Think Blue Week 2000

Visit my blog:  http://suekamm.blogspot.com

email:  suekamm [at] mindspring.com

When you absolutely, positively HAVE to know, ASK A LIBRARIAN!
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