[Publib] Overdue notices

Tue Jan 23 17:03:21 EST 2007

Or we could be like credit card companies and once our books are 1 day overdue the daily fine goes from .10 cents to $10! 

Lisë Chlebanowski

Library Manager

Avondale Public Library

328 W. Western Ave.

Avondale, AZ   86323

lchlebanowski at avondale.org

623-333-2611

623-333-0260 Fax

Now Reading: Remainder by Tom McCarthy (ARC)

Now Listening: Velocity by Dean Koontz

________________________________

From: Rebecca Bronson [mailto:rbronson at hrl.lib.state.va.us] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:36 AM
To: fcheney at clamsnet.org; Lise Chlebanowski; 'Kara Roberts'; publib at webjunction.org
Cc: debisemail at hotmail.com
Subject: RE: [Publib] Overdue notices

We recently began using email reminders a couple of days ahead of when patron materials are due, so they have a chance to renew before the due date. We spent the month or so before asking patrons to update their email addresses when they checked out, but still have run into a number of defunct email addresses as we roll out our new email reminder service. But, I guess that's to be expected. It will take some time to get everyone up to speed. In the meantime, we use phone overdues and mailed notices. We send two mailed notices, at two weeks and at four weeks overdue. We also will begin using Unique Management to collect, but that hasn't begun yet.

For what it's worth, personally I think people should be responsible and bring their stuff back on time or at least renew it in a timely fashion, but alas, life often gets in the way. Then again, I think we should be paid more too, but such is not the reality yet, although I know that folks are working on it.

Rebecca Bronson 
Reference Librarian 
Handley Regional Library 
P.O. Box 1300 
Stephens City, VA  22655 

540-869-9000 (voice) 
540-869-9001 (fax) 

www.hrl.lib.state.va.us 

	-----Original Message-----
	From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Felicia Cheney
	Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:54 AM
	To: 'Lise Chlebanowski'; 'Kara Roberts'; publib at webjunction.org
	Cc: debisemail at hotmail.com
	Subject: RE: [Publib] re: Overdue notices

	I agree that everyone should claim responsibility for the contracts they enter into--especially with the library.  After all how high are our fines?  It's not even the price of a parking ticket in my town.  However, as I was driving home the other night, thinking about when I used to be a patron not a librarian, I thought about what detered me from using the library.  It was the fact that I couldn't keep the due dates straight.  So, in an effort to encourage use I have suggesting patrons use library elf (tho' there is a privacy issue), but I've also been considering sending e-mail reminders of eminent due dates (not printed, way to pricey)--sort of a customer value added service.  Whadda ya think?

	Felicia Cheney, Director

	Edgartown Free Public Library

	508-627-1373

		-----Original Message-----
		From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Lise Chlebanowski
		Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 7:37 PM
		To: Kara Roberts; publib at webjunction.org
		Cc: debisemail at hotmail.com
		Subject: RE: [Publib] re: Overdue notices

		I'm just wondering what it is that makes us think we have to send folks 2-3 reminders? Don't we give them the date due when they check out? Don't most libraries offer renewal by phone and many online? Are we required by law to send one reminder, much less two or three? Aren't we loaning them something with the agreement that they will return it for the next user? I just wonder if we are spending too much money and wasting too many natural and manmade resources "reminding" people! Why not just send a bill after a certain amount of time has passed?! Just dangerously thinking out loud...

		Lisë Chlebanowski

		Library Manager

		Avondale Public Library

		328 W. Western Ave.

		Avondale, AZ   86323

		lchlebanowski at avondale.org

		623-333-2611

		623-333-0260 Fax

		Now Reading: Remainder by Tom McCarthy (ARC)

		Now Listening: Velocity by Dean Koontz

________________________________

		From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Kara Roberts
		Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 10:53 AM
		To: publib at webjunction.org
		Cc: debisemail at hotmail.com
		Subject: [Publib] re: Overdue notices

		We send out overdue notices once a week and our system is set-up to email anyone that has an email address attached to their record so that we have a few less paper notices to mail out. We send out 3 notices: you get the first one when the item has been overdue for 2 weeks and then you get the other 2 notices the next 2 weeks. We had been printing them out on the multi-part mailers and only quit that when the printer died. We now use regular paper.  I'm curious, how much extra information is on your overdue notice that only 3 - 4 items are printed on a notice? Ours would print out (depending on length of title) around 10-12 items. Good luck with your decision!

		Kara Roberts

		Starkville Public Library

		326 University Dr.

		Starkville, Ms 39759

		662-323-2766

		662-323-9140 (fax)

		http://www.starkville.lib.ms.us

		http://starkvillelibrary.blogspot.com/

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.webjunction.org/wjlists/publib/attachments/20070123/4094baa4/attachment.htm