[Publib] Overdue notices

Mary Donley marydonley at yahoo.com
Tue Jan 23 18:14:36 EST 2007


Our library has 7 days "grace" so patrons who return
within the 7 days don't get fined.  Here's the rub.
On the 8th day, we charge 80 cents.  Patrons think
it should be 10 cents since there are 7 days of grace.
Sometimes you just can't win even when you try to be
nice.

Mary
--- Lise Chlebanowski <lchlebanowski at avondale.org>
wrote:

> 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)
> 
> 
=== message truncated ===>
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