[Publib] Re: Fines vs. keeping patron

[Linda Cannon]

I heartily concur. Rewarding bad behavior is never good, whether with
patrons, children, pets, whomever. If someone courteously requests
reconsideration of a fine, I am likely to work with them, particularly
if there are extenuating circumstances or (if like Dagwood in a recent
Blondie panel) they've been good patrons for years and just got
forgetful once. Those who bluster, curse, threaten, or yell get no slack
from me. We are public servants, not public whipping boys.
 
Linda Cannon
Collection Development Librarian
Joplin Public Library
 
 

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Patricia Johnson
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 1:12 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Re: Fines vs. keeping patron



	
	Mindy Kittay wrote :
	"I am troubled to think that a library would be willing to loose
a patron
	over a $2.00 fine.  It goes beyond loosing the patron because we
all know
	what we do when we are angry or disappointed with service - we
tell everyone
	we know about it.  This kind of bad publicity is irreparable. "


I think absorbing the $2.00 fine is not the point. Patrons should be
held responsible for overdue items, but more importantly, catering to a
belligerent patron is unfair to all those patrons who return their
materials on time, and pay the fine when they must.  What kind of
message does it send to the patrons, and to the staff, when some people
are allowed to bully staff to get their way?  A double standard is
created that rewards those behaving badly at the expense of everyone
else. 

Patricia Johnson
Wallingford Public Library
Wallingford, Conn.



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