[Publib] RE: Legal action for large fines?

[Joshua Mathews Rouan]

We've just begun to use the services of the Unique collection agency.  It won't be for all patrons - just those who have fines over $50 and who have a long overdue ("lost") item.  We've begun by going back through our records for the last year (as opposed to trying to hunt down every single patron with a long overdue item).  We did this in response to a large number of patrons who have simply not returned their items.  Our current policy of simply sending overdue notices (followed by bills) has not worked well enough.  In the first week of using the agency, we've already had one person come in and promise to return her overdue books immediately.  It will be interesting to see how many respond, and in what way.