[Publib] re: thieving

[Dale McNeill]

It seems to me that one way to think about these things is by whether they
will be "used up" when they are used.

For example, IF the telephone is set up so that customers can use it in such
a way that their use doesn't interfere with library business, it can make
sense to allow use of the telephone.  There is no additional charge for
using the phone (assuming that long distance calls are automatically not
allowed).  I've allowed people to use hole punches and I've used scissors
for them (I've mostly worked in urban libraries and the thought of handing a
pair of scissors to a library customer never crossed my mind).

But paper, pens, pencils...these things can be easily sold from vending
machines.  They were purchased with tax dollars, but are generally purchased
for use by the library.  If the library has directly asked for and received
funding to give away pencils or pens, that's fine (I've worked in libraries
that did just that).

Often, I think, people want these things because they seem scarce--and
because they need them.  I've found myself doing research in an academic
library and desperately needing a highlighter (for copies, of course) only
to learn that I would need to walk 20 minutes to the closest place to
purchase one.  I completely understand why the library wouldn't lend one,
but it would have been quite helpful to be able to purchase one.

Once one starts with the honor system in a public place, I think it's just
that.  Some people will pay extra; others will pay nothing.  If it's cheaper
than providing staff and the coffee still gets paid for, that's probably
what matters.

I used to go to a wonderful restaurant in Humble, Texas, where people paid
on the honor system (just a cigar box in the kitchen).  There were no
servers and no cashiers.  The owner knew that some people didn't pay, or
didn't pay the suggested price, but not so many to justify the price of
hiring the extra people.

I'm enjoying the conversation.

Dale

http://www.linkedin.com/in/dalemcneill

On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 12:13 PM, Dusty Gres <gresd at ohoopeelibrary.org>wrote:

> Oh, does that mean that since they are paid for with my tax dollars, I can
> call and get a ride home on a fire truck when my car breaks down? And, when
> I need paper for my home printer I can just trot down to City Hall and ask
> for a ream?
> Why is the library expected to provide free paper, staples, paperclips,
> pens, pencils, disks, white-out, envelopes, the list goes on...
> The library is not an office supply store just as the fire station isn't a
> taxi service. One person didn't pay for all the library materials, many
> people did. One person shouldn't use the library as their personal supply
> depot or coffee shop.
> I admit that the issue of not paying the price for a cup of coffee seems
> trivial but -- I would be willing to bet that Starbucks wouldn't think so.
> I
> admit that a golf pencil seems trivial but I would be willing to be that
> Office Dept doesn't.
> Little things do add up.  I'll tell you, right now I don't have the money
> in
> my budget to buy golf pencils for my patrons to use in the library, much
> less for them to take home!
>
> Dusty Gres
> Director
> Ohoopee Regional Library System
> 610 Jackson Street
> Vidalia, GA 30474
> http://www.ohoopeelibrary.org
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:
> publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
> On Behalf Of Sara Weissman
> Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 9:40 AM
> To: publib at webjunction.org
> Subject: [Publib] re: thieving
>
> >> This must be stopped immediately before
> anyone gets the idea that library services are free
>
> Or, that the library, the golf pencils, the paperclips, etc. might have
> paid
> for with their tax dollars?! Zounds ...
>
>
> --------
> Reference Dept
> Morris County Library
> http://www.mclib.info
> (973) 285-6969
>
>
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