[Publib] Collection Agencies

[Karen Boehning]

One of the libraries in our automation consortium asked about the effect
of fines on overdue and unreturned items.   

I ran a report for several libraries in our consortium, two of which
don't charge fines.

The libraries not charging fines had a much higher percentage of overdue
and assumed lost items than the libraries charging fines.  The user gets
an overdue notice and a bill.  Users with email also get a pre-due
notice.

Our consortium has 30 public libraries of various sizes.

Long-time lurker,


-Karen

Karen Boehning
920 236-5230   (Fax 920 236-5228)
Technology Coordinator
Winnefox Library System
106 Washington Ave.
Oshkosh  WI  54901

 


-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Okelly
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 9:40 AM
To: Joanna Pfaff; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Collection Agencies

I can't imagine anyone at my workplace would even consider this.

I am also not convinced that fines actually accomplish the  purpose of 
making people return materials on time.

Kevin O'Kelly
Reference and Cataloging Librarian
Somerville Public Library
79 Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143
(617)-623-5000


-----Original Message-----
From: Joanna Pfaff <joannapfaff at gmail.com>
To: publib at webjunction.org
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:31:45 -0400
Subject: [Publib] Collection Agencies

> Hi, longtime lurker picking the collective brain here.  A few days ago
> my
> husband (who recently moved to CT from IN) received a notice that his
> hometown library had hired a collection agency to collect some late
> fees he
> had acquired ($41).  And he's curious about why exactly they went to
> that
> trouble.  I have yet to get a job in a library, so I don't know if
this
> is a
> common practice or not.  Is this something your library would do?  Is
> it
> cost-effective?
> Joanna Pfaff
 




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