[Publib] use of library phone by public

[Nann Blaine Hilyard]

Isa,

If they don't have money to use the pay phone, they won't have the dime you might charge to use your regular phone.  If you put that dime on the patron record, when (if) the threshold is reached, you'd might be challenged to come up with proof for all those charges.

I second what others have suggested:  make the call for the child, and be sure to talk to the parent first: "This is Ms. Small at the library placing a call for Johnny. He did not have the money to use the library pay phone to call you."

Nann
@the library in Zion, Illinois 

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Isa Small
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 1:08 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] use of library phone by public

I am an assistant at a public library in Wisconsin. I would like to know how other libraries handle patron requests to use the phone.  Although we have a pay-phone available in the library, many patrons do not have money to use the phone.  Many times the requests come from children and teenagers wanting to get a ride or let a parent know where they are, but sometimes it seems as though it is a purely social call.  Lately, this has become an issue.  Some nights there are a dozen requests.  Also, the conversations are at times  loud and confrontational.  Is it unreasonable to charge a fee of 10 cents or so to encourage the young patrons to make arrangements prior to coming to the library? Or, should we continue to acquiesce all requests to use to use the phone on the grounds that it may be the only way for the patron to contact a safe ride home? 

Isa Small



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