[OPLINLIST] "No-Fine" Libraries

[Don Yarman]

On Fri, Jul 15, 2016 at 3:12 PM, Wenzel, Mary <wenzelm at limalibrary.com> wrote:
> Hi, Don,
>
> Thanks for this reply.  I was interested to hear from a no-fine library.  We charge fines (.10 per day for books/$1.00 per day for DVDs and video games.)  Patrons can accrue up to $5.00 in fines before their account is blocked for borrowing privileges, but as long as they keep the fine at or below $4.99, there is no limit on their borrowing privileges.  Fines do not affect a patron's use of Internet computers.  In recent years staff has been empowered to reduce or waive fines at their discretion depending on circumstances, since losing a patron or a whole family of patrons over fine monies that are not excessive is not in our long-term interest.
>
> I’m curious about a few things which I would pose to any no-fine libraries:
>
> 1.  If fines are eliminated to make library materials accessible to low income patrons, isn't billing for the full cost of the  item 'relatively soon' more, not less punishing?  What is the time frame for 'soon'?  At our library, patrons are assessed the replacement cost of the item after 90 days and no fewer than three official notices.
> 2.  What incentive is there to return items in that case?  Does your staff have unlimited discretion to waive fines for all but lost materials?
>
> We've noticed something interesting here in Lima;  Patrons will often complain about being assessed fines, yet every time we offer a fine amnesty day where we encourage patrons to read or look at magazines in house to earn $1 off their fines for every 30 minutes read, or run a canned good drive for the local food pantry in exchange for money off fines for donations--patron response is very poor.  By which I mean, no more than a few patrons (out of our database of 10s of thousands) participating.
>
> Do you experience a lot of positive patron response to the no-fines structure and has it impacted (either positively or negatively) the numbers of items brought back on time?
>
> Thanks for posting!
>
> Mary Wenzel, Youth Services
> Lima Public Library
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Don Yarman [mailto:yarmando at delawarelibrary.org]
> Sent: Friday, July 15, 2016 5:54 AM
> To: Janel Haas
> Cc: oplinlist at lists.oplin.org
> Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] "No-Fine" Libraries
>
>> How long have you been “no-fine.”
>
> The Delaware County District Library eliminated fines on print materials nearly 20 years ago. Late fees were set at $2.00 per day on VHS tapes, and that price continued on DVDs and videogames until this year, when we eliminated all fines except on items whose policies we do not control (i.e. interlibrary loan fees).
>
>> Is it working?
>
> Yes. We bill for the item cost relatively soon after the due date, and that cost blocks the card. But our goal is not to interrupt library use, so staff will find accommodations: renewing items to reset the clock, holding selected materials until the overdue ones are returned, etc.
>
>> Do you have a way for people to donate in lieu of paying a fine (a
>> donation jar at the circ desk?)
>
> We do have a jar where patrons can give us "voluntary fines."
>
>> Has it increased circulation?
>
> No.
>
>> Any other thoughts you may have.
>
> While fine revenue is not nothing, we all know it doesn't run the library. What it does do is provide a barrier to library services, particularly for the people whose economic situations make our services most valuable. Eliminating fines not only let us stop punishing our poorer patrons, it also clarified our priorities and eased the work on the staff: because we care about the materials, not the penalties, staff had the freedom to waive fines but not lost material charges. This can be confusing both to the staff and to the patrons. Now, balances against patron accounts are only lost material charges, which go away completely when items are returned.
>
>                 Don Yarman, Deputy Director
>                 Delaware County District Library
>                 84 E Winter St; Delaware OH 43015
>                 yarmando at delawarelibrary.org  740.362.3861
>
> Currently listening to "Last Call" by Tim Powers.
>