[OPLINLIST] OPLINLIST Digest, Vol 129, Issue 19

Mon Jul 18 13:00:54 EDT 2016

"We also found that only 8-11% of our collection was “in use,” in the homes of residents who own the materials. We realized we aren’t a book storage company and we wanted to remove what we could identify as barriers to use."

Tena,

Have you seen a change in the % of the collection circulating since eliminating fines?

Thanks,

Nancy Currie, Director
Madison Public Library
6111 Middle Ridge Rd.
Madison, OH  44057
440-428-2189
www.madison-library.info

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: "No-Fine" Libraries (Don Yarman)
   2. Re: "No-Fine" Libraries (Penny Neubauer)
   3. Re: "No-Fine" Libraries (Tena Wilson)
   4. Library Property Inventory Tags (Sheila Baldwin)

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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2016 06:04:07 -0400
From: Don Yarman <yarmando at delawarelibrary.org>
To: Cindy Maxey <cindy.maxey at shakerlibrary.org>
Cc: OPLINList <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] "No-Fine" Libraries
Message-ID:
        <CACdM=iMVrj-d_xbB1=yY2P3qW20PraaK0yiw=0MGhcO-iUXVkA at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

We bill the cost of the item when an item is overdue by the length of its original loan period (28 days overdue for a 28-day book, for example). But we don't send bills -- we just leave the charge on the patron account.

We are in the process of revising the text of our notices and the intervals we send them, letting people know in more proactive and positive ways about the stops on their account and the easy options for getting them resolved, and trying to head off someone getting to a billed situation before it happens.

                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.

On Sat, Jul 16, 2016 at 9:37 AM, Cindy Maxey <cindy.maxey at shakerlibrary.org>
wrote:

> Don,
>
>
> When is "relatively soon"? When do those bills go out?  Also, do you
> use a collection service when lost items are not returned or paid for,
> and if so, how is that affected by this policy?
>
>
> Cindy
>
>
> Cindy Maxey, MLIS
> Adult Services Manager
> Shaker Public Library
> 216-361-3015 office
> 216-991-2030 library
>
> 16500 Van Aken Blvd.
> Shaker Heights, OH 44120
>
> http://www.shakerlibrary.org
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* OPLINLIST <oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org> on behalf of Don
> Yarman <yarmando at delawarelibrary.org>
> *Sent:* Friday, July 15, 2016 3:27 PM
> *To:* Wenzel, Mary
> *Cc:* OPLINList
> *Subject:* Re: [OPLINLIST] "No-Fine" Libraries
>
> (Wow. I haven't done that in years -- accidentally hit "send" before
> writing anything.)
>
>
> > 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?
>
> We don't make them pay; we just require them to bring the stuff back.
>
> > 2.  What incentive is there to return items in that case?
>
> To have library privileges restored. Most patrons don't want to own
> what they've checked out (and if they did, they'd probably buy it in
> better shape than what we have to offer).
>
>                 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.
> _______________________________________________
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2016 08:25:05 -0400
From: Penny Neubauer <pneubauer at acdl.info>
To: "Wenzel, Mary" <wenzelm at limalibrary.com>
Cc: Don Yarman <yarmando at delawarelibrary.org>,
        oplinlist at lists.oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] "No-Fine" Libraries
Message-ID: <0EE7B09A-8225-48DA-BB3C-EE78B9BAE779 at acdl.info>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I’m curious to know what motivates patrons to return promptly items with holds, i.e. new release movies? Has this been a significant problem?

Penny Neubauer
Assistant Director/Deputy Fiscal Officer Ashtabula County District Library
4335 Park Ave, Ashtabula, Ohio  44004
440.990.2322
www.acdl.info
Great things are happening @ ACDL!

> On 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.
>
> _______________________________________________
> OPLINLIST mailing list -- OPLINLIST at lists.oplin.org
> http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist
>
> http://aboutbooks.info -- Search for author, title, subject... anything about books.

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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2016 12:34:21 +0000
From: Tena Wilson <twilson at starklibrary.org>
To: 'Penny Neubauer' <pneubauer at acdl.info>, "Wenzel, Mary"
        <wenzelm at limalibrary.com>
Cc: Don Yarman <yarmando at delawarelibrary.org>,
        "oplinlist at lists.oplin.org" <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] "No-Fine" Libraries
Message-ID:
        <DF6D119834738D4994B1EB90678E4B100190F05B at EX2010.scdl.local>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Penny,

Stark has been operating with a no fines policy since September 2012. We have found that patrons return overdue items an average of 7.8 days past the due date. However, if an item is on hold for another patron, they return requested items a half day sooner on average (7.4 days). The same number of “abusers” exist now as before we started no fines – 250 patrons out of 105,000 active patrons. The incentive to return library materials remains the same – if they are not returned, you must pay for the item. We have found that 97% of patrons return their items on time or within an average of 7.8 days overdue. We are using hard data, not anecdotal stories -- which anyone who works the front line will have. We realized we were setting up all of our rules for the 3% who abuse their public library. We also found that only 8-11% of our collection was “in use,” in the homes of residents who own the materials. We realized we aren’t a book storage company and we wanted to remove what we could identify as barriers to use. The board and administration are very pleased with the results of the experiment and plan to continue to offer no fines.

I would encourage anyone thinking about a no-fines policy to begin by checking what percentage of their collection is checked out. Then you will know if there may be barriers that need to be removed to promote use.

Have a great Monday!

Tena

[SCDL_SA_ADMIN_Logo_email]
Tena Wilson
Executive Director
Stark County District Library
715 Market Ave N
Canton OH 44702
330.452-0665
330.354.8013 Cell
mailto:twilson at starklibrary.org

From: Penny Neubauer [mailto:pneubauer at acdl.info]
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2016 8:25 AM
To: Wenzel, Mary
Cc: Don Yarman; oplinlist at lists.oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] "No-Fine" Libraries

I’m curious to know what motivates patrons to return promptly items with holds, i.e. new release movies? Has this been a significant problem?

Penny Neubauer
Assistant Director/Deputy Fiscal Officer Ashtabula County District Library
4335 Park Ave, Ashtabula, Ohio  44004
440.990.2322
www.acdl.info<http://www.acdl.info>
Great things are happening @ ACDL!

On Jul 15, 2016, at 3:12 PM, Wenzel, Mary <wenzelm at limalibrary.com<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto:yarmando at delawarelibrary.org>  740.362.3861

Currently listening to "Last Call" by Tim Powers.

_______________________________________________
OPLINLIST mailing list -- OPLINLIST at lists.oplin.org<mailto:OPLINLIST at lists.oplin.org>
http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist

http://aboutbooks.info -- Search for author, title, subject... anything about books.

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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2016 15:43:04 +0000
From: Sheila Baldwin <sheila.baldwin at norwalk.lib.oh.us>
To: oplinlist <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>
Subject: [OPLINLIST] Library Property Inventory Tags
Message-ID:
        <SN2PR07MB249339ACE23E2A2C44CE3B499F360 at SN2PR07MB2493.namprd07.prod.outlook.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hello All,

What's the dollar amount that triggers an inventory tag at your library. Please respond to me directly off list.

Thank you.

Sheila Baldwin
Administrative Assistant
Norwalk Public Library
419-668-6063
http://www.norwalk.lib.oh.us

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