<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<p>In Adams County, we recently created a limited child card, in an
effort to get all students, K-12 registered for a library card.
Checkouts of physical items are limited to 5 books at a time only,
but that does include books on CD. Our rules are slightly
different, but I stole this idea from Cincinnati Public Library
after seeing Kim Fender present about it at a SWON meeting. <br>
</p>
<p>We had already done away with all juvenile fines, and just
extended that to all patrons. Under our fine free policy, when
there are 3 or more items overdue, the patron cannot check out any
additional items. We're still in the process of getting to all of
the schools, but began by contacting each school and requesting
class lists for all students. A card is then created for each
student, whether they already have an existing card or not. This
streamlines the process and allows us to make sure each child has
a card. I drafted a letter to go home with parents/legal
guardians, indicating the rules for the cards, along with
information about upgrading the cards to full privilege cards by
signing for responsibility or having the card merged with their
existing card. <br>
</p>
<p>Last year, we had already changed policy to allow anyone,
regardless of fines/lost item fees, use the public computers. Our
thinking was that we don't police people picking up books off the
shelf and reading in the library, because they don't take the
materials home with them. So, along those lines, we shouldn't
prevent anyone from using a stationary computer, while in the
library, because of fines/lost item fees. <br>
</p>
<p>Along with the limited child cards, we also changed our internet
use policy, regarding minors, from "opt-in" to "opt-out." We've
had many, many more parents complain about having to visit the
library to sign for permission than we've had parents complain
about their child having access. So, with all of the limited child
cards, and now all juvenile cards, they are automatically granted
filtered internet access, and a parent must request that their
child's access to the internet be restricted. Again, all of this
was included in the letter that went home with each student. <br>
</p>
<p>A side note on eliminating overdue fines: If you're thinking
about doing it, I highly recommend it. For most libraries, overdue
fines account for 1% or less of revenue. For that amount of money,
I've never encountered another initiative that makes both staff
and patrons happier than eliminating overdue fines. Most of us
have levies, which means making local patrons happy might be an
even higher priority than it used to be. By comparison, the levy
accounts for 47% of our revenue, here. Best of all, it involves
stopping an action, so it can be implemented quickly and easily.
Unlike other new initiatives, it actually FREES UP staff time,
which can be devoted to more important things. <br>
</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Sincerely,
Nicholas Slone
Executive Director
Adams County Public Library</pre>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 1/23/2017 2:19 PM, DJ Digianantonio
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:874735660.709889.1485199148116@email.1and1.com"
type="cite">
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<p>Great Brain,</p>
<p>Our library is currently looking into offering cards to our
Teen patrons without a parent signing for it. Do any of your
libraries out there in Libraryland offer such a card? If you
do, what kind of restrictions do you place on the card (fines,
number of items, any item restrictions, etc.)? Do you have a
special application for this age group you are willing to share?
Do you put any computer use restrictions on the card
specifically? If you did this in the past and no longer do is
there a reason you discontinued? Any insight you can provide
would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Warmest Regards, </p>
<div class="ox-0bc79656fb-io-ox-signature">
<p>DJ Digianantonio<br>
</p>
<p>Head of Reference/Teen Services</p>
<p>Rodman Public Library</p>
<p>215 E. Broadway St.</p>
<p>Alliance, OH 44601</p>
</div>
<br>
<fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"></fieldset>
<br>
<pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
OPLINLIST mailing list -- <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:OPLINLIST@lists.oplin.org">OPLINLIST@lists.oplin.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist">http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://aboutbooks.info">http://aboutbooks.info</a> -- Search for author, title, subject... anything about books.</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
</body>
</html>