[OPLINLIST] Food for Fines

[Eric Taggart]

I agree with Georgiana.  I refuse to make decisions or write policy based on what 2% of the population *might* do.  The other 98% of people, for the most part, do what they are supposed to do.  In my experience, these people might make mistakes, but they aren't trying to take advantage of anyone.  Whether we're talking about Food for Fines, borrowing policies, whatever...most people aren't out to get you.  

Furthermore, public libraries aren't free, they are essentially pre-paid.  Ohio taxpayers have already paid for our libraries, staff, and services, and in Ohio, this entitles them to excellent library service.  Even with budget cuts, as someone else mentioned, we are still the best funded public libraries in the country.  We have been good stewards of taxpayers' money, and I'm confident that we will continue to be trendsetters in the world of public libraries, even in a time of reduced funding.  

We all want the public to use our services and often, we need to encourage them to do so.  While we all are faced with budget cuts, I think we need to avoid cutting our most valuable services as much as possible or doing anything to discourage library use at a time when our citizens need us the most.

Eric


Eric D. Taggart, Director
Loudonville Public Library
122 East Main Street
Loudonville, OH  44842
Phone: (419) 994-5531
Fax: (419) 994-4321

   
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Georgiana 
  To: Susan Pieper ; oplinlist at oplin.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 3:52 PM
  Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] Food for Fines


  I guess I'm in a "Pollyana" frame of mind today - we have had that problem as well, to an extent, but for the most part people did not abuse it.  I guess no matter what you do, you will have people try and abuse the system - like grabbing handfuls of cookies at programs, and "cheating" in the summer reading program, but for the most part, I think that our public appreciates what we do.  If I didn't feel that way, I guess that I wouldn't continue to do it!
  Georgi Huizenga
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Susan Pieper 
    To: oplinlist at oplin.org 
    Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 3:31 PM
    Subject: [OPLINLIST] Food for Fines


    We sponsored a food for fines program for almost a decade. But when we started receiving food items that had been rejects from the local food pantry, and when we had people calling in March, asking when our food for fines program would be held, we realized that this was yet another program that many patrons would abuse. We discontinued the program a couple of years ago. When patrons would call throughout the year, asking when the program was, we told them that we would not be hosting a food for fines because we found that patrons were keeping their items until the end of the year. We need those items back on the shelf. We did, however, continue to put our shopping cart out for folks to bring in their donations to the food pantry. We still do this throughout the year. But, it is amazing how little we get donated when people realize they are getting nothing in return. Human nature, I guess. Gee... I'm even depressing myself.
    I still love libraries and library users and am passionate about the concept of public libraries!
    Susan

    -- 
    Susan Pieper, Director
    Paulding County Carnegie Library
    205 S. Main Street
    Paulding, OH 45879
    419-399-2032 voice and 419-399-2114 fax
    Editor, Rural Library Services Newsletter
    www.pauldingcountylibrary.org
    www.myspace.com/pauldingcountylibrary
    susanhillpieper at gmail.com
    ALA Councilor-At-Large (2007-2010)
    ALA-APA Councilor (2007-2010)
    PLA Board of Directors
    ARSL Board Member ex-officio
    (Association for Rural & Small Libraries)




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