Comments on: The passing of overdue fines? http://connectinglibrarian.com/2006/07/02/the-passing-of-overdue-fines/ Connecting new ideas and technologies with library service Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:06:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Michelle McLean http://connectinglibrarian.com/2006/07/02/the-passing-of-overdue-fines/#comment-40 Michelle McLean Mon, 10 Jul 2006 23:31:00 +0000 http://connectinglibrarian.com/?p=34#comment-40 Thanks for your comment. Its funny that once you have one library without fines, that suddenly there is a bit of fine free envy going on. It will be interesting to see if we drop fines, whether other library services in our city will do the same. Thanks for your comment. Its funny that once you have one library without fines, that suddenly there is a bit of fine free envy going on. It will be interesting to see if we drop fines, whether other library services in our city will do the same.

]]> By: Mary Beth http://connectinglibrarian.com/2006/07/02/the-passing-of-overdue-fines/#comment-39 Mary Beth Mon, 10 Jul 2006 15:13:00 +0000 http://connectinglibrarian.com/?p=34#comment-39 My small library in western Nebraska had done away with fines before I started there, and I couldn't have been happier. We rarely had problems with patrons returning items. If an item was out over 30 days, they'd get a notice to either return the item of pay for its replacement....which usually inspired the patron to fidn the thing.<br/><br/>Interestingly, we would have occasional discussions on the subject a regional library meetings, and the libraries who still had fines tended to be curious and a bit envious of those of us who didn't. Many of them had an "amnesty day", wherein patrons could return overdue items without paying the fine. The inevitable result was that the library would be inundated on those days, and patrons would ask when the next amnesty day would be... My small library in western Nebraska had done away with fines before I started there, and I couldn’t have been happier. We rarely had problems with patrons returning items. If an item was out over 30 days, they’d get a notice to either return the item of pay for its replacement….which usually inspired the patron to fidn the thing.

Interestingly, we would have occasional discussions on the subject a regional library meetings, and the libraries who still had fines tended to be curious and a bit envious of those of us who didn’t. Many of them had an “amnesty day”, wherein patrons could return overdue items without paying the fine. The inevitable result was that the library would be inundated on those days, and patrons would ask when the next amnesty day would be…

]]> By: Michelle McLean http://connectinglibrarian.com/2006/07/02/the-passing-of-overdue-fines/#comment-38 Michelle McLean Wed, 05 Jul 2006 21:23:00 +0000 http://connectinglibrarian.com/?p=34#comment-38 Thanks for dropping in. Initially when we introduced fines people were so worried that they were getting things back early. However, these days, even with date dues, they bring things back late, because they have forgotten when they are due and usually they are only a few days over. Its going to be interesting to see if and how many people will start abusing the system once fines are dropped. Thanks for dropping in. Initially when we introduced fines people were so worried that they were getting things back early. However, these days, even with date dues, they bring things back late, because they have forgotten when they are due and usually they are only a few days over. Its going to be interesting to see if and how many people will start abusing the system once fines are dropped.

]]> By: Fence http://connectinglibrarian.com/2006/07/02/the-passing-of-overdue-fines/#comment-37 Fence Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:36:00 +0000 http://connectinglibrarian.com/?p=34#comment-37 I've implemented fines here, it just gives the borrowers that little push to bring the books back on time. but because we are quite a small library I'm able to be flexible, and I'll often let them off with a warning that next time they'll have to pay.<br/><br/>Course that method wouldn't work in a medium sized/large library. I’ve implemented fines here, it just gives the borrowers that little push to bring the books back on time. but because we are quite a small library I’m able to be flexible, and I’ll often let them off with a warning that next time they’ll have to pay.

Course that method wouldn’t work in a medium sized/large library.

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