Comments on: Thousands of pounds owed in fines to libraries: pros and cons of collecting it https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2012/02/thousands-of-pounds-owed-in-fines-to-libraries-pros-and-cons-of-collecting-it.html What's happening to your library? Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 By: LibraryWeb https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2012/02/thousands-of-pounds-owed-in-fines-to-libraries-pros-and-cons-of-collecting-it.html#comment-242 Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:03:44 +0000 http://83.170.89.36/~publicli/2012/02/thousands-of-pounds-owed-in-fines-to-libraries-pros-and-cons-of-collecting-it.html#comment-242 I think the last point essentially is charge fines – but make sure the process of doing so doesn’t eclipse everything else.

]]> By: LibraryWeb https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2012/02/thousands-of-pounds-owed-in-fines-to-libraries-pros-and-cons-of-collecting-it.html#comment-241 Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:57:52 +0000 http://83.170.89.36/~publicli/2012/02/thousands-of-pounds-owed-in-fines-to-libraries-pros-and-cons-of-collecting-it.html#comment-241 “people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”
Human-Centered Librarianship

]]> By: LibraryWeb https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2012/02/thousands-of-pounds-owed-in-fines-to-libraries-pros-and-cons-of-collecting-it.html#comment-238 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:39:34 +0000 http://83.170.89.36/~publicli/2012/02/thousands-of-pounds-owed-in-fines-to-libraries-pros-and-cons-of-collecting-it.html#comment-238 The argument against can be found in Public Libraries and Social Justice, Pateman & Vincent – arguing for dropping fines all together – fines do not meet people’s needs.

If I remember correctly there is actually some research that shows books are returned more reliably if a moral message is communicated rather than punitive. Fines are certainly not good reader development and defeat the cultural objective of the libraries (an avid reader can be put off for life after one bad episode of fines).

It does look to me as well that the amount these debt recovery firms retrieve for the libraries would not actually make all that much difference.

Some misc. links on the subject:

Bookworms owe half a million in library fines

Sussex library fines run top £3 million mark

Outstanding library fines on books to be written off

Orkney libraries if I remember correctly do not charge, Portsmouth were at one point considering this as a policy also: Late with your library book? Not a problem!

Noisy row breaks out in libraries over fines

Fines

MARY BEARD: WHAT’S THE POINT OF LIBRARY FINES? OR HAVE LIBRARIANS GOT NICER?

On library fines: Ensuring civic responsibility or an easy income stream?

Fines, Day Cares, and Ebooks: How is Your Library Assigning Value?

The Library Reloaded: Fines

Hi-tech way to avoid library fines

PR: SelfCheck System Fines and Fees Payment Option Increase Collections Nearly 50%

Hayward’ CA Public Library Will Launch ‘Fines Free’ Borrowing Packages Beginning at $2.99/Month

Talking your way out of library fines

Overdue debate in the Guardian

Flexible or dynamic loan periods?

There are other ways of raising revenue – the two tier library service for instance, hand 40% of shelf space and computers over to private companies (a better library service for those that can pay 😉

]]>