Library Raises Fines to 50 Cents

The public library in Greensboro, NC is raising fines for the first time since 1968. Up until now, the fine has only been $.05 cents per day, which doesn’t give patrons much incentive to return things on time, if at all. According to the director, “At the library’s old rate of 5 cents a day, a reader could keep a book overdue for almost a year for less money than it costs to buy the book.” Patrons obviously won’t like the new $.50 cent fine, but since the library has about 5,000 overdue books out at a time, it may entice them to read that book and return it in a timely manner. Read More.

July 5, 2004 by Ieleen Uncategorized 7

Korpios says:

July 5, 2004 at 6:31 pm

Dollars and Cents

Please don’t use “$.05 cents”, “$.50 cents”, etc.; such usage is ambiguous and confusing. Use either “$.05” or “5 cents”. Thank you. 🙂

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mdoneil says:

July 6, 2004 at 3:25 am

Where does the money go?
In my city the fine money goes into the city’s general fund rather than being retained by the library.

However the concern is returning books and I think 1/2 of a dollar is is more of an impetus to return a book than 1/20th of a dollar. Locally our videos are 100 cents per day overdue and they seem to get back on time.

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leeb says:

July 6, 2004 at 3:59 am

Too lenient
Libraries have been too lenient in their efforts in fining people for overdue items. Video rental stores are not so lenient and they will fine members without hesitation for overdue returns and suspend them until they are paid and get debt collectors onto them. You don’t hear people complaining about this. But when it comes to libraries, people’s attitude to returning library items on time seems to be different just because public libraries are not “businesses” and “free”. It is important to remember that the fine/money is not the primary objective but getting the items back. The fine just acts as an incentive to return the item on time. But if the item is not returned at all (for a long time) then the fine has to be collected. And the sure-fire way of getting the fine collected is through the debt collector or put it on the rates notice, and if it does not get paid, deduct it from their bank accounts or other assets. Banks do this, and it is considered normal, is it not? Banks don’t give you unlimited time to pay their money (plus interest) back, do they? I think libraries have been lenient to be kind and not too comfortable with charging and collecting money, but in the process have lost respect and the system has been abused.

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slashgirl says:

July 6, 2004 at 5:38 am

fines
Our regional library charges 25Â¢ per day the branch you’ve signed it out from is open, 50Â¢ per day for ILL. Once your fines reach $30, you can’t take out any more books until you pay the fine down (hypothetically you could pay a quarter and be able to get sign out privileges). Also if you’ve had fines on a book and haven’t paid them, you can’t sign it out again. (If you have it, and don’t return but renew it, you’re okay).

I just paid $20 worth of fines off; I usually wait until it’s between ten and twenty. I should know better being in the profession and all. I just look at it as my donation to the library.

s/

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dmossman says:

July 6, 2004 at 6:58 pm

Re:Dollars and Cents
I didn’t find it ambiguous or confusing. Anal-retentive grammarians are the worst.

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slashgirl says:

July 6, 2004 at 8:28 pm

Re:Dollars and Cents
If they’d’ve used the Â¢ sign, it would’ve been easier. Hold the alt key down and press 0162 on the number pad. Doesn’t take that long. I used it and I’m on a laptop and had to flip between number pad and regular keyboard.

And I don’t think it was the grammar so much as it was asking for consistancy. I don’t see any problem in requesting consistancy or good grammar and spelling, especially from those who are supposed to be “educated”.

s/

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dmossman says:

July 6, 2004 at 10:37 pm

Re:Too lenient
>You don’t hear people complaining about this. (referring to video stores)

Not true. I complain about video store fines all the time. Did you know that fines are %30 of the revenus at Blockbuster?
I refuse to use Blockbuster because of their fines. I returned a video one hour late and they charged me an entire weeks rental. I only use Netflix now because they do not have late fees.

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