One item (not in a jar) per late book, and you’re good. Here’s the story from the Nevada Appeal on how the Dayton Valley Branch library is waiving fees in exchange for food contributions.
Comment below; does your public library offer to waive fees in exchange for food or other contributions? How has it worked?
we’re doing that now
Starting on Dec. 18th until the 31st, we at Nashville Public Library are doing a food for fines drive at all branches. We’re only taking canned goods but for every can donated we’re waiving 1 dollar in late fees (it doesn’t include lost/damaged materials fees, lost card fees, etc..).
The reports I’ve heard from friends in the branches is that it’s been a hit. I’ve even knocked some of my fines down a few pegs (may even kill ’em this weekend). Some people are only bringing in a couple cans but I heard of a lady bringing in enough cans to cover an 88 dollar fine!
Here’s the link to our webpage with a better description.
Re:we’re doing that now
You’re a library staff member and you pay overdue fines?!? I’ve worked in several different libraries and none of them have made staff pay fines. We even joke about it: “My husband gets stock options and a real salary, but *I* don’t pay overdue fines. You figure out who’s got the better deal…”
Re:we’re doing that now
Why shouldn’t staff pay fines? At MFPOW all staff paid fines and we used to joke that we should pay double since we worked there! My current co-workers (where staff don’t pay fines) don’t agree with this logic of course… but I don’t see why staff should be exempt.
Re:we’re doing that now
When I first started here staff and library board members didn’t pay overdue fines. A couple years ago (so the story goes), a board member had some overdue materials and wanted(!) to pay the overdue fines and was a touch put out that there were none to pay. So, they made a change in policy to make us pay fines. That’s all hearsay, I think the company line is that it was to encourage staff to return materials on time or something like that.
When the policy change was first made public, I did a little looking around and found that there are a great many libraries that charge staff overdue fines. So, it’s not that unusual.
Puzzled
I’ve never understood why libraries dabble in the services that other agencies are set up to do better. Like literacy programs, lyceums, musical events and food collection. Perhaps it gives the public a sense that library staff don’t have enough to do or that librarians really wanted to be social workers or teachers.
Re:Puzzled
I’m not sure how our food drive came about exactly. I know that our local Second Harvest Foodbank has been having a very lean year so it may have stemmed from our Admin’s desire to do something to help out. It’s also really good publicity. It’s been very well received locally and has actually brought some patrons back to the library who had been run off by their high fine bills. I thought it was a neat idea.