TV News on libraries’ use of collection agencies

BS
“Most librarians don’t want to go this route” my arse. Most librarians don’t want stuff stolen, and yes that is what it is – theft by conversion.

I say call the collection agencies, call the cops too after all in most jurisdictions it is a crime too.

Re:Turning people away from libraries
Boo Freaking Hoo!

If they are so protective of their good credit then return the damn library materials. I make the car payment so they don’t tow the car away, I pay the electric bill so the lights are on when I get home, I return the library materials on time because someone else may want to use them.

Patrons are not sent to collection a week, or for that matter a month after the books are due. It is after several notices and a bill for the item. I don’t want patrons who steal the items coming to the library, stop being so namby-pamby about it. If you don’t want to send them to the collection agency send them to jail, as failing to return borrowed library materials is in most jurisdictions a crime. A couple days banged up will not affect their credit rating.

Re:Turning people away from libraries
The stats for my library have been increasing for years. We have materials and programs that people want. In the last year I have started a Spanish language collection and computer classes about Word Processing and Excel. I will be starting a class about choosing & using a digital camera next week. I am also working to develop a class that will allow patrons how to judge the authority of things they find on the Internet. This class will also include the use of the electronic dbs to which our library subscribes as well as the http://www.flelibrary.com databases to which all Florida residents have access. (Of course I had to postpone development of that class to develop another about the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit which begins enrolling 11/15. I have several pharmacists and RNs coming in to help and we have several laptops so patrons can pick the plan best for them and signup online with the assistance of a healthcare professional)
My library’s stats are going up because our population is going up too. People are moving into Florida (Why I’m not sure a hurricane will probably blow them back up north within a year:> )

I do have a fantastic advantage. Our library while a memeber of a County consortium is a stand alone library and we don’t have the many layers of bureuracracy to go through to get programs, purchases and the like approved. A patron asked today for some books about the history of Alchemy and we had 1 in poor shape. I was able to go to B&T and order a few more without getting approval from anyone or several co-signers on my purchase order. They will be in next week. I am one lucky librarian in that respect. I can fill gaps in the collection and create programs and classes as I see fit, without jumping through hoops.

I think we are probably of a similar mind, no I don’t think should go to collections two or three weeks after the book is due… but I don’t think they should unreminded for six months either. I think 2 notices 2 weeks apart, and a bill a week after that are plenty. If no response after those and another month has passed then I don’t see that a collection agency is too severe. There are collection agencies that have experience with libraries and their patrons. They know that having the material returned is more important than a few dollars in fines. I don’t think they are as forceful as they would be if I stopped paying for the car.

I’m probably a bit more pragmatic than you, but I came to librarianship later than most having worked @ IMB for years before changing careers. So I may indeed have a more ‘for profit’ slant even though public libraries are certainly non-profits.

Thank you for discussing this, just because we don’t agree exactly does not mean we can’t discuss things.