I should have asked this before, but does your library institute fines for overdue books?
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I should have asked this before, but does your library institute fines for overdue books? And do you think eliminating that system, as many libraries have done, is a good thing and encourages a wider group of folks to read, or is it a bad thing, if say, you were waiting a long time for your turn to read something new?
We have fines at one of the library systems I use. You can sometimes get around the automatic return of an e-book by reading offline. I have only done that once, though.
The library sysyem with fines: 20 cents per day, with a maximum fine of $10.00 if it is returned within 90 days. After 90 days, the patron is charged the ten bucks *plus* the replacement cost of the book. (Some are irreplaceable and they've lost some books this way.) Damage fees vary. I've spilled something before on a book, which fortunately only hit the margins. They charged me a few bucks for that.
Fulton County Library is "fine-free" unless the book is lost or destroyed.
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I should have asked this before, but does your library institute fines for overdue books? And do you think eliminating that system, as many libraries have done, is a good thing and encourages a wider group of folks to read, or is it a bad thing, if say, you were waiting a long time for your turn to read something new?
We have fines at one of the library systems I use. You can sometimes get around the automatic return of an e-book by reading offline. I have only done that once, though.
The library sysyem with fines: 20 cents per day, with a maximum fine of $10.00 if it is returned within 90 days. After 90 days, the patron is charged the ten bucks *plus* the replacement cost of the book. (Some are irreplaceable and they've lost some books this way.) Damage fees vary. I've spilled something before on a book, which fortunately only hit the margins. They charged me a few bucks for that.
Fulton County Library is "fine-free" unless the book is lost or destroyed.
@kimlockhartga My district library has not eliminated fines. They are 5 cents a day which is nothing really. But after 4 weeks, it turns into a lost item and it raises to whatever the cost of the item is.
The other two libraries in my area do NOT have fines until 4 weeks late and then it is the cost of the item.
I was the branch manager at one of the branches for my district library for years and I advocated for doing away with fines, but the board and director didn't approve.
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@kimlockhartga My district library has not eliminated fines. They are 5 cents a day which is nothing really. But after 4 weeks, it turns into a lost item and it raises to whatever the cost of the item is.
The other two libraries in my area do NOT have fines until 4 weeks late and then it is the cost of the item.
I was the branch manager at one of the branches for my district library for years and I advocated for doing away with fines, but the board and director didn't approve.
@CindySue Yet research shows that fines are ineffective. I think it must be hard for some to let go, especially if they are really rule-oriented.
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@CindySue Yet research shows that fines are ineffective. I think it must be hard for some to let go, especially if they are really rule-oriented.
@kimlockhartga @CindySue
Paradoxically, I return my books much faster, now that there are no overdue fines. The looming bill made library visits unpleasant. -
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