[CALIBK12] GEN RE: fines policy in your library

[Marilyn Frenz]

Greetings:
Where does it say in the ED Code that fines cannot be
charged and that books must be checked out to students
who owe books or fines? If you check Ed Code
19910-19911"Any person who maliciously cuts...injures
any books ...is guilty of a misdemeanor." and "Any
person who willfully detains any book...is guilty of a
misdemeanor....and liable for all damages so
caused....
We charge fines. It's all about responsibility!
Marilyn Frenz SAHS Library Media Teacher
--- "Owens, Shaunterria"
<Shaunterria.Owens at sbcusd.k12.ca.us> wrote:

> I have to say I disagree. One of our jobs is to
> teach children about responsibility and how to
> navigate the "real" world. In the real world, if
> someone damaged someone else's property or worse,
> stole someone else's property, there would be
> consequences. If kids are allowed to damage or keep
> books, what leverage do we have to get them to
> return the books? A stern talking to? 
> 
> Shaunterria Owens
> Library Assistant, Del Rosa Elementary
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu on behalf of
> Blanche Woolls
> Sent: Fri 1/25/2008 11:45 AM
> To: Ron Black
> Cc: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
> Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] fines policy in your library
>  
> Hello Ron,
> 
> If you stop and think about it, fines are the number
> one worst possible 
> public relations activity that any school librarian
> can initiate. Please 
> stop charging fines. If it does anything at all, it
> allows students to 
> think that they can keep books indefinitely because
> they are "renting" 
> them.
> 
> The library belongs to the students, not to the
> librarian. They are 
> checking out their books and they need to be taught
> the responsibility of 
> using their books in a responsible way. You might
> want to lengthen the 
> length of time for checkout, although in elementary
> school, the books are 
> seldom that long. However, if a student isn't
> responsible, they need to be 
> reminded, but don't do it by withholding their
> ability to check out a 
> book. To do that you are halting their ability to
> increase their reading 
> skills and their ability to use materials for
> research.
> 
> Truly, the best way to teach responsibility is to
> explain to all your 
> students that this is a jointly owned part of their
> education and they 
> must "Do unto others" which means bring books back
> on time. No fines.
> 
> Blanche
> 
> On Fri, 25 Jan 2008, Ron Black wrote:
> 
> > What's the fines policy in your district or at
> your school site?
> >
> > A question has come up in our K-8 district
> concerning students being
> > allowed
> > to continue checking out books after they've been
> fined for lost or
> > damaged
> > materials. Up until now, our policy has been if
> they owe money, they
> > can't
> > check out until they return the material in good
> condition or pay the
> > fine for
> > it.
> >
> > However now some have looked at the California Ed
> Code and interpreted
> > it
> > as reading that we cannot withhold textbooks OR
> library books from a
> > student even though he or she has lost one or more
> and made no effort
> > to pay or work off his or her fine.
> >
> > While we can understand every student needing a
> textbook no matter
> > what,
> > some of our library technicians are understandably
> alarmed that we are
> > soon
> > going to be expected to allow students to check
> out library books at
> > all times,
> > no matter how many books they have lost and not
> paid for, and never
> > having
> > to show any responsibility for damaged or lost
> materials.
> >
> > So, we're checking on what the policies are in
> other school libraries.
> > Any info you can pass on to us would be
> appreciated. Thanks!
> >
> > Ronald L. Black
> > rblack at eusd4kids.org
> > Central School Library
> > Escondido Union School District
> >
> 
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