[CALIBK12] GEN RE:? fines policy in your library

[Miranda Doyle]

> Anyone out there who has kids renewing from home, via computer, like 
> many public and academic libraries?

> Richard K. Moore, InfoSherpa
> Huntington Beach, CA

Yes, I set up the "self-empowered patron" option on my Destiny circulation system and then let students choose their own user names and passwords. They are able to log in to Destiny from any computer -- many do it in the library, as they don't all have Internet access at home -- to see what books they have out, renew books, and place holds. Many students do the same with their San Francisco Public Library accounts, so I only had to show classes once at the beginning of the year and now they teach each other how to do it. It's great because they don't have to ask me what they have out or when it's due. The system won't let them renew if they exceed their renewal limit (which I set up -- currently I allow 2 renewals) or if another student has a hold on their book.

I don't charge overdue fines, though I do send out notices. I prefer what I think of as the Netflix model -- students may have up to 5 books out at one time, and if they are at their limit I tell them they need to return some before they get more. I also have a large collection of  honor paperbacks, mostly given to me through the public library's redistribution program, so if a student has 5 books out but needs one right away, I ask them to select one of the honor paperbacks instead of a catalogued book. That way, no student who wants a book walks out of the library without one. 

A lot of my students get very anxious about whether they will owe money or what will happen if they lose a book, so in general I find myself trying to make them less fearful, rather than emphasizing the dire consequences. I want them to be library users. Of course there are some students who will abuse the system, but most are very relieved to find out that they aren't in big trouble if a book is late or gets wet or is stolen out of their backpacks. With lost or damaged books, I give students the option of paying for the book, bringing in a nice replacement, or working off the charges by cleaning tables, sorting books, etc. 

I do have some books that go unreturned for a long period of time, but mostly I think my system works -- and I know I am getting a large number of books into the hands of my students, which is the point, after all. 


Miranda Doyle
Teacher-Librarian
Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Middle School
San Francisco, CA