[CALIBK12] Textbooks/Library Fines and Collecting of Monies

[Jill Detweiler]

Just to weigh in, I have a personal policy of not collecting fines or
enforcing any negative consequences for overdues. I work in a K-8
school and more than anything I want the students to borrow the books,
as many as possible, and read them.

If a student tells me they can't find a book, I say "Don't worry, it
will turn up, keep looking" and they usually do get found, eventually.
I send out overdue reminders several times a year and talk with
classes about returning the books so someone else can have a chance to
read it, the books belong to everyone, pass through many hands, and we
have to take good care of them. If a student is sure they lost or
damaged a book they will often offer to replace it. If it seems to be
a hardship for a student I thank them for letting me know about the
book, and tell them that I am sure next time they will be more
careful. I could ask them to help me with a library task as a form of
payment.

I expect students to be responsible and I find that most of them are
most of the time. There is usually a way to elicit responsibility
without a punishment. There are always some losses, which does have a
financial impact especially now when all budgets are so tight. We each
have to determine what our unique library circumstances can bear as
far as losses, and how we personally want to spend our time, and how
we interact with students and the community. Everyone is different,
every library is different. I find mixed opinions with the parents
too, some are grateful for the flexibility, some would like fines. I
believe we all want to encourage responsibility and stewardship for
our materials, and to make the library a welcoming and reasonable
place either way.

I am grateful to read the opinions expressed on calibk12!
Thank you,
Jill

On Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 2:36 PM, Fran Zimmermann
<franzimmermann at burbankusd.org> wrote:
> I also think it's essential for middle and high school students to pay their fines. This is a life lesson.  If I don't pay my credit card bill, I get hit with a late fee as well as a finance charge.  If I miss payments on my car, it will be repossessed.  It is our job to help our students become responsible adults.  Or perhaps there is something about the state of the economy today that I've missed.  Paying fines on library books or paying for lost books is but a small step on that road to adulthood.
>
> Thanks for letting me vent!
>
> Fran Zimmermann
> District Library Media Teacher
> Burbank Unified School District
> 818-558-4700 x52940
>
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-- 
Jill Detweiler Clemens
Librarian

Windrush School
1800 Elm Street
El Cerrito, CA 94530
510-970-7580 ext. 276
jdetweiler at windrush.org