HIT->Charging Fines in School Libraries

["Eunice C. Stewart" <estewar@EIS.CALSTATE.EDU>]

58 of you responded to my target (and a related message that appeared
about the same time).

Of the 58 responses, 34 charged fines and 24 did not. (Those who charge,
of course, may have been more likely to respond.)

Those who charge fines usually exclude weekends, holidays and vacations
(though this information was not included in all replies).

Fines charged as follows:
0.50 a day (overnight (reference, etc.) only) - l
0.15 per item - 1
0.10 a day - 5
0.05 a day - 12
0.02 a day - l
0.05 a day and 0.25 a day (overnight) - 4
0.02 a day and 0.50 a day (overnight) - 1
0.25 a day and 0.50 a day (overnight) - l
0.10 a day and 0.25 a day (overnight) - 5

Some have a maximum as follows:
$3.00 - 1
$2.00 - 3
$10.00 with $15.00 for reference - 1
$1.00 - l
$5.00 for hard backs and $2.00 for paper - 1
$3.00 for hard backs and $2.00 for paper - 1

(?) 0.05 and $2.00 overnight - 1

Some has a grade period before fines begin - as follows:
2 days - 1
20 days -1
3 days - 2
1 week + $2.00 "free" annualy - 1

Allow students to work off at minimum wage - 2

Those who responded no mentioned the following (legality, board policy,
etc. appeared to have little to do with it) - mainly they felt charging
fines was more trouble than it was worth.  They were concerend about the
hassle of collecting and about students who couldn't pay.

Other ways to encourage book return (reported both by those who charge
fines and those who don't):

late notice sent home - 1
bills sendt home - 1
late notices -1
holding report cards - 4
witholding next year's schedule - 1
refuse to transfer records/send transcripts - 3
delay yearbooks - 1
refuse cap & gown - 1
exclude from using library on own time - 1
detention -1
"one book only" category in future years - 2
allow check out by those with overdues in return for a promise
     and a doz. chocolate chip cookes for library student staff
     to be baked by offender - 1
deny checkouts - but hold desired books for 2 days - while students get
overdues in - 1

generally, most do not check out books to those with overdues or losts.
Also, most charge replacement for lost books (a couple add a $2-5 service
fee to the replacement cost).

Teacher fines? - 22 responded.  Of the 22, all said no; there were no yeses!
Reasons mentioned:  several commented they do charge for missing books.
Lenient with overdues but "growl."  Concern re negative PR - charging
peers troublesome.

Ideas to facilitate teacher returns:
Post check out dates for teachers - 2
Due date - end of semester - 1
Due date - last day of school - 1