HIT:Overdue policy

[Greenup County High School Library <gchs@RAMLINK.NET>]

 Group--I was asked by many to post a hit on the topic of overdue =
policies.  Many thanks to the many who took time to respond, =
commiserate, offer suggestions, etc.  All of us struggle with this =
problem, it seems, to varying degrees.  I learned so much about what you =
all are doing out there. Here are many of the responses (Yes, it is =
really long, but the delete button is a wonderful thing!)  :

  Our seniors have a senior trip and I block any senior going on the =
trip=20
until they clear with me.  The trip means more to them than grades.

  Our policy is also unwritten and the same as yours.  I have had a few
disputes over the years with students claiming to have returned and my =
saying
as long as the card is in the drawer it is out.  Thus far the principals =
have
all supported my point of view.  We have had a lot of gradecards held =
and
several seniors who would not have gotten diplomas if they hadn't =
cleared.=20
After several years when it comes down to the dipoloma it is well worth =
the
money to clear and go on with life.  Our fines and costs are not that
exhorbitant that they can't manage.  Plus it was their "choice" to keep =
the
material out...


  I believe that in our State statutes, theft can be charged for State
property.  Don't know how many do it, tho.
At my school, students are NOT barred from the library for class visits,
but, once a book is two weeks overdue, they may not borrow books nor
may they visit the library during lunch or study hall.  If they need to
come in, I will allow them to come after school, but DEFINITELY will
not allow any books to be taken out.  Since we are at a Middle School,
I just send the overdue notices for rising 8th graders to the high
school.  Boy, are they surprised to see that the record follows them
(even tho I have told them that this will happen)!  I have already
gotten back 3 books and had two paid for since the year has begun.
The kids do not want to be closed out of the high school library.


  You can't have electricity if you don't pay your bill.
Your telephone won't ring if you don't pay your bill.
Why should kids get books if they don't return the ones they have?
That is the way the real world works.
They might as well learn it now.
Just my thoughts.  That's what I tell the kids.
Hope this helps.


Wow, you are in a fix....

At our college, we use the "hold the grades and transcripts" rule for =
any
overdue materials and for financial obligations over a certain amount (I =
can't
remember offhand what the amount is, since I'm no longer in =
Circulation).  We
can't hold diplomas, but the holding of transcripts affects anyone who =
is going
on to grad school or trying to apply for teaching certification.

I would talk to the superintendent, principals, and teachers and explain =
what a
problem this is.  Ask them for suggestions, and try to have them toss =
out the
ones that have little chance of working.  You may have to try two or =
three (or
more) suggestions.  Put them in on a "trial basis" so you can change =
them at a
pre-determined time if needed.

Do you have a security system in your library?  This would help cut down =
on the
thefts.

You may want to consider putting in a maximum number of materials that =
someone
may have out at any given time.  This may help to deter someone taking =
out
materials for someone else.

You may also want to send the bill for the replacement cost of any =
materials
not returned to the parents of the delinquent students.  As a public =
school,
your budget is paid for by tax money.  It may be possible to submit the
parents' names to the state and have this bill paid out of any state =
income tax
refund they may be entitled to.  (I know this sounds extreme.  I heard =
of it
about 8 years ago, when we were having the same problem with faculty =
overdues.
One of the state colleges I called did this, and it was very successful. =
 Since
we are a private institution and receive no tax money, we could not do =
this.)
I understand your dilemma of wanting to teach the students =
responsibility and
yet still wanting them to use (properly) and love the library and giving =
them
access to the materials they need.  It's really a tough situation, and I =
can
feel your frustration.


I'm not sure you can deny access to library materials,
but perhaps checking them out?
Richard Librarian

I sympathize, but I cannot help much.  Just wanted you to know we care=20
enough to respond!  Just this year we are no longer allowed to withhold=20
report cards.  We are not allowed to keep students out when their entire =

class comes with the teacher.  We are allowed to keep them out at other=20
times, but with 1400 students that is almost impossible to enforce.
We take away their borrowing privileges which seems a "punishment" that=20
uniquely fits the "crime."  Yes, they do steal, but out pages, or get=20
others to sign out books for them--we stress that the borrower is =
totally=20
responsible for the material.  Yes, we do have a detection system but=20
many know how to circumvent that.
It is helpful if you can get an administrator (in our case there is an=20
assistant principal in charge of discipline who will help with that) to=20
call home, or do it yourself.  Many parents are emn=3Dbarrassed into =
doing=20
something.  Others, unfortunately, believe their little darling when =
they=20
say the material has been returned, or worse, that they never took out=20
that book!


Save your money and purchase a security system.  The students still can
figure out how to steal but it makes it a lot more difficult.
Some how we have to teach kids to be honest and responsible and
consequences for their actions. =20
If our students have over due books they may not checkout any until =
their
record is clear or fines paid.
We have student ID cards with pictures and bar codes on them so know =
when
someone else is trying to check out books on another's card.  We hightly
discourage checking out books for another student, but if they insist =
weremind them that the person checking out the book is the one who =
isresponsible for it.  We keep signatures for proof.
Good luck, this is a toughie!

We have a policy for financial obligations which include library fines =
and lost books.  Afterall, if a student loses his textbook or =
school-loaned=20
property, he is held responsible for the financial loss and all school=20
records are placed on hold until the obligation is cleared.
I have received no problems about this yet and I charge the  replacement =

cost, shipping and handling, and California state sales tax.


My blood is boiling. When are kids going to be held accountable?  We
have an unwritten policy.  No checkouts until all fines and overdues are
cleared.  Yes, you do have some theft, but we have an alarm system and
at least catch some of them.  We also have the friends check out
situation; we try to ask for ID # etc to prevent this but it happens. So
often, those same students don't return the book they have taken out
under their friend's name; we tell that student that he gets no
checkouts until the items are cleared.  I feel sorry for some of them.=20
One boy did it for a girlfriend--they broke up, and as revenge she
refused to return the books. We are absolutely firm--no exceptions.=20
Sometimes teachers feel sorry for the student and check the books out
themselves.  A couple of teachers had to pay for those books, so that
helped discourage that practice.  Same thing at graduation.  In early
May I start submitting lists of fines and overdues to the Senior
principal and keep updating it. At senior assembly those names are
announced and at graduation rehersal the treasurer is there with a list
and a receipt book.  I have heard students are pulled out of line
graduation night but I doubt that.  I know a few slip through every year
because I saw a some at my daughter's graduation but not many. My
argument is when they get to college, the college will not be so
lenient.  At our local UNC I've heard of fines of over $100 and the
students have to pay to graduate.  We do forgive anything under two
dollars on that last day before graduation (but we don't tell the
students that).  I know I have nattered on much too long but one last
story.  A student was about to graduate, had had a book out since he was
a sophmore, finally had to pay--said I can't believe you still have that
record.  I replied, "I can't believe you still haven't paid." =20

i,
        I am in a high school (9-12, 832 students) and I've had=20
excellent cooperation from my principals -- we use the old policy you=20
had--students are "strongly" urged to pay all school fees before they=20
can graduate.  Some don't, but the vast majority do pay up.  I have also =

been allowed to restrict "leisure" reading when students abuse the=20
return policy.  I haven't restricted them for materials they need for a=20
class assignment, but I have had one teacher "co-sign" for materials for =

1 kid who was notorious!=20

 My philosophy, which I've told to the students, parents, and=20
administrators is that the Taxpayers [and, yes, I use a capital when I=20
speak of them]of our school district have bought these materials for ALL =

of the students to use--not to stock one person's personal library. =20

You might also give the Supt and the Principal a list of the materials=20
that are long overdue with the cost of replacement beside each one. =20
They may have no idea how many $$$ you're talking about. Explain that=20
you'll need an increase of the above amount in your budget just to=20
replace what you already own but can't get back.  Would they feel the=20
same way about sports equipment in your school??

Overdue books were once more of a problem for us.  Now books are signed =
out
for 4 weeks.  This is more in line with assignments due.  I print an =
overdue
list each Monday and e-mail it to all English teachers (but I set the =
date
for Weds or Thurs) so
students really get the news before their books are due.  There's also a
3-day grace period.  By this time we've gotten a lot of books turned in.
 Then, fines of 25 cents/day begin.  A few times a year, I have a
"forgiveness" day--like this week a can of food will erase any fine due. =
 We
also make 5 copies in any one day free and computer print-outs are free. =
 We
have very few books stolen, but we really try to work with the students =
to
overcome problems.  =20




        Our current policy is that students with books overdue or fines
unpaid for over six weeks may not come to the library unless accompanied =
by
their teacher (no drop-ins on their free time).  I seldom allow a =
student
with a fine or overdue book to check out more materials.  I will hold a =
book
for a few days for a student with overdues.  Report cards and diplomas =
are
supposedly held, but I know that parents who came to pick up report =
cards
were simply told about their child's unpaid obligation.  BTW, I =
distribute
overdue lists to homeroom teachers weekly.  Some of them don't bother to
inform students of overdues.  Every few months, I send notices to first =
hour
teachers, in hopes that every student will have *some* teacher who'll =
give
them a nudge.
        My predecessor would not allow students who owed anything to =
come
into the library at all.  When a teacher brought a class, students on =
the
overdue list had to sit in the office.  I thought that sounded too =
harsh,
and I thought it was an imposition on the school secretary and on the
teacher.  It was only after a few years that I realized some students =
will
steal materials if they can't check them out.
       At present I think we have way too many overdue books and unpaid
fines, but I'm reluctant to tighten the rules.  I'm not willing to =
simply
ignore unpaid obligations, but I worry that tighter policies would =
result in
more thefts.


At our high school, we hod the cap and gown of seniors who have library
fines or overdues.  We send a list around in advance of the day the caps
and gowns are distributed.  Most senoirs who are going to graduate pay
their bills in advance of the date.  (They really do want those caps and
gowns on the day their friends are getting them.  We also hold the caps =
and
gowns and hand them out to the students approximately one week prior to
graduation.) =20

Many years ago, I held diplomas.  For some reasons, students were not as
affected by this as they are the cap and gown.  Since I've begun holding
cap and gowns, I've never had a problem with a graduating senior.=20
Sometimes they've had the fine since their freshman year.  And yes, I'm
sure many stole things from the library.  That is another problem.  I'm
still wrestling with that one. =20

At my school, we issue exam permit for final exam.  In order to receive=20
their permits, kids have to have everything cleared (tuition, library=20
overdue books and fines, counselor appointment... etc.).  Without the=20
permit, they won't be able to take final exam.  It has worked very well. =

 Just an idea if you are allowed to charge overdue fines.  Good luck.


I appreciate your frustration, however, it is my policy (unwritten also)
never to disallow a student use of the library for school work.  I do =
deny
library privileges for overdue materials, but find a way to give student
access to what is needed for assignments. I live by the "what goes =
around,
comes around" theory--someday, somehow, the student will be held =
accountable
by me, if in no other place.  It's one of those never-ending =
problems--godd
luck.

Have you asked your administrators what they suggest you do to recover=20
overdue/lost materials?  It's hard to believe that they don't want the=20
students accountable in some way...what ideas do they have?

At my children's high school, both grades and diplomas are=20
held....including those of a daughter of a department head:)

I am in a middle school and, truthfully, I have a problem with holding=20
grades for overdue books but that is what my principal *wants* me to do=20
and I really don't have any other thing with which to motivate them to=20
get the books out of the locker and/or book bag.

We are a high school of 1900 students in grades 10,11 and
12.  Students who have overdues are not allowed to check out books but =
we
can not keep them out of the media center. =20
If a teacher brings a class and certain students are not
allowed in, where do they go?  Does the teacher stay back
in the room with them and the rest come to the library?
I currently have over 900 items overdue.  If I turned away
everyone with an overdue at the door, we would be in
hot water with parents, teachers, administrators, etc.
I will be interested in other feedback you get.  You might
consider posting a summary of the responses.

I don't feel that it is the job of educators to deny our patrons access=20
to the library.  I do agree that a patron may not check materials out,=20
but I strongly feel you are wrong to deny them access.  That's whats=20
libraries are all about, "free access to information for everyone."  I=20
agree you do have a problem getting materials returned.  All I can say =
is=20
you do your best to get materials returned, perhaps discuss this problem =

with the school's student council.  But in the end you have to "eat it." =
=20

I would be interested to hear what others have to offer.

****These were only about half of the responses I received. Next time I  =
will summarize.=20
Missi Baker
Greenup co. H.S.
Greenup KY