Hit: Delinquent borrowers (long)

[Andrea Hynes <hynes@POP.SEANET.COM>]

Wow! I hit upon a tender nerve when I mentioned this subject (I would
like some creative suggestions on what to do with students who are
high risk, or delinquent borrowers....). Thanks to all who responded.

Andrea Hynes
Graham Elementary School
10026 204th St East
Graham, WA 98338
e-mail: hynes@seanet.com

In summary, you offered 8 ways to deal with this universal problem:

1. No more borrowing.

This is a solution I'm sure you will hear quite a few times from other
librarians, but we simply don't allow children to check out books if
their other books have not been returned.
monica@server.fas.pps.k12.or.us (Monica McQueen)

I sympathize w/your situation as I have the same in my school.
My policy is this:  you lose it, you pay for it, you may not
check out anything else until it is paid for.  At parent's
request I will hold the bill until the end of the school year
and the student may check out materials (unless a second item
is lost)--but if not paid for one year, I carry over the bill
to the next year and checkout privileges are then lost until
payment is made.
Yes, my heart bleeds for the children who have no support at
home.  But I have to be accountable for the collection and
there is no getting around responsibility in life.
I have found that by having this strict policy that almost all
of the lost materials are either found or paid for.

Julia Files Steger, Clifton Forge VA, jsteger@pen.k12.va.us

2. Restricted borrowing: paperbacks only, limit checkout to only one
book, damaged books, etc.

Could you have a quiet word with children who have overdue or
lost/unpaid materials and ask them to check out only paperbacks?  At
least the replacement cost wouldn't be so high. Some losses aren't the
child's fault--parents sometimes discard library books.  I remember
one child whose library books were damaged when her roof leaked.  Too,
a child himself probably *can't* pay for a lost book--it has to come
from a parent.  (Did you ever remind a parent of overdues and hear
"Well, I just won't let my child check out a library book ever
again!")  We librarians are left to balance concern for a child's
feelings against constraints of a tight budget.

Cindy Carr, Librarian,  Cleveland High School
home e-mail:   wccarr@ionet.netm; school e-mail:
cleve24@edumaster.net


I know exactly what you are talking about.  We have some classic
families in our building, with two or three students, so they are
around for "years".
 In desperation I finally decided to limit the real problem students
 to
having only one book out of the library at a time.  They could not
check out a book until the one they currently had was returned.  They
can check books out any time - but they cannot have other books out.
This is not too creative, but it does help on the loss column. Like
you, I didn't want to tell them they could not check anything out.
This has been quite effective.
 Not perfect, but much better than before we started using the system.
Good luck, Donna

dpeterso@ties.k12.mn.us (Donna Peterson)

 I've had this problem in years past.  I collected some worn out
 titles and kept them behind my desk for these students to check out
 instead of trashing them, therefore nothing is lost.  Until they
 learn the responsibility of caring for and returning borrowed items,
 they
simply must be denied a preference of selecting what they borrow.  If
they neglect a bank loan in later life, the banker won't be this nice.
 I feel they either learn responsibility or they learn to be denied
access to choice materials.

Peggy V. Rowan, Librarian, Royse City High School, P. O. Box 479,
Royse City, TX rowan@tenet.edu

3. Books remain at school.

We've had a few kids with this problem. For one student last year, and
one this year, the books they borrow stay in the classroom. This is
something the teacher and I work out, so they can help make sure it
really does stay at school. The kids themselves have liked the idea.
It lets them continue to borrow books. Incredibly, in one case the
mother went to the teacher when a book was returned damaged, informed
the teacher she wasn't paying for it and she didn't want her child
bringing home any more books!  This takes the pressure off the kids in
some instances.  Hope this helps.

Bettie Fisher
fisherb@dexter.k12.mi.us
9628 Daisy Lane
Dexter, MI  48130

We allow those students to borrow the books, but we encourage them to
keep the books in their desks. Our principal is very supportive, and
report cards are held if a student has not paid for a lost or damaged
book. However, we all know the ones to which you refer; they don't
care about report cards or books. So a few have an emphatic don't take
it home, reinforced by the classroom teacher.

Ann H Pfaff <pfaff+@pitt.edu>

4. Have student work off payment.

...We have finally instituted a work-it-off solution for students who
lose a book and either can't pay,  or stonewall paying.  They work one
am or pm recess for every dollar the book is worth.  I finally came up
with a task that was worth doing, didn't take a lot of supervision,
and is endless.  I have them use a rag soaked with windex, or other
not too icky cleaner, and wash the covers of the books which are
pretty grungy and can use some cleaning up.

Jean Townes, Media Specialist                  townesj@PEAK.ORG
Waverly Elementary School                      Phone: 503-967-4617
Greater Albany Public Schools 425 Columbus Albany, Or 97321

I have a couple of children like this.  Things that go home get lost
in whatever mess they end up in.  Or get badly damaged.  One thing I
have done is to strongly suggest the child only checks out paperback
books. If the family can't or won't pay, I have had a child work off
the fine in the library doing little chores, at the rate of $1.00 per
recess or whatever. Actually the child who did this did so willingly
cause his parents would make him pay the fine and he didn't have the
money. Another thing we have done is to let the child check out books
for the classroom only.  He/She isn't to take them home.  That works
pretty well.  It really can be a problem, and it certainly does run in
families.

lcarter@iserver.woodside.k12.ca.us

5. Accept a book of similar value.

...I encourage them to use the public library or their classroom
library.  The hard part comes when the teachers give research
assignments and these children don't have library privileges. I got
some books back one year by telling one of the children that she could
take out a book if she brought any library book back, not particularly
the one she lost.  So I got back her brother's book!  I also had a
book returned a year and a half late when the child realized that she
needed to get books out for a class project (she had written her name
inside the book showing it was hers!)

I have had no luck talking with the parents of these children. They
usually deny that the children have the books or just ignore notices.
It it obvious to me that there are serious problems at home with all
of them.  One big problem is the divorced parents, where the child
spends time at each home.  I have heard the excuse a zillion times on
due date that the books are at the other parent's house. I have begun
to tell students that have two homes to keep their library books in
their backpacks when they are not reading them so they aren't left
behind. Anyway, these are my solutions to the problem so far.  I would
welcome more advice or suggestions.  I think it is so sad that,
because of home difficulties, children cannot continue to use the
library. However, I am not willing to lose book after book to the same
children.  Also I feel that the rules need to be applied equally to
all the students - return a book/ get another.

Diane Galiardi
dianeg@netdex.com

We allow students to bring in replacements for lost books (can be
different title) if money is an issue.  Maybe students could "work
off" their debt by helping in the library somehow, or doing some kind
of a fundraiser?

Debbie McLeod                   athanasd@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
Bellevue High School
10416 SE Kilmarnock St.                         SKEPSOU!
Bellevue WA 98004
(206) 455-6146

6. Clean slate for next year

This is certainly a common problem we all face and I don't think there
is really an answer.  I would probably feel differently if I thought
the students in questions *really* valued owning a book so much that
they decided to keep it.  Rather I think the place little value on it
so don't keep tabs on it.

Last year we had a special needs girl check out two books in October
that we never saw again.  Her circumstances (both mentally and w/her
family) are such that we knew we would never see those books again
unless someone else found them and they eventually wound their way
back to us via the address stamp inside.  So I decided that I would
encourage her to check out *one* book and that that book had to stay
at school.  We'll see if it ever shows up.

I also had a boy who ruined a book.  He said he checked it out without
a cover (yea, right) and his mom believed him and said we were picking
on him. I really like the boy and it hurt me to see him not be able to
check out a book until he paid for that one which he never did.  This
fall when his class came in to check out books he just sat there and
was then totally thrilled when I told him that his "slate was erased"
and he could check out two books.  Not only do I hope he learned
something but I don't see any point in beating a dead horse.  I do
want to teach responsibility but I also want to teach students to look
at libraries as an enjoyable place to be. Holding borrowing privileges
for years and years doesn't seem to take me toward that goal.  What's
the answer??  I sure don't know!

Often it is those kids, I feel, who need to love books that most that
don't take care of them.  Denying the borrowing privileges forever
doesn't seem to address the problem or the goal.  It would be
wonderful if someone could finally come up with a solution but I don't
think it exists. Sally Lantz     sarahl@ccpl.carr.lib.md.us

8. Preventive steps

I have experienced the same problem at my school.  One thing that has
helped is to have parents fill out a form at the beginning of school
with name, address, phone #, etc. that also explains the policy of
paying for lost or damaged books.  Some parents don't give permission
for their child to check out books because they don't want the
responsibility.  I used to feel bad about keeping  children from
checking out but some have no regard for the books anyway and only
take 2 off the shelf, never looking at it again until they bring it
back the next week.  Another idea is to have plenty of paperbacks for
check out for this type of student. Sincerely,

David W. Wood
E-Mail: gailwood@otherside.com