I am the only person running two libraries for 600 students in my PreK-12
district, so I have to make my time count. I try to spend as little time as
possible on "clerk" tasks as I don't think that is what I am being paid for.
We do not charge overdue fines. If we did, I would have to make
absolutely sure that accurate records were kept. I handle getting books
back by not letting students with overdue books have any more until the
overdues are returned. I modified that policy about five years ago because
I am concerned that I keep books in kids' hands. With all the other things
to do, I don't want to miss a chance to hook them. So, if a book is due the
day the kid comes to the library with his class, and he doesn't have it, I
let him have one more for the next week (normally they may have 2). Anyone
can have a bad morning and run off and forget something. However, if the
next week the kid still has not returned the previous books, he's done.
That is beginning to look like a pattern, and I don't want the library at
his house. Another reason is so that if the family actually has to end up
paying for lost books, they won't have more that three. Even at that, it
could be a lot of money. At the end of the year I pull report cards for
books that are not returned, after notifying the kid personally, and then
the parents by mail. Most books turn up at that time, but if they don't,
they must pay for them. Obviously we have people who never pay for
anything, but most do. If the book turns up in useable condition later, I
refund the money. Each fall every kid starts with a clean slate. Sometimes
I hate to do this, but I think it's only fair. At the end of the year I
also give each teacher a list of what they have checked out. I don't expect
them to pay for ones that don't turn up. Teachers are no different than the
kids. I get teachers that "have returned it a long time ago", "never
checked it out" etc. I also have a couple who are ready with their
checkbook wanting to know what they owe. My philosophy about lost books is
basically this. If I have to replace something or don't have something
because of someone's lack of responsibility, it ultimately impacts the
students and the taxpayers of the district more than it impacts me. The
books and library are not really "mine". I try to remember that when some
little frustration seems to want to grow into a major issue. I try to pull
back and ask myself if it is really important in the big world of trying to
deliver great library service to my students and teachers. Most
aggravations are not worth much of my time. I think sometimes we make extra
unnecessary work for ourselves that no one ever asks for or would care about
if they even knew about it. We should enjoy ourselves. How many other jobs
could we have where they will pay us to read?!!!
Janet Perry, Librarian
Cerro Gordo CUSD 100, Cerro Gordo, IL
perrybros@hotmail.com
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