I appreciate the reasons for not assessing fines for late materials, but I have a
little different view--responsibility and fairness to other students who want to
read the same books. I just started charging fines this year both at the junior
high level and high school levels. I do charge for days the kids are sick and any
weekends. I make exceptions in the case of Alpha-Smarts which I check out for only
two days. (I also tell our students--and do it--that if their Alpha-Smarts are more
than seven days overdue, and they have not talked with me, that I will file a theft
report with the police. We have huge theft and lost book problems. We are automated
so that makes our record keeping much easier. I loved libraries as a child and
probably didn't have fines because I'm the proverbial "good girl." If I'm late with
books from somewhere else, I cough up the fine with no complaining. It is always my
fault and I accept that responsibility for keeping those books from other people. I
know how I feel when I'm waiting for a book and someone keeps it longer than
his/her due date.
I tell my students I use that fine money for them: guessing games with candy in
jars, birthday cake for Dr. Seuss's birthday, pencils, bookmarks, cool posters,
etc.--things I previously paid for myself. This takes some of the strain off my
check book. It is expensive buying and making cake for 1300 people plus staff.
Our libraries are used constantly, and our kids keep checking out books every day.
Attitude is everything. I approach fines as a responsibility, not a punishment; if
people have problems and talk to me about it, I forgive their fines or let them
dust shelves and straighten books to pay it. And bottom line is, I think we're
seeing less overdues in our libraries.
We had a seventh grade student dealing drugs a few weeks ago. Many of our students
could afford to buy drugs from him. Five cents per day for a book is a small matter
compared to what they paid for his wares.
Marilyn L. Johnson
District Library/Media Specialist
Holbrook Unified School District
POB 640
Holbrook AZ 86025-0640
928-524-6411 Ex 603 Ex 711
mjohns@holbrook.k12.az.us
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU]On Behalf Of Reisdorf, Stacy
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 7:49 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: [LM_NET] Tar: Late library books
Hi all --
I have a policy question -- how do you handle late library books and fines accrued
if that student was sick. Our policy is that you are still responsible for the
late books if you are home sick. It seems to me that the public library doesn't
excuse you from a fine if you are sick. Am I being too harsh on that policy, what
do you guys that charge late fines do in that situation.
Thanks
Stacy Reisdorf
SLMS
Bloomington Junior High School
Bloomington, IL
reisdorfs@district87.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home