I have also started charging fines for overdue books, primarily because
I had many NEW books checked out last year and never returned (or
returned during the summer months). While students waited and placed
holds on the missing books, I was unable to do anything except hold the
report cards of the students with outstanding books (which was why the
books were returned during the summer months.) The frustration level
was high for both my "good" students and myself.
I'm in a private school. Money is not an issue. Books are "things"
that everyone has in their home---our students usually have their own
libraries and often buy books at bookstore, book fairs, and from book
clubs. It's not that they don't have a book or can't get the book...it's
about being responsible for someone else's property---(a common property
owned by the whole community of students on our campus.)
The issue comes back to responsibility.
If we teach our students responsibility now, then we won't complain
about their irresponsible actions as adults later. Because we are a
college prep school, I remind my students that I am preparing them for
not only the college experience but also life. I then remind them that
at the university level IF an item is checked out and not returned,
fines will accrue. If the fines are not paid and the materials are not
returned, the student will not be allowed to enroll in the next semester
courses. This will happen to every student, regardless of "Who's their
Daddy!"
By teaching them now about community property (library materials), I
feel that they begin to realize that this isn't just THEIR library, it's
OUR library! I also have a feeling that sometime, somewhere down the
road, my students WILL attend a major university and will not return
their library materials in a timely fashion. When the "real world" of
the university library fines begin to accrue, I know that they will
realize that I was serious about the experience I gave them here on our
campus and that they will NOW pay the cost for their irresponsible
actions.
Just some thoughts.
~Shonda Brisco
Trinity Valley MS / US Librarian
Fort Worth, TX
briscos@trinityvalleyschool.org
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Marilyn Johnson
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 10:06 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: [LM_NET] Tar: Late library books
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
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