Re: [LM_NET] Overdue, lost library books - an appeal to generosity

[Lisa Hunt <lisa3moon@YAHOO.COM>]

I swing and sway on the Library Philosophy Continuum as I explore my own ideas in 
relationship to the community attitude where I teach.  I'll create a policy that 
makes absolute sense at the time and then I experience a act of generosity that 
cause me to re-think my ideas.  At least I'm always learning and growing.
   
  Rencently I began to re-think my policy about "If you have something overdue you 
cannot check out.  If you lose a book you must pay for it."  Here's why...
   
  My daughter and I are avid public library users.  We live in a metro area that 
provides two large public systems.  We have each worked for these systems in the 
past.  So, my daughter, 24 years old, had $18 in fines, and her check out privleges 
had been suspended in one system.  That system is our favorite.  They have a 
self-check out system, AND they no longer employ a material-scan-security-gate 
system.  My daughter can/could and did simply walk out with the books she had 
requested on hold.  This went on from July to December.  The people who check the 
"expired holds that weren't picked up" on the shelves finally figured out that this 
patron would request books, come pick them up and not check them out.  My daughter 
called one day laughing, and the laughter was at herself and with some joy at the 
generosity of the public library system.  They finally caught her tactic of not 
checking out the books, and called to ask her "What's up with this?"  She explained 
that she
 couldn't pay the $18 fine.  (Actually she could have paid it over those many 
months, but this other solution was too convenient.)
   
  HERE'S THE BEAUTY PART... The public library response was, "Oh here, let me erase 
those fines and you can continue to check out books.  Thank you for using your 
Hometown Public Library."
   
  Wow!  That really makes me re-think what I do at school.  I want to be that 
generous.  Yes, I do get books back sometimes when the student goes on to secondary 
or another school in the district, but the generous feel of the library sure is 
nice.  I might start checking on my long-term LOST book people and then 
mysteriously deleting their "problem."
   
  This is an interesting discussion.

Paula Yohe <paula_yohe@YAHOO.COM> wrote: 
  What are some solutions you have come up with for
students that have lost library books, damaged library
books, etc.

By not letting them check out books - media
specialists are perceived as not wanting to help kids
-

kids can't get books - so in some cases, the special
programs just buy books for classroom libraries.

You can't hold their report cards --
you can however -- keep them from graduating -- so
they are more than happy to pay any fees to get the
diploma --

so I hope you see the problem ---

Now -- please -- let's not do the "they need to learn
to be responsible" discussion -- and the library
doesn't have a book budget, etc.

I don't mean that to send negative -- but that in this
case is a waste of time --

I am looking for some creative solutions that anyone
has come up for this type problem

Thanks
Paula


Paula Yohe
Director Of Technology/Library Media Center
Dillon School District Two
405 West Washington Street
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: 843-841-3604 Fax:843-774-1214
paula_yohe@yahoo.com


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