Re: [LM_NET] Overdue fines in the high school library

[Donna Steel Cook <donnasteelcook@YAHOO.COM>]

This is what I know about high school fines after 10 years at my present high 
school:

Students HATE fines that increase on a daily basis.  5 or 10 cents a day just made 
them resentful.  I fixed that four years ago by making ALL fines $1.00.  They are 
$1.00 when they are levied, and they stay $1.00 until they are paid.

The trick is to have a 20-school-day grace period.  Our books are due in 3 weeks 
(another adjustment--2 weeks was too short academically and practically).  Then 
they get one overdue notice a week.  They should get 3 notices before the $1.00 
fine kicks in.  They often don't get 3 notices because the teachers who pass out 
overdues aren't always as conscientious as I would hope. In any case, they have 20 
grace period--which means they have nearly 6 weeks of school before they are fined 
$1.00 for "extended use."

I remember one LM_NET posting that said police and librarians are the only people 
who impose fines on high school students.  That may not be strictly accurate, but 
it made me think.  I've tried to call them "extended use fees"  like Blockbuster, 
since then.  

Another policy that helps with fines:  they can still check out ONE item with a 
fine on their record.  Therefore, NO ONE can EVER say I didn't let them check out.  
The whole library is there for them to check out--not for me to collect fines.  

Since I'm charging fines, I have to make a sincere effort to let the students know 
they have a fine (or extended use fee).  Once a week I make sure the 3rd period 
teacher has fine notices in her box to distribute third period.  If she leaves them 
in her box, I TAKE them to her at 3rd period.  The next week, I put the notices out 
for the 4th period.  That way I'm alternating between 3rd and 4th period teachers.  
Surely one of them will be conscientious, and the kid will know she has fine.  
Since the fine isn't increasing, there isn't the urgency that daily increases would 
require. Last year I did this fine-notice jig with 2nd period A and 2nd period B 
classes. We got off the block schedule this year, so I had to make some changes.  

Another wrinkle in the fine policy:  I never collect more than $1.00.  If a kid has 
fines on several items, say $3.00 total, I collect $1.00 and give him a clear 
record.  I say something like "We're having a 3-for-1 sale today.  Give me a 
dollar, and you'll be all clear."  $1.00 clears their record.  I've never had 
anyone object to the deal. 

Also, I make sure that renewals are simple.  The only limit on renewals is for a 
book on hold.  Otherwise a student can renew as many times as necessary.  Sometimes 
we have to have a little chat about how necessary a renewal is, but it never hurts 
to talk to students about their reading and habits.  

Finally, I have to make sure all fines are paid before we go home for Christmas and 
at the end of May.  At those times, our exemption policy says that a student canNOT 
be exempt unless he meets attendance standards and grade standards, and HE IS ALL 
CLEAR IN THE LIBRARY.  The fine payments really roll in, as any student will gladly 
pay $1.00 to get out of an exam and staying at school.  

In a pinch, I let students "read off" a fine at the rate of $2.00 an hour.  In that 
case I levy the whole fine obligation.  This last semester I had 3 students read 
off their fines in 30 minutes each on an exam day--an exam they were going to have 
to take anyway.  (If they have exams to take anyway, I require them to come to the 
library as soon as they finish their exam.  The teachers are delighted to get them 
out of class, and I get to have a serious talk with them.  Most cases bring their 
overdue books and pay their fines the next day to avoid another day in the 
library--with no computer access--after exams.) 

The tricky thing, as you pointed out, is that, if students see fines as punative 
and resentment builds because of them, they will steal to avoid the hassle.  I have 
5 students that I turned over to our assistant principal who didn't turn in or 
renew their library books before Christmas--and who did not come to the library 
after exams (in 3 of the 5 cases, they didn't show up for exams either.)  He was 
telling me how he is going to "come down on them" when the new semester starts.  I 
thanked him for his support, and then I pointed out that they will just start 
stealing, and they'll tell their friends, and they'll steal too.  He was 
astonished. It is a delicate business to make the correction without building 
resentment.  I think he can do, and I'll remind him about the "reading off" 
provision.  

One more "trick":  the students can see what their fine money is used for.  I used 
to joke with classes, what did you think I did with fine money? Go to Mexico for a 
high-heeled good time?  They would always chuckle.  I use each $1.00 that comes in 
as fine money as part of our reading incentive program.  When a student reads a 
Texas Tayshas book (a list from our Texas Library Association each year), he gets a 
golden dollar--one of those gold dollar coins with Presidents or Sacajawea on it.  
I take their paper dollar, turn it into a golden dollar and give it to a reader of 
a good book.  They see their fine money turning  into "gold" and going back out.  
Everyone loves that.  I've given out $578 this last semester. That is a lot of good 
reading. 

 We don't have a protection system at our high school, and I tell the students I'm 
proud of it and them because we don't have much stolen each year.  (We have 497 
students this year, and we will have less than 50 items stolen each year.  That is 
about $500 worth of stuff, but a protection system costs $12,000, and it doesn't 
stop serious thieves. I don't go into all that with the students.)  My one rule to 
prevent thievery is that I don't rebuy anything that comes up missing.  If a 
student steals an item, she has stolen it from everyone, and it will not magically 
reappear unless she brings it back.  It is hard to enforce this rule sometimes when 
a popular book disappears, but I really hate it when I rebuy a book, like I used to 
after a year of missing in action, and it reappears, and they do reappear. I talk 
about stealing with the freshman, mostly bragging on the other classes that have 
gone before them and left a legacy of honesty and a terrific
 library for them to use these next four years and leave as their legacy.  I 
usually mention that stealing from library is REALLY STUPID because everything is 
free anyway, checkout is simple (be sure that checkout is simple and pretty much 
self-service), and stealing from a library will send you to hell (that gets their 
attention, that and a mention of the 10 Commandments).  No one wants to go to hell 
for a library book. 

On that note I'll close.  I hope you can find something useful in this dissertation 
about fines.  I think fines are necessary because we are teaching them to use 
public libraries, and public libraries WILL fine 'em if they don't play by the 
rules when they are grown.  I never charged fines as an elementary or junior high 
librarian, but high school is time to step up and be personally responsible.  


 
Donna Steel Cook
Central ISD Library Director
Central High School Librarian
7622 HYW 69 North
Pollok, TX 75969
donnasteelcook@yahoo.com
 
"Books are the holes in the fences of life." --Peg Kehert



----- Original Message ----
From: Mary Knopp <knoppm@OPTONLINE.NET>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2008 10:11:42 PM
Subject: Overdue fines in the high school library

I am concerned that by imposing fines our students are not returning their books at 
all because they do not have the money to pay these fines.   Often these students 
will send another student in to return their overdue books to avoid paying fines.

I also recently discovered that several new library books are missing.   It is 
puzzling to me why anyone would take a book out of the library without checking it 
out.  It occurred to me that perhaps these students had overdue books and knew they 
could not take out any more books until these books were returned.  

I am very interested in finding out how other high school libraries handle overdue 
books / fines.  My main concern is getting these books safely back to the library.  
I'm considering a "fine amnesty week" or a "read away your fines" program.  Has 
anyone had any such fine forgiving program?  Has this been viewed as unfair by 
other students who have paid their fines?  Will this result in students holding 
onto overdue books until the next "amnesty program" is announced?  

Also, if you are a school that doesn't impose fines, what incentive do students 
have to bring books back in a timely manner?  Do you still issue a due date for a 
book?  

I would appreciate any advice you have on this topic.  Thanks in advance!

Mary Knopp, MLS
Library Media Specialist
The Academy of Mount St. Ursula
330 Bedford Park Boulevard
Bronx, NY  10458
Phone:  718-364-5353 x225
E-mail:  knoppm@optonline.net
www.amsu.org/library

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
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/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
* LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------


      
____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a better friend, newshound, and 
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.  
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
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/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
 * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------