A mundane issue I know.
Worcestershire are looking at our current procedures for outstanding debt
i.e. overdue books and outstanding fines. We are looking at streamlining our
system so that it is cost effective in terms of staff time, not too
heavy-handed as far as the library users are concerned and one that
satisfies the demands of the County Council's Financial and Legal Services
departments not to mention external auditors. An impossible task I think
you'll agree.
Currently, we use a complicated process of library overdue letters (two of
these), then a County Council Debtor's Account followed by legal action.
Once a debt gets to the Debtor's Account stage it moves out of library
control and becomes the responsibility of Financial Services and any legal
action is conducted by Legal Services. We cannot abandon the whole system
but hope to be able to streamline the process by amending the cost threshold
so that only debts above a certain amount trigger a particular action e.g.
County Court.
I would be most grateful if authorities were willing to share their
procedures for dealing with overdue items. In particular:
1. How many overdue letters are sent and at what stage?
2. What further action is taken when people do not respond to overdue
letters?
3. How do you follow up outstanding debts - do you use County Court or debt
recovery agency for example?
4. Do you take different actions depending on amount of debt and if so what
are the thresholds for action?
5. At what stage do you write-off unrecovered debt?
6. Any comparative data you may have supporting your chosen procedure
Many thanks in anticipation. I will be willing to share more detailed
information with anyone who wants to contact me direct.
Nigel Preedy
Strategic Library Manager
Worcestershire Libraries and Information Service.
Tel. 01905 766239
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