I agreed with Fred.
I appreciate the virtues of most of the arguments put forward in this
thread from all sides but have a recurring nagging worry.
This is that libraries are, as Fred says, a form of communal ownership.
This entails responsibilities and well as rights. If we completely
withdraw a fines structure we also withdraw a measure of value that we
place on our service and stock. This change would have a gradual but
significant effect on perceptions of both personal responsibility and
the value of library stock in the long term.
All in my own opinion of course!
Colin Bray
Adult Lending Services Manager
Devon Library and Information Services
Great Moor House, Bittern Road,
Exeter, EX2 7NL
Tel: 01392 384302
Fax:01392 384316
Email : [log in to unmask]
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-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fred Miller
Sent: 08 August 2008 13:50
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fines etc
Interesting discussion, as most correspondents seem to take the view
that
fines are a Bad Thing. The two strands seem to be that fines per se are
a
deterrent and should be eliminated, but as Mike Maguire noted, fines are
firmly embedded in the budgetary process and I bet 'quality of service'
figures in very few budgetary discussions. There is, perhaps, a third
strand that should be considered. Libraries can be regarded as a form of
commons, and the commons only work properly within a framwork of
accepted
behaviour. The accepted behaviour surrounding the loan of library
material
is - ah -nebulous. Fines are one form of creating a framework of
accepted
behavior - we are the guardians of these commons! Or, to put it another
way, in an age when social mores seem to get ever laxer, it could be
argued
that there is growing need to enforce and re-inforce the notion of
social
responsibility. One way of doing that is to have rules, make them known,
and enforce them. On this basis, I think there is a case for fines - not
necessarily the strongest one, but a case.
---------------------------------------
Fred Miller
Senior Librarian (ICT)
North Tyneside Libraries
Central Library
Northumberland Square
North Shields
NE30 1QU
Tel : 0191-200 5425 or 0191-200 6294
Fax : 0191-200 6088
E-mail : [log in to unmask]
Unless otherwise stated, opinions, conclusions and other information
expressed in this message are personal, and not those of North Tyneside
Council.
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