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Maybe the problem is one of semantics..we fine people for being drunk and disorderly...for common assault...for torturing animals...for parking offences ..for financial irregularities and theft etc etc.... If we had described the overdue fine as 'being a charge' rather than a fine it wouldn't sound so draconian .. i.e. a charge for keeping the item for a longer period than we normally allow based on the decision of the borrower, although 'free' renewals, in person, by phone, e-mail etc should be better publicised and encouraged. Al;though I have a vague memory of an Authority that got into financial problems because they ran an effective campaign to encourage renewals etc..their 'income' declined leading to a hole in their budget which had to be found from within their overall budget ..crazy crazy world!!!! Cheers Garry Gale ________________________________ From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lynn Osborne Sent: 11 August 2008 11:18 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Fines etc Hear, hear. What everyone is failing to note is that fines are completely avoidable. Nobody need pay them if they return or renew their loans, and with the ever increasing means of carrying out renewals in most authorities, including online and 24hour automatic phone renewals, there is no excuse. Where a valid reason is made, (illness, bereavement etc., then most libraries have a waiver policy and act accordingly) Lynn Osborne ________________________________ From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sue Pargeter Sent: 08 August 2008 15:31 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Fines etc This topic was aired a while ago on PLUS General. Someone posted the following, which I hung onto for some reason (how sad is that?!): "Not strictly answering your questions, but we introduced fines in 2001. The result was that more of our books were returned, and our issue figures went up. We concluded that this was because people preferred to either return or renew the books rather than pay fines". Wearing my customer services hat, I agree that fines are not exactly the most user-friendly inducement to join a library, and people do have the misconception that they go on mounting up indefinitely, fuelled no doubt by media reports of books returned 100 years late with correspondingly whopping fines waived. But I'm also aware that we are driven by government targets to increase issues, and if the above experience is valid, removing fines could result in a drop in issues. Re turkeys and Christmas, you might be surprised. I deal with all the formal complaints that we receive in Devon, and we've only had 2 such complaints since 2005 about fines. Complaints about charges for media hire, or public access computers, or reservations, or photocopying, yes, but fines - no! This may not reflect what is said over the counter, but if people feel really strongly, they will lodge a formal complaint. Radio Devon this morning was talking about plans to introduce parking charges on Dartmoor, and they did the usual trawl of public opinion. Somewhat to my surprise, most people said fair enough, because they were happy to contribute to maintaining something they valued. Of course we shouldn't need to rely on fines, but first we need a government that isn't statistics driven, and then we need one that will fund councils adequately for the ever-increasing range of services that they are required to provide. Sue Pargeter Standards and Customer Projects Manager Devon County Council Devon Library and Information Services Devon Libraries Headquarters, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter, EX2 7NL Tel: 01392 384310 Email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Website: www.devon.gov.uk/libraries <http://www.devon.gov.uk/libraries> Disclaimer: www.devon.gov.uk/email.shtml <http://www.devon.gov.uk/email.shtml> THINK CARBON FOOTPRINT! - Do you really need to print this email? Save Paper - Save Money - Reduce Waste ************************************************************************ This email and files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended for the sole use of the individual or organisation to whom they are addressed. If you have received this eMail in error please notify the sender immediately and delete it without using, copying, storing, forwarding or disclosing its contents to any other person. The Council has endeavoured to scan this eMail message and attachments for computer viruses and will not be liable for any losses incurred by the recipient. ************************************************************************