That says it all doesn't it!
High time we had some leadership on this and other issues (and yes I did say
leadership as recently there seems to be a feeling we don't need it, or we
have it). This policy of charging fines is way out of date and needs
tackling,
what I understood Tim Coates (or Perkins rather), to say (when I revisited
his sites) was:-
is that instead of discussing these matters for ever we somehow have to
define what we need to do and then carry it out.
In order for that to happen, we have to acknowledge that there has to be an
acceptance of some form of leadership so that progress actually takes place.
Otherwise-- well as always she says what she means too bluntly and
forcefully for us delicate librarians to tolerate>
f
Frances Hendrix
Martin House Farm, Hilltop Lane, Whittle le Woods, Chorley, Lancs PR6 7QR,
UK
tel: 01257 274 833. fax: 01257 266 488
email: [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ciara Eastell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>; "Frances Hendrix"
<[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2008 10:56 AM
Subject: Re: Fines etc
I can speak from a customer perspective. For the last 3 years, whilst
working
for The Reading Agency, I have had to pay fines as an ordinary punter at my
local library. On many occasions now I have had to pay fines because, like
most people, I have a life - loads of things to get done in the course of a
day. Remembering to get my books back on time is not always top of my
priorities.
On the last occasion, I had £15 to pay in fines. It made me feel punished,
quite embarrassed to approach library staff and actually quite angry that I
was 'wasting' £15. Of course, I've never really felt this before because
I've
had many years as a librarian where I've been able to waive my own fines
(quite legitimitely, I should add).
Faced with such an experience, it's no wonder that an increasing number of
people vote with their feet and choose to buy their books. The experience
is
even worse for families - one of my neighbours has 3 children; on their
second
time of borrowing from the library they ratcheted up about £30 in fines and
have never been back (either with fines or books).
Ciara Eastell
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