It’s soon 2021. It’s time to end library fines for everyone.
by jan.szczepanski63＠gmail.com
ALA med 55.000 medlemmar antog i början på året följande resolution
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Eliminating Library Fines as a form of Social Equity Working Group
FAQ
The American Library Association’s position on library fines “asserts that
imposition of monetary library fines creates a barrier to the provision of
library and information services” (2018-2019 ALA CD#38(Rev.1/27), passed by
Council at the 2019 ALA Midwinter Meetings). The association urges
libraries to scrutinize their practices of imposing fines on library
patrons and actively move towards eliminating them and urges governing
bodies of libraries to strengthen funding support for libraries so they are
not dependent on monetary fines as a necessary source of revenue. This FAQ
document addresses questions that have arisen from among the membership in
relation to the Council debate on the resolution on library fines. The
working group hopes that the document will provide clarity and support to
libraries and library workers that are considering going fine-free.
1. What exactly is meant by library fines?
• Traditionally, fines are a charge imposed by the library on borrowers who
return items past their due date. For our purposes, a fine is any monetary
penalty assessed against a patron for returning library items after their
due date.
2. How does a library fine differ from a library fee?
• A fee is a monetary penalty assessed against a patron for damaging or
losing library materials, or a fee-for a service such as for making
photocopies, test proctoring, etc.
3. Do library fines prevent equitable access to resources and services?
• Research indicates library fines restrict access to materials and
services while evidence shows ending library fines results in an increase
in patron usage of library resources.
o A 2013 study found that low income families avoid the library because of
the risk of fines and/or fees from damaged or lost books.
o San Francisco eliminated fines, thereby increasing access and library
usage.
o The High Plains Library District ended library fines and circulation
increased within six months.
o Feedback from ASCGLA indicates that for those returning from
incarceration, old fines can be a barrier to much-needed library resources.
4. Do library fines disproportionately affect low-income users?
• Yes. Data shows library fines impact lower-income and diverse communities
the most.
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o A San Francisco Public Library white paper showed that most blocked cards
are from residents in the lowest median income areas.
o Salt Lake City Public Library found that lower income communities
accounted for 14% of overall circulation but had 30% of the blocked
accounts.
o Seattle Public Library is working towards fine elimination after noting
branches in affluent, predominantly white neighborhoods had “significantly
fewer blocked accounts” in comparison to branches in low-income communities
of color.
o Dallas Public Library’s director of libraries is striving to end library
fines to help low-income patrons access resources without having to choose
between paying a library fine or buying food, gas, etc.
o Long Beach City College collected data that showed that library fines
disproportionately affected African American students, lower income
students, and students with disabilities.
5. Are library fines needed in order to teach responsibility?
• There is no evidence supporting the claim that library fines teach
responsibility or accountability.
o Even though there is a lack of evidence to this concept, the San
Francisco Public Library addressed this issue directly in their white paper
and states: “If there is a conflict between teaching responsibility and
ensuring equal access, the library is duty bound to prioritize equal
access.”
o Libraries’ missions include equitable access to information but do not
include teaching responsibility. While academic and school libraries may
have a teaching mission, it is arguable whether teaching responsibility
fits the curriculum that those libraries support.
6. Do library fines motivate people to return borrowed materials?
• No. In libraries that have eliminated library fines, the return rate
remained consistent before and after the change.
o Vernon Public Library reported the average number of days overdue dropped
by 42% after eliminating fines
7. How much does it cost libraries to collect late fines?
• In many cases the overall process for fine collection utilizes more
resources than what is collected, and ultimately punishes loyal patrons
along with lower income and diverse populations.
o After analyzing fine collection transactions, the San Rafael Public
Library discovered every transaction used approximately ten minutes of
staff time.
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o The Vernon Area Public Library District asserts “the cost of staff time
to handle overdue fines and of processing the amounts to more than what
they’re earning back from patrons.” o Executive Director of the Stark
County (OH) District Library: “it costs more money in staff time for the
tracking, collecting and accounting of the overdue fines than the $188,000
the district collects in penalties each year.”
8. Does the revenue created by collecting late fines go back into the
library?
• It depends. For some libraries, revenue collected through fines and fees
does not go back into the library budget but rather to their parent
institution’s general fund (county, city, university, school, etc.). For
other libraries, revenue collected through fines and fees is an integral
part of their budget and a reduction in revenue would result in a direct
reduction in budget.
9. What about libraries dependent on revenue generated by collecting late
fines?
• Although libraries may not receive funding allowing for the elimination
of library fines, relieving some of the burden created by library fines may
increase access and use, which in turn may result in additional funding.
• There are transitional strategies for libraries considering going fine
free:
o Phase out fines over time for certain collections/age groups etc.;
o Offer amnesty periods;
o Explore alternatives for generating income; and
o Use elimination of fines as an opportunity to discuss increased
appropriations from library funders. Educate funders that increased funding
would eliminate the need for revenue derived from fines and would increase
access for the most vulnerable populations in our communities.
10. What are the technical aspects of eliminating library fines from a
circulation system?
• Work within the library’s ILS to learn through which factors you can
eliminate fines. For example, if you are only eliminating fines for youth,
can you do that based on birth date or on patron type (juvenile vs. adult)?
Which is better for your goals? Are the data points you’re relying on
reliable and accurate? What types of manual data entry and changes to
records will have to take place to remediate bad data (e.g. missing birth
dates, mis-coded “home library” fields)? Consider what the impact on staff
time that remediation is likely to have.
11. What does elimination of library fines look like in a consortium?
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• Eliminating fines in a consortial environment is necessarily more
complex, especially if not all members of the consortium are participating.
Ideally, the consortium board would vote unanimously to eliminate fines and
member libraries could take that decision point back to their parent
institutions. If not, the best practice is to try to move as many members
together at the same time as possible, allowing time for various parent
institution approval processes. At the very least, libraries that are not
eliminating fines should have as much lead time as possible to prepare for
confused users asking questions about why they are still charging fines.
o A consideration to investigate if you are part of a consortium is whether
you can work in the ILS to eliminate fines only for the users or the
materials of a particular member of the consortium. The ILS may require
fine elimination to be all or nothing.
o Another consideration is what to do when members of a fine-free library
use materials from a partner library – what role does the fine-free library
have in paying late fines for materials routed through them from other
libraries?
o Decisions need to be made on whether to eliminate fines based on
materials (as owned by the library in question) or users (as registered
with the library in question).
12. How can libraries let people/patrons know about new policies regarding
the elimination of fines?
• Libraries can take advantage of social media, local media, and
in-facility marketing campaigns.
o Denver Public Library’s efforts provide one model, including the use of
direct mail, social media, and website activities.
13. Where can I find more information on eliminating library fines?
• One comprehensive resource that includes news stories, links to readings,
a map of libraries that have either fully or partially eliminated fines,
and additional information is the End Library Fines site:
https://endlibraryfines.info/
September 4, 2019
Från
END LIBRARY FINES
Library fines are a pressing social equality issue for the modern library.
There is no study or research which shows that library fines function as a
mechanism to encourage timely return of materials. Instead, they serve as
an economic barrier that impedes access to library materials and services
for the financially disadvantaged people within our communities,
particularly minors. In addition, it creates conflict points between staff
and the community, acts as a poison to public relations, and utilizes
valuable staff time applying, collecting, and managing what can only be
described as a regressive tax.
It’s 2020. It’s time to end library fines for everyone
https://endlibraryfines.info/
Jan
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Jan Szczepański
F.d Förste bibliotekarie och chef för f.d Avdelningen för humaniora,
vid f.d. Centralbiblioteket, Göteborgs universitetsbibliotek
E-post: Jan.Szczepanski63 at gmail.com
