[Michlib-l] RESPONSES: RE: Fine Free Policy

[Rebecca Higgerson]

Knowing that attachments aren’t viewable in the digest, I’ve copied and
pasted what I received.  Hopefully everyone can make sense of it.  If not,
I have put contact information at the end of each section.  Thanks to
everyone who responded!!  --Rebecca Higgerson



******************************************************

Why did the Chesterfield Township Library eliminate overdue fines?

It is the mission of the Library to provide equal access to information,
services and opportunities that

empower, enrich and enhance the quality of life for all. Fines are a
barrier to that access. Eliminating

that barrier opens doors to all in our community to utilize the resources
the Library offers.

Will overdue fines be waived on all materials?

All Chesterfield Township Library-owned materials will no longer have
overdue fines. Materials that are

obtained through Interlibrary Loan are borrowed from other libraries, and
therefore are still subject to

fines.

Do I still have to pay an overdue fine that was on my account prior to
Chesterfield Township Library

going fine free?

If you’ve returned all materials belonging to Chesterfield Township
Library, your overdue fine has been

waived.

Fines have been waived, so why does my account still have a balance?

While the Chesterfield Township Library is doing away with overdue fines,
fees for lost or damaged

materials remain.

How will the Library get people to return borrowed materials?

Being free of fines should not imply that patrons are now free from
responsibility. Six weeks after the

final due date, materials that are not returned will be considered lost and
patrons will be billed the

replacement cost as well as a processing fee. Library privileges for all
associated accounts will be

revoked until all bills have been cleared.

Will I still receive reminders about returning materials?

Automatic renewals are still in place. Our notification methods and
schedule will not change.

 3 days before each due date: Automatic renewal or notice to return
material

 3 days after the item was due: Reminder Email or Text

 13 days after the item was due: Reminder Email or Text

 23 days after the item was due: Reminder Email or Text

 6 weeks after final due date: Item considered lost, bill sent for
replacement

How is the Chesterfield Township Library budget affected by the loss of
fine income?

Overdue fines on average make up less than one quarter of one percent of
the Library’s annual budget.

Shane Stewart
Circulation Supervisor
Chesterfield Township Library
50560 Patricia Ave.
Chesterfield, MI 48051
Phone: 586-598-4900
Fax: 586-598-7900
E-mail: shanestewart at chelibrary.org



******************************************************

*Circulation Policy *

*Library Cards *

All residents, property owners, and business owners within the library
district boundaries are eligible for a Paw Paw District Library card as
well as non-residents who pay taxes on real or personal property within the
district library boundaries. The library district is legally defined by the
boundaries of the Paw Paw School District. When borrowing, a patron must
present a valid Paw Paw District Library (PPDL) card or photo
identification. Application for a library card must be made in person with
proof of identity and residency shown at the time of application.
Acceptable forms of proof include a driver's license, State issued ID, tax
receipt, voter registration, current utility bill, property deed, tax bill,
or lease agreement. A person under 16 years of age must have a parent or
guardian sign the card application and show proof of residency. By applying
for a youth’s card, the adult assumes responsibility for the youth's choice
of material and financial responsibility for materials checked out on the
youth’s library card. Residents, property owners, and business owners will
be issued a District Card, which allows access to all library services and
is valid for three years. Special cards for Non‑Residents are available as
follows:

Reciprocal Cards -- Patrons from libraries that share reciprocity with PPDL
may apply for an Reciprocal Card. PPDL has reciprocity agreements with
Kalamazoo Public Library, Lawton Public Library, Portage District Library,
and Van Buren District Library. Reciprocal cards are valid for one year and
allow access to all library services except digital services and
interlibrary loan.

Fee Cards -- Persons who do live outside of the district and are not served
by a library with which PPDL has reciprocity may apply for a fee card. A
fee of $50 must be paid at the time of application and annually at renewal.
Fee cards allow access to all library services except interlibrary loan.

Educator Cards – Educators working in the Paw Paw School District may apply
for a complimentary card. Educators must show proof of identity, residency,
and employment at the time of application. Educator cards are valid for one
year and allow access to all services except digital services and
interlibrary loan.

A cardholder is responsible for all material checked out on their card,
even if it is loaned to another person. A fee of $2.00 will be charged to
replace a lost card.

*Loan Periods and Fees *

To make material available to patrons on an equal basis, Paw Paw District
Library sets limits on loan periods, on the number of renewals allowed and
on the number of items that can be borrowed at one time. *ITEMS *

*LOAN PERIOD *

*LIMITS *

*(25 total items per card) *

*RENEWALS *

*LOST FEE *

*DAMAGE *

*Books *

2 weeks

25

3 renewals if no reserves

$7 paperback or

$17 hardcover & comics

+ $3 processing fee

Fee determined by level of damage

*Magazines *

2 weeks

6

3 renewals if no reserves

$4

+ $3 processing fee

Fee determined by level of damage

*Audio Books *

2 weeks

6

3 renewals if no reserves

$17

+ $3 processing fee

Fee determined by level of damage

*Music CDs *

2 weeks

6

3 renewals if no reserves

$17

+ $3 processing fee

Fee determined by level of damage

*Videos *

1 week

3

3 renewals if no reserves

$17

+ $3 processing fee

Fee determined by level of damage

Rules regarding downloadable material vary by vendor. Rules regarding
Library of Things items vary by item type.

To promote free and equal access to the library for all, the Paw Paw
District Library does not assess daily overdue fines. Patrons are still
responsible for returning items on or before the due date. To assist in the
timely return of its materials, the library will notify patrons of overdue
material. *OVERDUE NOTICE SCHEDULE *

3 day before due date

Reminder -- email

1 to 14 days late

First notice – phone & daily email

15 to 29 days late

Second notice – mail & daily email & call

30 days late

Third notice – mail, notice includes item replacement cost

Materials kept out 30 days beyond the due date will be marked as lost, and
the cost of the item and a $3 reprocessing fee will be charged to the
patron’s account. A replacement copy may be accepted at the library’s
discretion. Once an item is paid for, no refund will be given. Items will
be replaced at the library’s discretion.

*Reserves *

Reserves may be placed on any circulating item owned by the library. A
patron may reserve an item in person, by phone, or through their account
online. The library will contact a patron when the item becomes available.
If the reserve is not picked up in five days, it will be returned to
circulation. To keep up with demand, the library may set shorter reserve
times on Library of Things items.

*Interlibrary Loan *

District cardholders may request items unavailable at the library from the
MELCAT interlibrary loan system. Requests may be placed in person, by
phone, or online at www.mel.org. A patron will be notified when a requested
item arrives at the library. The item due date will be affixed to the item.
Items borrowed through interlibrary loan must be returned to PPDL. The
policies governing MELCAT use and participation can be found at
www.mcls.org/mel/melcat.

*Blocked or Suspended Accounts *

Patrons who owe $20.00 or more will lose access to all library services
until their charges have been paid or reduced below $20.00. A patron’s
account may also be blocked if they move without providing the library with
proof of their new address.

*Privacy *

It is the policy of the Paw Paw District Library to preserve the
confidentiality and privacy of the registration and circulation records of
its patrons to the fullest extent permitted by law. Patron records will
only be released or disclosed upon court order or with the written consent
of the person liable for payment for or return of the material identified
in the library record. Patron records are not subject to disclosure under
the Freedom of Information Act.

A patron may request information about their library card record over the
telephone if they provide their card number or identifying information.
Access by other individuals is allowed only with the written permission of
the cardholder. Materials cannot be checked out to a patron without that
patron's permission; possession of another patron's library card or valid
picture ID implies permission to use the card. Patrons may designate
another person to pick up material on reserve provided the material is
checked out to the requesting patron.

This policy supersedes all previous Paw Paw District Library circulation
policies.

Adopted November 18, 2019, Effective December 1, 2019

Gretchen Evans

Director

Paw Paw District Library

609 W Michigan Ave

Paw Paw, MI 49079

269-657-3800



******************************************************



Rebecca,



Here's what we have; this is part of our overall library policy, just the
section regarding fines.  To sum up, though, our policy is that materials
belonging to our library do not assign fines when overdue, no matter who
borrows them; a Taylor resident, for example, gets the same treatment as a
Southgate one.  Also, Southgate residents may still end up with overdue
fines if they borrow from a TLN library that charges them.  You can look
here for some details, it's up on our website to handle questions.



https://www.southgate.lib.mi.us/Overdue.html



I. Fines
A.        The Southgate Veterans Memorial Library does not charge
overdue fines for its materials, when they are returned after the
due date.  Fines may still accrue on patron accounts for items   borrowed
from other libraries that are returned late.A.           Lost
Materials1. Materials
that are not returned within three weeks of their due date will be marked
as lost, and the borrowing patron will be charged for the materials.
Returning lost materials will remove this charge, though overdue fees may
still be charged if the materials were borrowed from a different library.2. It
is a misdemeanor to convert public property to private use under Michigan
law, and the library will seek the return of materials either through
collections agencies, or those legal means as determined by the Library
Commission and City Council. (see appendix)B.           Patrons are
responsible for all materials checked out, and are liable for damages to
library materials while in their care.C.           Patrons with outstanding
fines of $15.00 or more will be unable to check out or renew materials
until fines have been reduced to less than $15.00.D.           Patrons will
be assessed the replacement cost of materials damaged or lost.  Replacement
costs will be those listed in the library catalog.  Patrons may provide
another copy of the damaged or lost materials, in good condition, in lieu
of paying the replacement cost.



Hope that all helps!  I don't regret the switch at all, and can't imagine
changing back.



Donald Priest
Director
Southgate Veterans Memorial Library
14680 Dix-Toledo Rd.
Southgate MI 48195
734-258-3002



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FINE FREE POLICY Libraries are a place open to anyone and everyone. We are
all about providing equal access to information. Fines can often stop
people from using libraries and getting the resources that they need. Fines
also tend to penalize more vulnerable individuals or families who can’t
afford them. We want ALL people to be able to use our services without
money creating a barrier. Therefore, effective immediately, the Garden City
Public Library will: • no longer charge late fees for o any library items
returned at our Library1 o or for Garden City Public Library items returned
at any library • forgive any existing late fees for Garden City Public
Library items • and reduce the threshold for blocking patrons from 24 to 9
overdue items. Lost and Damage fees will continue to be enforced.

1 Items checked out at standalone libraries (e.g. Westland, Canton…) and
returned here may still incur fines when they arrive back at the owning
library.



Fines * , Fees, and Loan Schedule** BOOKS & MAGAZINES Books, Adult Loan
period: 21 days Renewals: 2 Books, Children’s Loan period: 21 days
Renewals: 2 Books, Holiday Loan period: 7 days Renewals: 0 Books, MeLCAT
Loan period: 21 days Renewals: 1 Magazines, Adult Loan period: 21 days
Renewals: 2 Magazines, Children’s Loan period: 21 days Renewals: 2 AUDIO
VISUALS Audiobooks Loan period: 21 days Renewals: 2 Compact Discs Loan
period: 14 days Renewals: 0 Audio Visuals, MeLCAT Loan period: 7 days
Renewals: 0 Media Kits Loan period: 21 days Renewals: 2 Videos/DVDs & TV
Shows Loan period: 7 days Renewals: 2 OTHER Printing (B&W) Fax 15¢ per page
$1.00 per page (send) (double sided = 2 pages) 50¢ per page (receive)
Printing (Color) Exam Proctoring 50¢ per page $20/hour/student (double
sided = 2 pages) Replacement Library Card Lost or Damaged Item $1.00
Replacement cost Lost or Damaged AV Case $3.00 * “Fines” assumes the
materials have been returned. Overdue fines were eliminated on 4/9/2019 **
Fines, fees, and loan schedules for inter-library loan materials are
governed by the owning library.

Approved: April 09, 2019 Previous versions: October 8, 2013; May 13, 2014;
July 8, 2104; September 8, 2015; May 10, 2016

James B Lenze, Library Director

Garden City Public Library

(734) 793-1830



******************************************************

Policy Statement

Our Library exists to serve the community and is based on the concept of
sharing resources.   To make materials available to all patrons on an equal
basis, the Van Buren District Library sets limits on loan periods, on the
number of renewals allowed and on the number of items that can be borrowed
at one time. To facilitate access to resources and reduce barriers to
Library usage, the Van Buren District Library does not assess overdue fines.



Regulations

1.       In order share usage of Library materials in an equitable manner,
the Library imposes borrowing limits based upon the type of material
including but not limited to: the number of days materials may be borrowed,
the number of items Library patrons may borrow or have on their library
card account at any one time, and the number of times items may be renewed:



Material Type



Loan Period

In Days



Renewals

Allowed

Maximum Number of Checkout Items



Fine Per Day

Book – Adult & Children’s’

21

2

N/A

N/A

Book – “Hot Pick”

7

None

N/A

N/A

Book – Local History Collection

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Book – New

14

2

N/A

N/A

Book – Overdrive eBook

14

N/A

*see notation

N/A

Book – Professional Development Collection

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Book – Reference

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Microfilm/Microfiche

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Serial – Magazine (back issue)

7

2

N/A

N/A

Serial – Magazine (current)

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Serial – Newspaper

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Sound Recording – Audio Book

21

2

N/A

N/A

Sound Recording – Overdrive Audio Book

14

N/A

*see notation

N/A

Sound Recording – Playaway

21

2

N/A

N/A

Vertical Files/Maps

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Video/DVD

7

2

10

N/A

Video/DVD – “Hot Pick”

7

N/A

N/A

N/A

Video/DVD – New

7

N/A

N/A

N/A

*The maximum number of combined Overdrive ebooks and Overdrive audiobooks
that may be borrowed at any one time is 5.













1.       The loan of physical Library materials must be done in person, but
renewal may be done in person, by telephone or through the online catalog
on the Library’s website.

2.      Extended loan periods may be available upon request at the time of
checkout.  Any item that is on a reserve list cannot be renewed.

3.      All materials will be considered in an overdue status if they have
not been renewed or returned before the Library’s next open day after the
due date.

4.      Members will be notified of overdue materials by telephone call,
email, text message, or by United States Postal Service in compliance with
state law[1] <#_ftn1>.

5.      Replacement charges will be assessed to the borrowing patron’s
library card account for materials not renewed or returned to the Library
35 days after the due date, or for Library materials returned in an
incomplete or damaged state.

A.    The replacement charge will be the full retail list price of the
material including a non-refundable processing fee of $3.00 per item. In
cases where the original list price of an item is not known, the Library
will charge a standard replacement fee of $20.00 for hardback books and
$10.00 for paperback books.

B.     If a Library patron remits payment for materials for which they have
been assessed replacement charges, the Library will refund the full retail
list price paid if the materials are returned in a complete, undamaged
condition within 180 days of payment receipt. Processing fees are not
refundable.

C.    Patrons will not be given the option to replace a lost item, and
substitute items will not be accepted in lieu of payment.

6.      Any member with an account balance exceeding $20.00 shall forfeit
borrowing and renewal privileges. They also forfeit the use of premium
Library services such as access to some remote access electronic resources,
as determined by Library administration.

7.      In compliance with the Library Privacy Act1 only authorized users,
parents or legal guardians will be provided detailed information on any
Library account.

8.     The Library reserves the right to make some materials
non-circulating and only available for in-Library use.

9.      Members should resolve loan status disputes before paying for
materials.

10.  This policy supersedes all previous Van Buren District Library loan,
renewal, fine, and replacement policies.



Approved: October 22, 2019. Effective January 1, 2020
Van Buren District Library Board of Trustees



Dan Hutchins
Director
Van Buren District Library
200 North Phelps Street
Decatur, MI 49045
dhutchins at vbdl.org
http://www.vbdl.org
269-423-4771



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[1] <#_ftnref1> MCL 397.603 *et seq*. Library Privacy Act.
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