HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 02 Renewal of Library Materials AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 6/3/2019
Meeting Type: Work Session
Staff Contact/Dept.: Emily David/Library Staff Phone No: 541-726-2235
Estimated Time: 20 Minutes
S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Foster an Environment that Values Diversity
and Inclusion ITEM TITLE: RENEWAL OF LIBRARY MATERIALS
ACTION REQUESTED: Provide direction on library materials renewal proposed process change.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
The Library has been evaluating our services to library patrons and how to increase
access to library services. In reviewing our database, we have found that large percentages of both active and expired accounts are blocked due to fines or fees on
their cards. The Library would like to review the fines procedures to see if we can
ease this burden. Automatic renewals of materials could help reduce the accumulation of fines. This procedural change would not affect the number of
renewals (3) per item, but will renew an item automatically on the due date if there
are any renewals left on the item, unless the item is on hold for another patron.
ATTACHMENTS: ATT1: Library Board Auto-renewal Letter of Support
ATT2: American Library Association Resolution on Fines
DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
Background: The Library is evaluating service to patrons to gauge access as well as effectiveness. In this process we are looking for efficiencies. Library staff spend
time out of every day renewing items and working with patrons who have accumulated fines, often blocking the patron’s card. The library is currently
gauging the time spent per week on these renewals and fines. These interactions can
be unpleasant because patrons become upset when they have high fines or a blocked account. They are paying for library service through taxes or out of pocket
and then an additional fee blocks that service. We are unsure when the procedure of
blocking cards for fines of more than $10 or those that have been on the account longer than 45 days went into practice, but the Library would like to evaluate the
effectiveness of this practice. In a review of the library accounts database from the last 10 years, of over 16,500 expired accounts in the library database nearly 5,800 have blocked status, which means they have fines of $10 or more. This could
indicate that some of these patrons stopped using their accounts due to fines. Nearly 11,500 of the expired accounts have fines. The Library goal is to provide better service and access to Springfield residents. In a busy world, auto-renewals would
allow people more time to return materials without accumulating fines. This procedural change would not affect the number of renewals (3) per item, but will
renew an item automatically on the due date if there are any renewals left on the
item, unless the item is on hold for another patron. The procedural change is supported by the Library Board (ATT 1)
Financial Impact: The cost to set up the auto-renewals in our SIRSI library database is a one-time cost of $750.
We do anticipate that auto-renewals will reduce the amount of fines that the library
receives. The current projection for revenue from fines is $26,000 for FY20.
May 21, 2019
The Honorable Mayor Lundberg
and Springfield City Council Members
225 Fifth Street
Springfield Oregon 97477
RE: Library Auto-renewal will preserve patron access
Dear Mayor Lundberg and Councilors:
The Springfield Library citizens’ Advisory Board began discussing the burden that overdue fines place on
many Springfield patrons at our February 2019 meeting. The Board reviewed the American Library
Association (ALA)’s Resolution on Monetary Library Fines as a Form of Social Inequity (ALA Midwinter
Meeting, Jan 2019).
The ALA recognizes that libraries are typically governed by organizing bodies such as our Council; and that
working to correct an inequity or social barrier takes cooperation to craft a strategy. ALA urges libraries to
begin with discussion and study of the ways due-periods and resulting fines affect patron access.
As a Board, we’ve considered the following factors, and hope that you will weigh carefully with us how a
fine system can interrupt or create a true barrier to services:
• The library has been evaluating services to patrons and how fines can cause a burden of access.
• Of over 16,500 expired accounts in the library database from the last 10 years, nearly 5,800 have
blocked status, which means they have fines of $10 or more. This could indicate that some of these
patrons stopped using the accounts due to fines. Nearly 11,500 of the expired accounts have fines.
• The proposed adoption of auto-renewal would give every patron three (3) renewals on most library
materials (with exception of cultural passes, and digital games).
• The auto-renewal will not change the number of times a patron can renew an item; rather, it
automatically renews the item, unless it has been placed on hold by another patron.
The entire Advisory Board supports an auto-renewal program because life is busy and people often
forget to return or renew library items. Fines that quickly accumulate discourage patrons and for some,
can prevent the very access we would like to increase.
The process change will give patrons more time to respond and return items within the renewed loan
period, or keep items longer without accumulating fines.
Thank you for your consideration of the auto-renewal process for the Springfield Public Library.
Sincerely,
Linda Mears, Chair
Springfield Advisory Board
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 1
2018-2019 ALA CD#38 (Rev.1/27)
2019 ALA Midwinter Meeting
Resolution on Monetary Library Fines as a Form of Social Inequity
Whereas monetary fines present an economic barrier to access of library
materials and services;
Whereas there is mounting evidence that indicates eliminating fines increases
library card adoption and library usage;
Whereas monetary fines create a barrier in public relations, and absorb
valuable staff time applying, collecting, and managing dues;
Whereas the first policy objective listed in ALA Policy B.8.10 (Library
Services to the Poor) as approved by ALA Council on January 27, 2019, states
that the American Library Association shall implement these objectives by
“Promoting the removal of barriers to library and information services, particularly
fees, and overdue charges”;
Whereas ALA Policy B.4.2 (Free Access to Information) “asserts that the
charging of fees and levies for information services, including those services
utilizing the latest information technology, is discriminatory in publicly
supported institutions providing library and information services”;
Whereas in Economic Barriers to Information Access, An Interpretation of the
Library Bill of Rights, ALA states “All library policies and procedures,
particularly those involving fines, fees, or other user charges, should be
scrutinized for potential barriers to access;
Whereas libraries will need to take determined and pragmatic action to
dismantle practices of collecting monetary fines
Whereas libraries of all types are responsive to bodies, be they school districts,
boards of trustees, college and university administration, or government
Attachment 2, Page 1 of 2
entities and therefore need to be able to make the case to those bodies about
eliminating fines; and
Whereas monetary fines ultimately do not serve the core mission of the
modern library; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA), on behalf of its
members
1. adds a statement to the Policy Manual that establishes that “The American
Library Association asserts that imposition of monetary library fines creates a
barrier to the provision of library and information services.”;
2. urges libraries to scrutinize their practices of imposing fines on library
patrons and actively move towards eliminating them; and
3. 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.
Mover: Peter Hepburn, Councilor At-Large, 773.426.8082
Seconders: Matt Ciszek, Councilor At-Large, 330.397.
Attachment 2, Page 2 of 2