Anonymous
The Santa Barbara Public Library will stop charging overdue fees beginning today, following a move by dozens of libraries in California and nationwide.
The Santa Barbara City Council voted to eliminate overdue fines for library materials earlier this month. Library Director Jessica Cadiente said the change will increase access for all library users.
“Santa Barbara Public Library’s mission is to best serve its community and provide equitable access to all, and overdue fines were in opposition to this goal,” said Cadiente. “Eliminating fines eliminates barriers to use, and we want everyone to feel confident and welcome to use the Santa Barbara Public Library.”
A replacement fee will be charged if materials are missing 30 days past the due date, but the fee can be waived if the item is returned in good condition before 60 days. Currently, items that do not have other patrons waiting to use them are automatically renewed up to 5 times. Patrons will receive updates at a registered email address, or via text message.
Fine revenue represented less than 1% of the total Library budget, and the amount of staff time required to collect fines exceeds revenue.
Libraries across California and the country are eliminating overdue fines, including most Bay Area libraries, San Diego Public Library, and LA County Public Library. In the Black Gold Consortium, to which Santa Barbara Public Library belongs, San Luis Obispo Public Library and Paso Robles Public Library have recently eliminated fines. Many libraries reported improvements in patron relationships with the library and increased efficiency of staff time after eliminating fees, an increase in active cardholders, and even without fines, 95% of items are still returned on time.
Eliminating fines was a key step in implementing Library Cards for Student Success, a partnership between Santa Barbara Public Library and Santa Barbara Unified School District that will allow parents or guardians to opt in so their child receives a library card automatically at enrollment. The Library hopes to expand the program to include more local districts in the coming years.
Answers to frequently asked questions are available on the Library’s website. Visit the Santa Barbara Public Library System online at SBPLibrary.org for information about programs and services. All library programs are free and open to the public.
BOOK FIRES! yes please stop overdue book fires! thats a shock no one wants, yes we know we have an overdue book, but DONT SET IT ON FIRE!
**** oh what one letter can change ****
But, I like paying my fines…….. (said in my most whiny voice)!!!!
Good! I HATE overdue book fires!
I dunno…. a burning “Art of the Deal” might not be so bad…
Great news. Now, can I get a refund on the fine charged for a VHS tape I borrowed but couldn’t return on time due to it being a holiday? Back then you weren’t allowed to just put the tape in the return box. I think I ended up paying $10. (VHS? What’s that?)
One of my all-time favorite quotes is “Be all you can be; read.” Have no idea to whom that is attributed.
I let the Staff know about the “fires” instead of “fines” gaffe in the caption. (For those of you who read now and don’t get the “fires” jokes.)
I don’t think libraries will ever be gone. Not everyone likes digital reading. I read an article by Bill Gates where he said when he goes on vacation he takes a bag of books because he likes holding them and turning pages.
Libraries are trying to stay relevant in a digital age. Eventually all library content will be available on-line in a digital format and libraries will be closed to save money. They are massive buildings, expensive to maintain and staff, and located in the most expensive parts of town. It does not make sense to distribute content manually in a format that is 1000 years old ( printed on paper). Its like handing out VHS tapes.
Libraries are places for serendipitous exploration. Long may they live. Problem with digital information access is you need to know ahead of time what you are looking for .Libraries are for discovery and finding something you did not know you were looking for. The real first loss was elimination of the hard copy card catalogs that opened unexpected pathways and pursuits of curiosity. When we finally lost our hard copy libraries, we will loose a huge community asset. Turning them over to become de facto vagrancy shelters should have been prevented. Reinstitution of fee-based library access card for those whotruly appreciate what the library is intended to represent (hands on exploration of knowledge and reading entertainment ) is one way to save hard copy libraries. Too many state library staffing regulations undid libraries as well.
I love the place public libraries have in our democracy. A place of lifelong learning where all are welcome ( if they abide by the policies). We are particularly blessed to have top notch librarians who respond to everyone with knowledgeable competence and respect. As James Madison said, “Knowledge is power”. The library supports an informed citizenry – beginning with supporting literacy. And now they help us learn and use computers. Bless ‘em! Love the idea of no fines.
Maybe some day, but not everyone can afford digital access or knows how to use it. One of the functions of a good librarian is to help someone find the best information on the internet.