Eliminate Daily Accruing Fines for Main Collection Items

 

 

Document status

RECOMMENDED

Area covered

Access Services

Lead Author

 

Background

Studies have shown that daily accruing fines do not ensure the timely return of Library material (Wilson), but sending a billing notice for the replacement cost does. Unlike replacement fines, CSU Libraries do not keep revenue generated by overdue fines. Also, 77% of CSU campuses that responded to a 2016 financial policy study reported that they would be in favor of removing daily accruing fines from main collection items. Removing daily accruing fines for main collection items would cut down on staff time collecting fines and dealing with fine disputes. The amount collected in overdue fines does not outweigh the cost of staff time required to manage issues generated by fine assessment, and the Libraries lose a great deal of goodwill by fining students.

Wilson, D., Frazier, C., & Harter, D. (2015). Circulation Policies in Major Academic Libraries. The Journal of Academic Librarianship,41(6), 798-803. doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2015.08.019

Policy Statement

Eliminate fines that accrue daily on all regular circulating Main Collection items.

 

Action log

 

Section

Point Person

Expected Completion Date

Last action taken

Next action required

Section

Point Person

Expected Completion Date

Last action taken

Next action required

Articulate the need for the policy (background)

Oct 14, 2016 

 

 

Create a Policy Statement

Nov 11, 2016 

 

 

Identify and create best practice recommendations

Nov 11, 2016
 

 

 

Where applicable, identify and write up procedures in Alma

Nov 11, 2016
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tasks to be completed

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