Eliminate Daily Accruing Fines for Main Collection Items
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 |
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Articulate the need for the policy (background) |
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Create a Policy Statement |
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Identify and create best practice recommendations |
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Where applicable, identify and write up procedures in Alma |
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Tasks to be completed
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