Seattle Public Library reminder: Fees/fines going up

One week from today, some big changes in the fees/fines for Seattle Public Library – including the fact that if you owe $25 or more, you’ll be hearing from a collection agency – that goes for child/teen accounts too. Full details ahead:

Here’s the news release the library system just sent out as a reminder:

The Seattle Public Library will implement a new fines and fees schedule starting Monday, Nov. 1, 2010.

· The daily fine for an overdue book, CD, or DVD will change from 15 cents a day to 25 cents a day. Maximum per item late fee: $8.

· The daily fine for an overdue interlibrary loan (an item borrowed from outside The Seattle Public Library) will change from 25 cents a day to $1 a day. Maximum per item late fee: $15.

· The daily fine for an overdue reference resource will change from 15 cents a day to $1 a day. Maximum per item late fee: $15.

· The charge to print from Library computers will change from 10 cents to 15 cents per page.

In addition, all accounts with a balance of $25 will be sent to a collection agency, including accounts for children and teens. A $12 charge is added to the account at that time. Parents of children age 12 and under will be notified when accounts become delinquent. Adults and teens ages 13-17 will be notified directly.

Patrons signed up to receive e-mail notices from the Library currently receive reminders several days before books and other items are due. Patrons are also contacted by phone or e-mail when items are past due and need to be returned.

Library cardholders can access information about their Library accounts anytime from the Library website, www.spl.org, or by calling Borrower Services with their Library card number at 206-386-4190 during operating hours.

The Library is implementing a total of $3 million in cuts this year due to the continued down economy. The Library has already cut operating hours, reduced the book budget by nearly $500,000, eliminated positions and shut down for a week Aug. 30-Sept. 6 to achieve the necessary budget savings. The new fines and fees schedule will encourage timely return of books and other items and help offset budget reductions.

Ex Library patron October 25, 2010 (12:26 pm)

Beware of their new policy – they don’t even notify you have an overdue book until they take you to collections and the book is so overdue that they can change you maximum amount plus a charge for notification via collections.

P.S. they don’t take any form of electronic funds so you can’t conveniently pay for fines when you do discover them.

CurlyQ October 25, 2010 (12:49 pm)

This is so unfortunate! It’s all about budgetary cutbacks in the city (this, furloughs, and the reduced hours). I feel badly for the librarians–they’re doing the best they can under tough circumstances (those that still have jobs, anyway). I nearly fell over when I got my last overdue notice, and I’m tempted to stop going myself (along with my voraciously reading daughters) and switch over to the King County system.
Fewer patrons means less funding, which means still fewer hours and higher fees…a downward spiral when we need our libraries more than ever: free access to information and technology, and to keep America from getting any dumber than it’s already gotten!

datamuse October 25, 2010 (12:56 pm)

Uh…I get reminders before items are due so I’m not sure I understand your first point there?

Diane October 25, 2010 (1:04 pm)

I LOVE Seattle libraries; I always receive email notices when books are due; taking a couple back today that are due tomorrow
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the costs of printing though, are prohibitive for me; I drive all the way to one of the King County branches (Burien today), which offer 75 pages free printing per week, so I can print flyers for my child care services, and resumes to apply for jobs; when you’re unemployed, 75 pages for $7.50, and now going up to $11.25 is way too much, sorry to say
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on my last trip to downtown Bellevue library, I asked about their funding, how they are able to be open longer hours, offer free printing, offer more time for computer use (the time limits are per branch, not per day for entire system, so you could actually branch hop to use computers for hours per day); they’re even building a new parking garage at the downtown Bellevue library
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anyway, I can’t remember their answer, but I wish we could replicate here in Seattle what the King County libraries have done to stay open and offer fantastic services, which are even more needed during the recession, packed every day

Sage October 25, 2010 (1:06 pm)

Can’t believe they still don’t accept online payment of overdue fines. Very counterproductive.

marty October 25, 2010 (1:17 pm)

Guess I’ll stick with my Kindle….

Diane October 25, 2010 (1:35 pm)

Pretty sure most of the folks who really need and rely on library services, cannot afford a Kindle, or even a computer, or to buy books; these are vital services to provide fair and equal access for all

datamuse October 25, 2010 (2:04 pm)

I once asked about not taking online payment for fines. Taking a cc payment (which is how those would be handled) would involve the library paying a fee to the cc company. Which would mean–guess what?–fines would go up.

CurlyQ October 25, 2010 (2:04 pm)

I get notified two days before books are due via my e-mail, with links on how to renew–very convenient. However, my 11-year old daughter (who does not have an e-mail account) does not get a notice of her pending due date. So, between my overdue fees (where I put the rest of my kids’ books) and my daughter’s, the total was almost $100. I take responsibility for being a ditz and a) not renewing, and b) not turning the books in on time. However, it was only a year ago that no fines were ever charged for overdue children’s books. We aren’t always on time, but we do try, and my kids read every single book–sometimes several times.
The librarian who I spoke with was very generous and took a one-time reduction on both overdue fees, and made sure to tell me about the new policy of increased fines and collection agencies being utilized Nov. 1st. I guess it just makes me unhappy that the policies have gone from very generous to almost draconian in such a short span of time.

Diane October 25, 2010 (3:16 pm)

I received my latest due date notice 4 days ahead of time; very much appreciated since I lost my paper due date printed at time of check out; this is also very handy, so I can renew online, if items are not requested by someone else; both of my current books are requested, so need to turn in
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btw, several times I have seen VERY shocked parents at check out desk, learning of $100+ fines incurred by their kids

librarymama October 25, 2010 (3:31 pm)

Well, you can get notice of your overdue stuff either via phone or email. Also, you can log in to your account on-line at any time OR call the number for Borrower Services to renew and see when your items are due. If you have a smart phone, there is also an app that you can download to see your account (and put stuff on hold etc). When you check stuff out, you can get a slip that tells you when your items are due.

Believe me, I understand about forgetting to return stuff – I pay fines all of the time when I forget to return something- but it’s not the library’s fault if you miss the due date or don’t renew it in time. There are plenty of ways to see what you have out and when it’s due. Short of having library staff come to your house to get the stuff, I’m not sure how much more they could do.

As for being able to pay your fines on-line and with a credit card — I agree. That’d make things MUCH easier!

Nate October 25, 2010 (10:02 pm)

You guys complaining about late fees… you MUST be kidding, right? It is up to you to keep track of when materials are due. Don’t wanna pay fines? Don’t return stuff late. Need a reminder? Get a checkout receipt and hang it on your fridge… Sign up for email notices… Add due dates to your Google Calendar, or set an alarm on your phone… Download the mobile app or a program like “Library Books” for Mac OS X… There are so many ways you can choose to be reminded of due dates, there is NO EXCUSE for blaming someone else (the library/librarians) for your forgetfulness, and NO EXCUSE for screaming bloody murder when the fines add up. Take some responsibility, folks.

retired October 25, 2010 (10:27 pm)

CurlyQ- Simply put your email address on your daughter’s account and you will be notified.

Nate, you are so right, we have to take responsibility for getting books back. If we don’t how can we expect to raise responsible children?

alki_2008 October 25, 2010 (11:24 pm)

Ditto what Nate said. The library doesn’t keep your due dates a mystery, there are many ways to check what your due dates are.
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Access to library books is open to everyone, so if someone doesn’t return a book on time then there’s someone else that can’t get to it. There’s no reason someone needs to have a stockpile of books, when there are others waiting to get to them
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Just pay the fines, it’s still a better deal than having to buy books or movies.

Jacks October 26, 2010 (4:07 pm)

I heard this on the radio this morning. I’ve tried to pay my fines 5 or 6 times since about 2005 (when I bring back the overdue book), and the librarians always tell me to “wait until next time.” I currently only owe like $5, but now they will send me to collections if I even get up to $20? How about just take my $$$ when I try to give it to you…even if it is only $1!
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Don’t get me wrong, I love the library, but I have to wonder how many people are out there like me that have owed small fines for several years. Where I’m originally from, you couldn’t take out any more books until your fine was paid. I would think this would be pretty easy to do with their computerized system.

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