Hello!
I am a new member to this Association and have appreciated the wisdom found on this site!
I started as the new Library Coordinator in August of this year. I actually worked as the Library Coordinator for this church 7 years ago. When I left, patronage was steady and late or non-returned books were average issues.
Upon my return, I have inherited 300+ library books that have not been returned. Many are several years delinquent. My first plea extended to this community is for ideas to recover as many books as possible. It is a bit overwhelming.
What are diplomatic recovery tactics, as well as a new borrower system that would decrease chronic habits?
After patronage dropped over the years, this Library was changed to a self-serve library; I am staffed at 15 hours per week. The library is in a location that is never locked and it has become a place that allows for easy theft and check-outs that often result in library check-out cards not filled out completely.
Concourse is used but due to patron complaints and unsupervised check-outs, the check out is still handled with library cards and followed by entry in the software.
If anyone has suggestions, for any topics that strike you as helpful, I would appreciate it! :)
Thank you!
Jody Gust
Replies
I understand your frustrations. Our library is a separate room and locked up when not in use. I still have problems. Last spring I had a mother check out 6 books and 2 DVD's. I just got them back last month. I had no luck with sending reminders, they changed their phone # (church didn't even have correct #, they probably switched to cell phone only). Then I found out where the mother worked and I left her a VM. That finally did the trick. I have no qualms about stating the retail cost of each item taken out. When I send the overdue notice, I literally put the cost on each overdue item. Our I just say total cost is $100 and that helps. It doesn't work 100% of the time, but light bulbs go off. I have in the past literally gone to the home of the person that is very delinquent.
I have a check out system that the borrower has to write in their name and date. I used to use cleaver artwork for the overdues, now I simply COPY the check out card to prove that they were the last one checking out the book. I also cross out the name when the book is returned, so no questions.
I also have a drop box that is outside of the library doors when then library is closed. That helps the guilty person bring them back without face to face encounter.
Regarding the very past overdues, I would just let it go, move on and see what you can do with the past six months worth of overdues. People have become very complacent in being honest and caring about returns. We can only do so much! Good luck. Bev
Thank you for your reply Bev!
I appreciate your wisdom! Pretty sure I will be trying several of your options!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Jody :)
Set up a collection station for a local food bank, mitten ministry, etc. Add a book return basket for loved and late books.
If you use fines - have a fine forgiveness week. Any books/resources returned are forgiven.
Thank you Marilyn!
Happy Thanksgiving!
:)
I don't know how large your congregation or collection is, so I'm not sure what is appropriate. People are sometimes careless and honestly forget to return them. The problem is, after sevearl years with no one being dilligent enough to follow up, people become indifferent. Looks like you've had a serious stewardship problem with your church's library.
Does your library have an overdue policy? Is there a fine policy for overdues? If so, start there by contacting people and reminding them to return the books. You may start an advertising campaign in your church announcing the forgiveness of fines if they are brought in within a certain time period.
Go to clip art and try to find a cute picture of a sad and lonely cartoon book wishing it could be returned to its library home. Print out post cards with a whimsical message on it and mail them out.
Post something in your church's newsletter. Include something about the importance of the library ministry to support other ministries in the church.
Set out a box with some sort of message about retuning the books and allow people to drop them off even if the library isn't opened. The point is to get them back asap. Put out a box on a table at each of your church meetings, pot luck dinners, and every event you can think of where a number of people might be gathered.
Can you have someone announce from the pulpet a reminder to get the books back in? We haven't had that problem in our church yet, but that's what I would do. Get your pastor to take a minute to remind the congregation about their stewardship responsibilities to the library. Have him talk about the importance of the church library ministry in supporting all other ministries in your church.
If all else fails, you may have to count them as lost.
Hi Linda,
Thank you for your help! I've used several of your suggestions so far. I believe I am dealing with a severe case of indifference. I am hoping that will change with time! :)
Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Jody
After books are a week overdue we mail or email an overdue notice. A week later we send a second notice. A week later we send a third notice. A week later we give them a call. A week later we call them again. A week later we revoke their card from further check-outs. Responsible people will respond to notices. For some people nothing you can do will work. Hard to understand their thinking but it happens all the time.
Some libraries try fine free periods to get items back but I find that people will hold on to items waiting for a fine free period which delays getting your titles back.
We even mail postage paid return addressed envelopes to try to get items back. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't and then you have added postage costs to your loss.
We always lock up when leaving but still lose items people help themselves to when we are open. I'd hate to think how much we would lose if kept unlocked. I would hesitate to run the library as self serve and leave it unlocked but every situation and every library is different.
Thank you for your suggestions Paul!
I do wish the Library was secure but that is not the case, nor does it look as though it will change. I will have to persevere and try to keep an accurate tally of losses in the event it is ever a topic with the council.
Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!