[Libs-Or] Library cards for homeless/those without permanent address

[Diedre Conkling]

Actually what happens without fines is that items get returned at the same
rate as in libraries with fines.   The down side might be that the returns
come in a bit later, it is not that the items aren't returned.  The major
up side is the reduction of stress on staff.  Yes, there has been research
done on this. I am, however, unable to point anyone to the research today
but probably could later in the week.  Oh, the research is on return rates
and not staff stress levels. That is just a comment from my personal
experience.
 On Jul 10, 2012 9:30 AM, "Kyle Banerjee" <banerjek at orbiscascade.org> wrote:

>
>
>  A library is a much happier place to work in and to visit without the
>> trouble we have over charging and collecting late fees.
>
>
> Perhaps. But unless there is something to limit behavior, friendly
> policies can have unintended side effects. The benefit of the fines is not
> the money they bring in, but rather that they encourage people to return
> things.
>
> When I was in college, neither faculty nor graduate students had to pay
> fines. A practical side effect of that policy was that many of them had
> checked out literally hundreds of items which they kept for years on end.
> This costs a fortune, does no good, and only lends credence to those who
> insist that libraries are irrelevant and that we should turn to the
> internet for all our information needs.
>
> kyle
>
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