Comments on: The Library Isn’t Free When You Pay $17 In Fees

By: Joan

Joan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:10:17 +0000

I’m a teacher and try being in my shoes when I let the kids go to the library and rent on my card! I’ve paid fines over $100.00 easy at my library. They probably love it when I’m late!

By: Save Money At The Library - How To Return And Renew Your Books On Time | The Happy Rock

Wed, 21 May 2008 11:15:17 +0000

[...] tip comes from a reader, beth, on the library isn’t free post. Since most libraries are free to use if the books and other materials are returned on [...]

By: The Happy Rock

The Happy Rock — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:45:36 +0000

@Sue – I can renew online, but once the book is late you you can’t renew. Also they don’t provide any reminders which is the biggest problem, but that is part of the business model.

By: t

Mon, 19 May 2008 18:39:57 +0000

Earlier in the year, I had renewed a book twice and then got busy/stressed. I forgot about the book being due! The amount of the fine was close to how much I could have picked up a paperback copy of the book.

By: Festival of Frugality #125 - Save Some Money If You Are Rich Edition

Festival of Frugality #125 - Save Some Money If You Are Rich Edition — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:52:49 +0000

[...] The Happy Rock says that the library isn’t so cheap if you have to pay fines. [...]

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:24:36 +0000

Check if you can renew your books on line. We can check out books at the library and renew the books twice on line.

By: The Happy Rock

The Happy Rock — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:22:26 +0000

@Sharon – Thanks for the tips on vacation checkouts, very helpful!
@speedy – I wish my library did that, but the fees really help them use less taxes if I had guess.
@beth – That site is just awesome. Just what I was looking for! I think it will require a post to itself, once I use it!
@Matt – I think it is better than buying, kids like the variety.
@Ed – Your right, the library does offer many types of books and services beyond just the ‘normal’.
@Pete – Sorry to hear about the wife. The library might even remove the fees in a case like that.

By: Sharon Rowe

Sharon Rowe — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:03:15 +0000

As a librarian, I can tell you that many libraries offer vacation checkout. You have to ask for it when you check out the materials, so it does require a little planning. For ordinary situations it would not work: however, I have seen it used also for school projects.

By: speedy

speedy — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:00:46 +0000

If your library offers e-mail reminders a few days ahead of when books are due, like my local library does, that’s great.

But if they don’t, you can use a free e-mail service like iwantsandy. Have the service alert you a few days prior to the due date, and then you will have a reminder and can add it to your to-do list.

By: bethh

bethh — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:31:32 +0000

I am a librarian, and I used to work in a public library. Once a year we had a food-for-fines deal – for every canned/boxed food item patrons donated, we’d waive a dollar in fines. It was a HUGE benefit for the local food bank, and the patrons loved it.

I think it was discontinued because of the city manager, so if your library doesn’t offer this, suggest it to the staff AND to the local politicians who keep an eye on the budget. The goodwill it generated was massive, and it was great that people who couldn’t pay fines out of pocket could find a way to clear their records.

Now that I’m not in my library every day, I have signed up for http://www.libraryelf.com – it sends me emails when things are nearly due, and can track more than one library record at once. It doesn’t work with all brands of library software, but works with the biggies. It is AWESOME.