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Library board approves circulation-policy revisions, eliminates routine late fines
Summary
The Mabel C. Fry Public Library board approved revisions to its circulation service policy that define temporary cards, lower the minimum age for children—s cards, limit new-card checkouts, change rules for a museum pass and eliminate routine overdue fines; an interlibrary-loan fine was proposed but not adopted.
The Mabel C. Fry Public Library Board voted Oct. 15 to adopt a revised circulation service policy that eliminates routine overdue fines and clarifies several checkout and card rules.
Shauna, the library director, told the board the revisions clarify terminology and make operational changes she said will modernize service and align the library with neighboring systems. "The thing that I'm most excited for is the removal of overdue fines," Shauna said, adding that other Canadian County libraries have already eliminated fines.
The policy changes approved by the board define temporary cards and set an explicit minimum age for children's cards at 4 years, instead of the older rule that required kindergarten enrollment. New-card holders will be limited to three items on their first checkout; after that initial checkout patrons may use the full lending limit. The policy also adds a separate limit for a new item type called "Tony boxes," a dedicated audio player for young children.
Shauna proposed a shorter window before items are treated as lost, changing the library's holding period from 45 days overdue to 30 days for items that no longer accrue daily fines. The policy retains replacement charges and fees for damaged or unreturned items.
The board also approved a procedural change for a museum "experience pass" the library lends. The pass to the First Americans Museum will move to a first-come, first-served pickup system; the library agreed to hold a ready pass for about an hour to allow patrons to pick it up rather than keeping the pass unavailable while on long reserve lists.
Shauna asked the board about an item she had not included in the draft: a proposal to keep fines for interlibrary-loaned materials (items owned by other libraries) at 10 cents per day with a $5 cap, since those materials are not owned by Mabel C. Fry. That change was discussed but was not part of the document the board adopted Oct. 15; Shauna said she would pursue board approval for that narrower fine at a later date.
Board members asked practical questions about the museum pass hold period and suggested experimenting with short hold windows to balance availability and patrons who work during the week.
Action: The motion to adopt the circulation service policy revisions as presented passed on a roll call vote: Penny Budzine, Susie Grimes, Jane Mitchell (board chair), Amy Walters, Lee Wells and Courtney Winkler voted yes; Kaylene Browning was recorded absent.
The revisions take immediate effect as adopted. The director said she will return with any additional language for interlibrary-loan fines if the board wishes to revisit that narrower exception.
