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JennGM
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| Posted: June 25 2010 at 9:25am | IP Logged
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Yes, you read that correctly. Due to budget restraints, our library is going to charge for reserving books and Inter library loans.
Quote:
Due to ongoing budget challenges, two new library fees will go into effective July 1st. These fees will be in effect for any hold requests or interlibrary loan requests placed from July 1st forward:
Hold Requests: 25 cents per request. You will need to agree to the fee before your hold is placed. This fee will not be charged to your account until you are notified that the item is ready for pick-up.
Interlibrary Loan Requests: $3.00 per request. This fee helps to recover some of the costs of obtaining titles from public, academic, and special libraries throughout the country. This fee will not be charged to your account until you are notified that your ILL item is ready for pick-up.
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The problem is most books I want are at different locations. Our library has many branches, so the reserve is necessary to get the books to me.
I know 25 cents isn't as much as buying a book and paying shipping, but it can add up, especially when this is a feature I use all the time. Even if the books are in the branch I visit, I put them on hold so I can be in and out with two little kids. Library time can get hectic.
So now I've got to rethink everything. For those that have these kind of fees or recently had changes, what do you do? Do you put this in the budget?
I'm just so sad and frustrated.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: June 25 2010 at 9:31am | IP Logged
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I've never heard of any library charging fees for reserving books! That definitely goes against the original founding purpose.
I just stated on a different thread how thankful I am that I can reserve recommended books and really go through them. It helps in the to buy or not to buy decision.
I feel your pain.
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 25 2010 at 9:55am | IP Logged
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That's the way I feel, Paula.
I am going to ask if their if educators have a different approach, and will plea my cause. If I use the library for the basis of our schooling, this is a very hard blow for me.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: June 25 2010 at 10:17am | IP Logged
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Wow, that seems really strange. Aren't libraries government funded? It seems like if one library is starting these policies they all should be.
That just doesn't sound right to me.
I feel for you Jenn as that would be a blow to us as well. I really don't let my kids browse in the library too much. It seems they are always finding books that I don't want them to read. And, to top it off, now they've installed Play Stations in our library. My boys will just sit there and watch the kid play for the entire time (I don't let them play the games there. I think it's silly to have play stations and computer games in a library, but that's just me.)
Because of all that I use the computer to request books and then just pick them up most of the time. Plus, I'm still trying to figure out how to keep our late fees down! 
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Becky
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: June 25 2010 at 10:34am | IP Logged
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gov't funded usually at the county or city level.. not state or federal.
Chari posted a while back that their libraries were in danger of closing.
At least with the paying option, you're not getting restricted in the number of books.. that's another way to lower those costs.. only allow people to get a couple of ILL books at any time or such.
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JaysFamily
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Hmm. I think at those prices, I'd have to just buy used books from Abe Books or the inexpensive used books through Amazon, and browse used book stores more frequently.
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guitarnan
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Our libraries are still free but a friend in another state mentioned to me that her library charges for ILLs. I think we'll see more library fees as budgets continue to shrink.
The ironic part is that more people use the library during tough times, for job searches and everything else, and yet local governments cut funding for this valuable resource, making it harder for the job-searchers to find work! 
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dakotamidnight
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That's a big part of why we don't use the library anymore - between bookmooch, thrift shops, and the library used book store, it's cheaper to buy books used or swap for books, and I don't have to worry about DD being exposed to things. I pay around $1 a book average.
Plus the time saved in having the books on hand and not making weekly trips to the library is a big help to us.
If you are looking to buy cheaply, PBS sells credits for $3.50 I think, and I also know people on a yahoo group who sell their bookmooch credits for $1 each. I also do swagbucks for my online searching to earn Amazon gift cards - those I save for books I need and haven't been able to get through any other means {Bookmooch, used book stores, cathswap, here, etc}.
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 25 2010 at 12:42pm | IP Logged
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Well, I did ask a librarian today, as I was quite upset. I found a little work-around so I wouldn't be charged. It will take a little extra work, but worthwhile, I think.
The holds would be all requests done through the computer system. Now if I find a book I want available on the shelf of either my branch or another, I just need to call the branch to request it and have it sent to my branch. Then the only hold charges I'll incur are on the books that I have to reserve in a queue.
A little more work, but better for my budget.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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dakotamidnight wrote:
That's a big part of why we don't use the library anymore - between bookmooch, thrift shops, and the library used book store, it's cheaper to buy books used or swap for books, and I don't have to worry about DD being exposed to things. I pay around $1 a book average.
Plus the time saved in having the books on hand and not making weekly trips to the library is a big help to us.
If you are looking to buy cheaply, PBS sells credits for $3.50 I think, and I also know people on a yahoo group who sell their bookmooch credits for $1 each. I also do swagbucks for my online searching to earn Amazon gift cards - those I save for books I need and haven't been able to get through any other means {Bookmooch, used book stores, cathswap, here, etc}. |
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Love all these ideas. I have not used PBS or bookmooch yet, but I am queen of used book bargains. I prefer to own a book. But I've been put on a book buying moratorium for a while, and like Paula said, I do like to preview books before buying.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Bethany
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That you would be able to call makes no sense! What costs the library more, someone making a request on the computer or personnel spending their time answering the phone. If too many people figure that out, their new system will cost them more money because people will be spending so much time answering phones and randomly looking for books. At least with a computer request, they can probably look for those sequentially and save criss crossing the library.
Our library recently limited the number of items you can request and have checked out. Not sure how that saves money, but they say that was the reason. So, everyone just had children or other family members get another card so they wouldn't be limited.
I've been trying to wean myself from the library because it's very difficult to take everyone in and I hate having to worry about getting out to return something before it's past due. Fortunately, we have a store called 75% Off Books and they have GREAT children's books. I buy plenty of new books for under $2.00 a piece. 
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JennGM
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Bethany wrote:
| That you would be able to call makes no sense! What costs the library more, someone making a request on the computer or personnel spending their time answering the phone. If too many people figure that out, their new system will cost them more money because people will be spending so much time answering phones and randomly looking for books. At least with a computer request, they can probably look for those sequentially and save criss crossing the library. |
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I thought the exact same thing. Computers were supposed to be work-savers, but now it costs more to use them than the real thing?
Yes, I'm afraid this loophole will be lost soon, too.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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SeaStar
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Jen-
You are so calm! I would totally be breaking down if faced with this dilemma.
It is criminal to charge you for requests, or even to make you work extra hard for them.
Could your homeschool group band together and flood the library with complaints until they waive this fee for educators?
Besides... we have already paid for these books with our tax dollars!
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 25 2010 at 5:32pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
Jen-
You are so calm! I would totally be breaking down if faced with this dilemma.
It is criminal to charge you for requests, or even to make you work extra hard for them.
Could your homeschool group band together and flood the library with complaints until they waive this fee for educators?
Besides... we have already paid for these books with our tax dollars! |
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Aw, Melinda, you totally compliment me! I'm not calm usually, and I was so upset today. I just feel better that there is a little option. They are facing serious cutbacks (the temperature in the library was so hot today, due to another cutback).
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Ging
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Our library has aloways charged $5 for ILL so I've never used it. We don't have any other fees at the moment. I really love my library for the book sale room-that is the place to shop for old OOP classics.
Ging
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Donna Marie
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Our Inter-library loan was just ELIMINATED..this is after I filled out the request forms for 20 books... 
Our personal budget is so incredibly tight this year. I was counting on ILL to get more books for high school. Our personal library is so limited in this area.
Our town library is small and has a terrible selection. We can go to a few other libraries to get books out, but the chances of finding what I want for school isn't too good.
I signed up for paperback swap and bookmooch but for some books, I am listed as one of MANY looking for said book...must be some of you on that list??  
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JennGM
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Aw, Donna Marie, that is rough. Maybe we need to set up a 4Real Interlibrary loan?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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lapazfarm
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Oh, Jenn. That really stinks. I know how this can put a big kink in school planning and budgeting. I hope it gets resolved for your sake.
But I don't know. I hate to be the voice of dissent here, but let's face it--times are tough all over. Public services are being cut right and left---hospitals are short-staffing, universities are letting adjunct faculty go, cutting programs and "consolidating" others, public schools are cutting teaching staff, museums are cutting hours, and libraries nationwide are trying so hard not to cut hours and/or staff, or close down altogether.
I think certain cutback are inevitable until our economy turns around.
True, as tax-paying citizens we need to make our needs known. But instead of complaining to the poor library staff (who probably hate this as much or more than we do) we could perhaps think of ways we could help?
What about offering some volunteer hours from ourselves or our older children, perhaps pulling those requests, to help ease the load? Would that help at all?
I don't know. I just think it is good to be a part of the solution if possible.
And please don't take this as criticism, Jenn. I'd be upset if it happened here, too. I'm just trying to find a way to turn a rather negative circumstance into something more positive, and suggest ways we can affect positive change in our communities in these tough times.
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lapazfarm
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JennGM wrote:
| Aw, Donna Marie, that is rough. Maybe we need to set up a 4Real Interlibrary loan? |
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Now there is a positive solution!!! 
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Theresa
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JennGM
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lapazfarm wrote:
Oh, Jenn. That really stinks. I know how this can put a big kink in school planning and budgeting. I hope it gets resolved for your sake.
But I don't know. I hate to be the voice of dissent here, but let's face it--times are tough all over. Public services are being cut right and left---hospitals are short-staffing, universities are letting adjunct faculty go, cutting programs and "consolidating" others, public schools are cutting teaching staff, museums are cutting hours, and libraries nationwide are trying so hard not to cut hours and/or staff, or close down altogether.
I think certain cutback are inevitable until our economy turns around.
True, as tax-paying citizens we need to make our needs known. But instead of complaining to the poor library staff (who probably hate this as much or more than we do) we could perhaps think of ways we could help?
What about offering some volunteer hours from ourselves or our older children, perhaps pulling those requests, to help ease the load? Would that help at all?
I don't know. I just think it is good to be a part of the solution if possible.
And please don't take this as criticism, Jenn. I'd be upset if it happened here, too. I'm just trying to find a way to turn a rather negative circumstance into something more positive, and suggest ways we can affect positive change in our communities in these tough times. |
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I really wasn't meaning to rant and rave, I just was hoping that someone else in my position found a work around to make it reasonable.
Having witnessed how everything is down in the economy, I'm not resenting the cuts, just wishing to "say it ain't so!"
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Jennifer G. Miller
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4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: Budgeting Library Expenses
