................... Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Update for those thinking of taking a break: We are back to the old library that has many many old books, classics, a safer kids room location, and better librarians. We will go weekly...I took the recommendation to just find a better library. Now my kids and I are happy to go once per week. If you have heavy readers they will probably have an uprising at the idea of taking a break from the library. :o) I have paid so many fines in the past few months. The library is literally two blocks away. Yet, we are so busy that I have ended up paying about 70.00 in fines in the past 4 months. Additionally our new library has a TERRIBLE book selection for children, the absolute smallest and worst fiction section that I have ever seen. I have mentioned it so many times, asking why they got rid of all of their older books, all of their classics except the newberries, and they just say they don't have "shelf space" which makes no sense because the children's fiction shelves are half empty! Also, the due dates are all different, for different types of materials. WHich makes it extremely hard to figure out when things are due...even with the email notices I can't keep it straight. I think I am just going to tell my kids that, until January, we are just going to use ibooks, Kindle and whatever we have laying around the house. My son only reads classics anyway and they take him a long time, since they are mostly over 1000 pages. My daughter is starting to read classics and they could keep her busy a long time. In fact, when we start up again in January I may just drive them 2 miles to our old library which was awesome and amazing and allows anyone to have a card. ...we will see. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Yikes, that is a lot of fines! I have gotten our overdue books/fines situation more or less under control by doing the following: (1) Checking all of our accounts online every week and renewing anything with an upcoming due date; (2) When we go to the library, I now return everything at the front desk, watch them check each book back in, and ask for a receipt. This ensures that if the library says that we have a book, I can ignore the children's claims that "we returned that!" and force them to actually search properly for the missing book. Furthermore, I know that the book is in the house because ..... (3) LIbrary books are not allowed out of the house except to go back to the library. We still wind up with a few fines, usually for books that someone else has put on hold and so they can't be renewed, but nothing ridiculous. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I don't think I'd avoid a library due to fines. I'd just try to figure out a system that would help me keep them to a minimum. I've kind of got one that works for me for now. We have our own library shelf, and all the library books live there. I'm actually going to out library this week to present an idea I have for a Fine Forgiveness Fund. I had the awful experience of watching a family leave without their books because they didn't have what they needed to pay their fines down. That just about made me cry--no children should ever have to leave without the books they picked out. :sad: 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loesje22000 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Yes, before our move we had a library with such odd rules (5books per 2 weeks...) and suche high fees I decided it was cheaper to buy secondhands books. we bought 'all' the classics they did away at library sales at 0.50 eurocent per book. Much cheaper then fees :) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I haven't used the library in at least 1.5 years. I decided a better use of my time & money was to purchase the books we wanted to read. I was so short on time and was paying a lot of fines. It helps that my boys enjoy a lot of the same books, so most books I buy are read 3-4 timed and my ds11 is a re-reader, so he often re-reads his favorites multiple times a year. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Yes, we've taken breaks before. I racked up huge fines after I had my youngest child...I was planning on taking all books back the day I went into labor (I was sure I'd be overdue). We also lived 2 blocks away from our library at the time. :blush: My other reasons for taking breaks are because my DC pick out horrible books! They've gotten much better about reading good books, but for years they would bring home Spongebob or Scooby Doo books. I also think our current library has a better selection, so that helps. One thing that helps me is online renewals. Unless something is on hold, I can keep checking it out for up to 3 months without having to bring it back. I just have to remember to keep checking online and see what is due when. Our fines are 10 cents a day, so I haven't owed more than a few dollars at a time. One thing I loved about our old library is that we got an automatic email a couple days before the book were due. I don't have that here. We'd previously gone years without the library when we lived in Nebraska. I just ordered books used from Abe Books or Ebay. Now I order lots of books (used and new) from Amazon. I figured it would be cheaper than constantly paying fines. :lol: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I'm going through this right now after a summer book problem. My solution: visit library on a certain day each week. Returns vary depending on media but range from 1-3 weeks so I can return weekly as needed. Check website and do requests once a week to make sure when I visit the library I'll return what's due. I use interlibrary loan a lot and just pick up requests and drop offs. I have times where I'm up to date and then have problems. I'm also temporarily only using one card for the family as there's a limit to the damage vs multiple cards. I am also slightly more likely to have DS listen to audiobooks on line. CDs are usually better because we're in the car so much, but I have him listen at home too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 I think our biggest problem is that this library is so abysmal as far as children's fiction and also crawling with weirdos and homeless...and the kids/teens section is not separated in any way so we have had some absolutely awful experiences as well as the fact that every time we go we only find about 2-3 suitable books...so the idea of going once a week does not seem fun anymore. So, after our break, I think we will make a once a week library day for our old library. It was safer, cleaner, with an amazing selection and librarians who fought tooth and nail to keep all the old books, and the shelves are packed floor to ceiling with their commitment to shove in every old book they can keep while making way for the new ones. ...I think we will all be more excited to go. :o) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 We did once or twice. :blushing: My solution was to go to the library weekly, no matter what, and to return every.single.item every.single.week whether it had been read or not. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Your library doesn't sound worthwhile, so I don't blame you for ditching it. We have a good system, with online reminders and such, and visit after piano every week, so we've seldom had any fines. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbelle Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Yes. It's way cheaper to buy used books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Every year it's the same. Need one book. Check out 30. Return books 7 days late at an astronomical late fee of .25/day/book. Owe $52.50. 2 weeks later bill is sent to collections, tack on $15 fee. Wait a few months until I get tired of the calls. Pay the bill. Boycott the library for the rest of the year. You would think I would learn....thanks for the reminder however, I have two books out that are due back tomorrow. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Well, yeah! Doesn't everybody? Last year I took 4 months off. Then I finally bit the bullet and paid it. I didn't't tell dh how much,though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertflower Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 To answer your question, no. I belong to 3 different library system and have about 100 - 150 books. That would be a lot of money to buy even from a thrift store. But our kids are different ages. I think it would be different if they were older. I think you have a good plan for your family. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I won't go to the libraries in Maryland for that reason. Ours don't have fines. They do have a lot of homeless people to, but I support that, so I don't have a problem with it. Also, the kid sections are separate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 A PSA for those of you with large, embarrassing fines: Some libraries let you pay your fine online. I was so relieved when I didn't have to pay our ridiculously large fine at the actual library. :lol: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I've had lots of spells like that, especially before they did away with fines, it wasn't worth the stress sometimes. It is much more worthwhile now that there are no fines and I can request some ILLs online, that saves so much time and hassle. I actually bought a huge ton of books out of pocket last year to avoid the library and it definitely had perks I'm happy this year to be back to using it and not spending so much money and collecting books, not all of which I want to keep long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie of KY Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 If I was racking up large fines quickly, I'd figure out how to do something about it: Check out fewer books. Track due dates. Return on time. :closedeyes: I don't rack up fines very fast. Our library will let kids (not usually the adults) "read off their fines" twice a year. It is only during a specific week, and if you come it during that time and read while AT the library they will forgive about $2/15 minutes of reading. It's now been years since I've had to pay any fines, but I've accidentally racked up some the past few weeks - hoping we can read off the fines before they get too high and don't let us check out books. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tm919 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Our library has amnesty once a year for "procrastinators and other miscreants" as they put it. They forgive all your fines in exchange for a donation to the town food bank. In a worst case scenario I would use that. Edit: They don't have a HUGE library for children but they do participate in an extensive interlibrary loan system so I'm able to get almost anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess4879 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 We've never had this problem. Our library charges very small fees for overdue books. I think my max fee was $2.80 and usually they will just "forgive' them and they often have a food bank drive where all loans are erased if you bring in a food bank donation. Due dates are pretty standard too. 3 weeks for books, 1 week for movies and magazines with the option to renew items up to 3 times (unless there is a hold from another patron). If you order a book in from another library it may have a different due date. I would take a break for sure if I was getting dinged with a $70 fine. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homeschoolmom3 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Check to see if your library has teacher status. In our library even homeschool gets this and it eliminates all fines. I use the library a lot and this has saved us so much! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 You need to come up with some sort of system. I think in the 9 years I've homeschooled I paid $1 in fines. One of mine lost a CD that cost me $30 (that we found when we moved a year later). Otherwise, no I keep on top of that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Taking a break would be a crisis in our house. My son is still struggling with the shift we made this year moving library day from Tuesday to Thursday. It has been 6 weeks. In fairness, though, the situation is not the same as or library does not have fines. Books from the "fine library" stay quarantined and are returned immediately upon completion. Along with many strident reminders on my part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoutingmom Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 We do slowly build up fees on our cards.... I get email reminders... but the next due date is based on the day I renew, so I delay a couple of days.... and occasionally forget. Worst is when we lose a book. Kids can now read off their fines, but they have to have their card suspended first, so must have >$15 in fines, and I'm not sure what happens when they have read the fines off enough for it to be reactivated.... can they read off more or do they eventually have to pay the $15 with money? Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALB Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I definitely have a love/hate relationship with our library. After living in another country for many years, I am thankful to have English books available for us to read. However, we have to drive 20 minutes there and 20 minutes back- a big commitment for a weekly activity! My issue is more with getting reserved books than the fines. I diligently request all the books I want for various subjects, and then they are all available at vastly different times. Some will be there the next day, others will arrive 5 days later, and some not for a month or more. They only hold reserved books for 4 days, so unless I go every 4 days, there are inevitably titles that we miss getting on time. This frustrates me a lot! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Then again you could look at it as a donation to your library. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Yes, I have taken breaks and even started threads about it. I'm using a branch library, now, instead of the central library. Mostly I download ebooks. I have my library app on my phone, right next to the weather app, and I check it every day, when I'm taking out a lot of books. I keep all the library items in one pile when not using them. I definitely take breaks!!!! I am enabling you to invest in a new Kindle or tablet and maybe some ebooks. Seasons are important. Without seasons we have less appreciation. When you go back, after a break, things seem to work out better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeaganS Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I am so lucky here. No late fees on books. At all. Only on things like DVDs, which I very rarely get. It means I use the library a whole lot more than we did before. Our local branch is not great, but we can get books from anywhere in the state fairly easily, so it is nice. If not for that, I would rarely use the the library, I think. I am horrible about late fees and I hate to stress about it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 We used the library only for breaks and research projects. Otherwise it did seem like a lot to keep up with. When my kids were young we used it more at times but mainly I focused on building up our home library. Our local used curriculum sales, sales that support local crisis centers, and other used sales made it pretty appealing to do this because books were not very expensive (and it was easy to sell or donate ones that we didn't end up wanting to keep). Plus, once my kids were beyond 3rd grade or so, school took longer--and library visits seemed to take all the steam out of our day, LOL. Somehow it seemed a better use of time to go less frequently and more purposefully at that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Then again you could look at it as a donation to your library.That's how I see it, but I was surprised to learn that library fees don't automatically support the library. Some counties use fees for county government stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I have a system now that usually works for us, so my fines are few and far between. I did owe a quarter recently. ;) I take short breaks now and then, but my library is a 25 minute drive. I'd love a library 2 miles away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Just last night my dh asked if his name would be above the new wing of the library that we are slowly funding with our fines. I assured him that it would. :lol: 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco_Clark Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 We check out 50-60 books a week, so no, no breaks. My kids are still in the picture book/easy chapter book stage so they go through several a day. I could never afford to buy them all. I wouldn't make the trek for a lame library selection, though, and it sounds like yours is awful. Ours has a decent selection, really helpful librarians, generous 3 week checkout periods, reasonable 10 cent a day late charges, and the ability to renew online. But this is how I keep my fines to a livable <$20 a year (which I shrug and call my "membership fee") in case you do go back to your old library. -I check my online account every Sunday night, and I find every title that will come due in the next 7 days and put them in a bag. If I can't find it reasonably quickly I renew it online and look for it during the next week. -Every Monday I return the due books, and any others we are finished with. Every Monday. Even if I don't have time to walk in and get new ones I drop them off in the drop box and come back another day to check out. -Library books live in a particular book basket. They don't mix with the books we own and they aren't taken out of the house unless given special rare permission. - we don't check out DVDs or other items with 7 day check-out periods and high ($1 a day) late fees. - we are only members of one library system, even though there's a second just as close by. Both was too much to keep tram of. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSinNS Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 We're actually on a library hiatus right now. Our library is quite reasonable. They email notices, have sensible late fees and all that. But we do find it hard to get there. It's only about 10 minutes away, but it is out of the way. I get frustrated with lost books, forgetting returns, not getting there, etc. dh is better to run in and drop things off, which helps, but I can't find a time in the new schedule for this year for me to get there. Anyway, to every thing there is a season. I actually need a bunch of story-books and easy readers that I can't afford to buy, so I'll probably start putting in some holds tomorrow. We'll see if we can avoid fines this time. Even with a couple of lost books, the fines have never come to more than buying even some of the books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaquitita Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I have. Our city library has high fines, $.50 a day, and charges $3 for hold not picked up. I have paid $70 late fees before. When it happens, we usually take a break till I want to go bad enough to cough up the money. During our school year, I'm more likely to just put holds on books we need only, and not do trips into the library where the kids get to pick out books. I save that for the summer. Having a designated library day helps me with fines. That's the only day of the week I will check out books. Then each week in that day, I go online and renew anything that's due. If anything needs to be returned or picked up, I d it on that day. This summer I joined our county library. They do not charge fines on children's books, which is great. The only downside is that I have to drive 20 minutes to get there, vs. 5 to either of the city library branches near my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I have taken a break in the past because of fines. Now, with seven of us using library cards I spend the $20 a year and have library elf. You choose your notifications. It puts everything in one place, and I have it set up to email me daily if things are late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I buy our books for a quarter each at the thrift store and have amassed quite a collection, so we very rarely use the library. My kids aren't voracious readers so I don't have a problem keeping fresh books in the house. I do check out ebooks via Overdrive, but only for myself as the kids prefer print books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Just last night my dh asked if his name would be above the new wing of the library that we are slowly funding with our fines. I assured him that it would. :lol: So long as you're not in the Puget Sound area. That's MY new library branch there on the Eastside... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
December Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Yes, I have. The library where we used to live; the children's librarian was quite protective of her books. She had instructed the staff to look through each children's book with a fine tooth comb so they could charge for any damage they found. It was the last straw for me when apparently the spine label stickers fell off one of the books and I was charged five dollars for it. Really, five dollars to put a new sticker on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I have been there too. I paid $80 for one batch of overdue books in August. (Had surgery then went on vacation) I may have said a very bad word in front of my kids when the amount popped up on the screen. Our library just shortened its loan period too so I'm annoyed with the whole system. However, I recognize its a product of the state of libraries these days, so I'm going to grin and bear it to support the system. It's not abysmal, just not like the libraries if my youth. PS, I miss the card catalog. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 That's how I see it, but I was surprised to learn that library fees don't automatically support the library. Some counties use fees for county government stuff. Whhhaaaa? I will have to ask next time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serenade Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 We're taking a library break right now. I get so stressed out about returning things. We'll check things out, and then one kid will say he didn't get to read something that his brother read, so I'll renew it, and then, yeah, everything gets off schedule. And I hate going to our library, because even though we're in a small town, we usually have to park in a parking garage to go, and I hate parking garages. And yes, the fees, when it's just not convenient to go to the library and I can no longer renew. Or, I can renew all books except one, because someone else has requested that book. My husband laughs at me for my going-to-the-library hate, so I might give him this job when he's in semi-retirement soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serenade Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Adding, I'm very grateful that our library only charges 10 cents a day for overdue children's books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I have in the past, when the library was 15 miles away and we didn't have much money. Nowadays, I just consider the fines to be donations. That said, I haven't paid $70 in fines... in the 3 years since moving here, I think I've maybe paid $50, which included payments for placing holds (in order to get books from other libraries in the system I didn't want to drive to). Last week, I actually purposely kept a book a full week after the due date just because I figured it was easier than returning it and placing another hold on it (fine is 10 cents/day for kids books). I'm very careful about CDs/DVDs though, since the fines for those are like $1/day, I think. I've got 50 materials checked out on my card right now (and one on one of the kids' cards, which I try to avoid, but they have a 50-item limit), and I check my account online at least twice a week because I cannot keep track if I don't. It lists stuff in order of when it needs to be renewed, so it's easy to check. My fines are mostly when I'm ill, when I cannot for the life of me find a book (I tend to find them later), or when I purposely keep it beyond the due date because I'm not done with it and would rather pay the fine than deal with the hassle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I think our biggest problem is that this library is so abysmal as far as children's fiction I'm glad you have a plan for getting back to your old library. We live within a mile of our local library, but it has poor selection, no online hold, no online renewal, & a host of other issues. We pay $75/yr for cards at the Big City library system 1+ hours away. That is where we are most likely to have fines because we only get there once every month or two. However, if it is a kid's book on a kid's card, there are no fines. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 That's how I see it, but I was surprised to learn that library fees don't automatically support the library. Some counties use fees for county government stuff. And, now I'm going to ask too. The one time I paid a pretty big fine here (close to $20?) I just smiled and told the clerk I'd just see it as a donation to support the library, and the clerk didn't correct me, but the clerk might not know where the money goes either. ETA: looked through library website, ended up reading the budget, and since the library (in the revenue section) is budgeting $330,000 in fines for 2015, I'm going to conclude that yes, fines go to the library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKWAcademy Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 We typically go near the library once per week. On the day before that, I renew everything online. Anything that doesn't renew gets (found and) taken back the next day (to an outside drop box). I have tried to limit how often we go to the library, also. I think we have a good library system but the small branch nearest to us doesn't have a good selection. Fortunately, I request books from the entire county. Unfortunately, we all go inside when I pick up the good books when they arrive. So the kids take off to their section and pick out mostly junk. I say "pick one each" and they come back with sad puppy-dog eyes and six books. I cave. Then our house is filled with garbage books mostly unread. It gets old. So, I completely understand wanting to take a break from the library. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Yes, and not just because of fines. I often, these days, just don't feel like keeping up with stuff I don't own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAutumnOak Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Yes, I have taken breaks due to fines...I am not crazy about the selection at our library, when I take the kids they want to bring home stuff I would rather leave there, and it can be difficult to manage the holds because I reserve the books I want to check out... I am currently using the library now only to get specific books I need (I go alone), or to borrow a movie if I do not want to wait for Netflix to send it to me... Our library really does not have a good selection of books in my opinion, but they do have some things... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAutumnOak Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 And, now I'm going to ask too. The one time I paid a pretty big fine here (close to $20?) I just smiled and told the clerk I'd just see it as a donation to support the library, and the clerk didn't correct me, but the clerk might not know where the money goes either. ETA: looked through library website, ended up reading the budget, and since the library (in the revenue section) is budgeting $330,000 in fines for 2015, I'm going to conclude that yes, fines go to the library. :huh: Man, you better have the best library in the country with all of those fines!...I didn't realize people paid out so much money in fines... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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