This school year there has been an increase in the number of students not returning library books, causing a major loss in not only books, but also money for the library.
“This places a huge financial burden to tax payers” district secondary librarian Shelly Myers said. “For patrons wanting to check out popular books that someone keeps for months, I end up having to purchase additional copies of the same title that could otherwise be used to purchase newly released titles. And then these popular books get turned back in after new copies are purchased, so we’re wasting money we shouldn’t have to, simply because someone refuses to turn in or renew an overdue book.”
Myers said she can’t pinpoint one specific reason why students, especially this year, have not been returning books.
“I’d love to be able to discover a specific cause so we could find a solution,” Myers said. “But it wasn’t much better before this year. This seems to be a growing trend all libraries are seeing—school, public, and Academic.”
The school has had over 500 books not returned year after year. This year the school lost $8,700 to unreturned library books, and the year before it was about $7,600.
“I honestly believe that a lot of students just do not care enough to bring their books back,” senior Shelby Dewald said. “As I’ve watched students over the year as a library aide, I’ve been able to see the blatant disrespect many students have for their resources. They don’t have to have a library, and certainly not one as diverse as ours, but that doesn’t seem to matter. A lot of students seem to believe that because they are in school, nothing has that serious of a consequence, but these fines impact your ability to graduate. While plenty of juniors and seniors have this issue, I’ve definitely noticed it more among the sophomores and freshmen. It makes you worry what the next classes will bring and how the library will be treated in the coming years.”
The library offers Late Fee Forgiveness Days each April, allowing students to get their late fees reduced if they bring items that will be donated to the Lampasas Mission.
“Every April, we offer students the opportunity to wipe out all their late fees by helping others,” Myers said. “For every item donated for the Lampasas Mission, we waive $1.00 of fines. Lost books or library fees (i.e. poster board/IDs) can’t be forgiven.”
Once a student checks out a library book they have 3 weeks to renew the book, and they can renew it multiple times as long as no one else has placed it on hold.
“Renewals can be done in person in the library, or online in the Follett account in the SSO Library Resources folder,” Myers said.
Myers said seniors who do not take care of their late fees before graduation will have their diplomas placed on hold until they clear their accounts.
“I’m only here that first week after graduation, so it could be August before they can get it resolved if they wait that long,” Myers said. “I promise, we’re here to help, but again, patrons must communicate with us.”
Senior Cheyenne Hannibal said that while there are still gaps in the shelves from library books not being brought back, as the school year comes to an end and with Late Fee Forgiveness days happening, students have been making the effort to return their lost books.
“I have noticed some book sections look thinned out through the year but are being filled in as we are getting towards the end of the year,” Hannibal said. “I think that more and more students have been forgetting about their due dates, especially if they are not constantly reminded by teachers to return or renew their books. Also, there are some people who do not want to go out of their way to come and drop their books off at the library and may be unaware that there is a drop off box outside of it that is there specifically to make it more convenient for them.”
The district is doing what they can to make students aware of when their books are due, and present more opportunities for students to make up late fees.
“Our new district policy is designed to make this easier and clearer to all,” Myers said. “Once summer begins, any books still checked out to students will be automatically marked lost. Students will get reminders when we come back in August that any books not returned by Sept.r 1 must be replaced, and no further check-outs will be allowed until the account is resolved (this is to protect parents from having students with massive library fees as we’ve had in the past).”
Myers said that as long as students communicate with those who work in the library, an easy solution can be reached if a student accidentally loses a book.
“Reach out to us—we’re here to help, and we’re all human, it’s happened to all of us,” Myers said. “I promise, no judgement. Let us know asap [if you lose a book] so we can mark it lost (which stops late fees from accruing), and then we can work out a way to replace the book. Patrons can pay the replacement fee, or work out a deal with us for a less expensive solution. If you don’t communicate, we can’t help you. Email me at [email protected] if you’re too busy to come see us.”
