CLP LAUNCHES NEW PREPAID LATE FEE CARD

Those pesky late fees! No matter how we all try, occasionally the timely return of that library book just doesn’t happen. Suddenly there’s an overdue fee (or two) on your account. Or perhaps you have a friend or child who seems to periodically accrue just enough fees to block his account. It’s frustrating for him, for you, and for the library staff when you can’t visit us and borrow the things you want or use the computer. So what is a savvy library-lover to do?

Introducing….The CLP Prepaid Late Fee Gift Card!

• Hanukkah gift?
• Holiday stocking stuffer?
• Secret Santa?
• Upcoming birthday?
• Favorite teacher?
• Straight-A student reward?

 The uses are endless! Give the gift of reading and take away the worry of late fees.

A Sample Card

Here’s how it works:

• Purchase a Gift Card for $10 at the Customer Services desk.
• Give to a friend, loved one, or use yourself.
• When you accumulate late fees at the library, simply have your card “punched” to cover your fee!

Take note:

• Each punch is worth $1.00. Buy $10 and get $1 “free”!
• The card is only good towards late fees—sorry, but lost items must be paid for.
• No cash value/refunds—fees must be paid to the nearest dollar.
• Good only at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh locations.
• No expiration and lost cards are the responsibility of the purchaser.

Of course we hope that you’ll return our items on time (and borrow more) but we also understand that life can get busy. Your fees help the library in many ways so when you pay them, know that they go towards all the things you value—our collections, our staff, keeping locations open, doing programs. Every little bit helps. Before you get a late fee, here are a few things to remember:

• Save your due date receipt and make sure you know which items are due when. Don’t be fooled by one week items.
• Monitor your account online.
• Know the rules for renewals—no bestsellers or 6-hour DVDs, don’t wait until it’s overdue, and no renewals if someone else has a hold on it.

When the late fee happens, we hope that you’ll pay it cheerfully and know it goes to support something you love.  We know you’ll lend us support in whatever ways you can—and the new Prepaid Late Fee card will help others you care about to enjoy the library, too!

– Beth

The lengths people will go to…

On a normal work day for me, the title of my post would likely refer to the many stories I hear each day from library patrons (well-meaning and otherwise) who have problems with their accounts: the reason they couldn’t return a book on time, or why they couldn’t pay a fine, or how the dog chewed a book, but it wasn’t their fault. Yes, the lengths to which people will go to avoid…well, you know…amaze me.

But not today.

No, today is a celebration of our patrons who go the extra mile on behalf of the library, the people who cherish the library and its collection, and the lengths to which they will go.

What prompted this change of view? It began with a wonderful little package waiting in my mailbox two weeks ago. It was wrapped in simple brown paper, hand-addressed in pen, and stamped with a modest airmail stamp…and a postmark from Korea.

Yes, Korea. One of our patrons had taken the time to mail back a Prokofiev symphony score. From Korea. A week early.

It's true!

Can you believe it?

This reminded me of the books I’d received the week before that, from Hawaii, with a note from a student’s mom: “Sorry that my daughter accidentally brought these books home with her.” So far in the past month we’ve received items back from Michigan, Maine, State College, Erie, New Orleans, and–drum roll please–this week’s winner, China: another mom with books that her son, who was visiting China, mailed home. Yes, the books were late–but she did bring us the postmarked box as proof!

We also received a book mailed to us by an airline this week. Over the years we’ve had our share of packages from airlines as well as from rental car agencies and the United States Postal Service. Every time one of these parcels shows up at our door, my faith is restored. Someone cares. Someone understands that the library works only when we all work together, that what you borrow and return has an impact on what another person is able to borrow and return. It’s part of the great social contract.

So here are some thank-yous to people who have saved the library for me.

• To the father who handed over his charge card to pay off several hundred dollars on his high school daughter’s card, even though the lost books were due to her allowing a friend to use the card.
• To the person who found a young boy’s wallet with his library card and turned it in at Phipps Conservatory, as well as to the Phipps staff who e-mailed us so we could contact the cardholder.
• To the stranger who came to the desk to make restitution for books he had stolen long ago–he handed over a $200 donation and left without revealing his name.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s not about the individual book, CD, or DVD. Things will be lost, damaged, and spilled on. Things will be late. That’s okay. But each time you pay for that item, or accept responsibility for a fine, or return something long overdue, what you’re doing is more than just a simple physical or financial exchange.

What you’re saying is that YOU are a part of the library…that we are all in this together…that you share in both the joy and the responsibility of this great democratic institution that gives equal opportunities for learning, entertainment and wonder to us all…and that you do it willingly. And each time one of you does it with grace, or kindness, or enthusiasm (well, okay, nobody pays fines enthusiastically), you are affirming your connection to the library and all of its members.

So, thanks to all who “get it”! You often save the day!

–Beth