Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 14, 1991 TAG: 9103150747
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Roanoke and Salem eliminated fines several years ago because library officials thought they discouraged borrowers from checking out books. Roanoke County eliminated fines nearly 20 years ago.
The Roanoke Library Board was told last week that the three library systems have tentatively agreed on a proposal to reinstitute fines, but it is subject to the governing bodies' approval.
The fine for overdue books would be 10 cents a day, and $1 a day for overdue video cassettes. The charge for overdue children's books would be 5 cents a day.
Emily Keyser, assistant city librarian, said the fines are needed because the libraries are losing books and other materials when borrowers don't return them.
City librarians have estimated the city loses about $35,000 worth of books and other materials a year that are never returned.
Borrowers are required to pay for lost materials, but the library has trouble tracking down borrowers sometimes and getting them to pay because there are no fines.
Keyser said the libraries can keep better track of overdue books when the computerized circulation system begins operating.
The $950,000 system will work like a checkout counter in a grocery store. Each book will have a bar code sticker, just like a can of soup, box of cereal or other item in a grocery store. Every patron's library card will have a bar code, too.
When a borrower checks out a book, the circulation librarian will wave a wand across the back cover and the book's author, title and call number will be recorded in the library's computer. The book number will be matched with the number on the borrower's library card.
The computer screen will tell the circulation desk how many books the borrower has checked out and whether any are overdue.
If borrowers want to determine whether the libraries have a book and whether it is on the shelf or has been checked out, they'll just push a few buttons on a terminal to find out.
Computer terminals will replace card catalogs and microfiche cards in the libraries when the regional system begins operating.
by CNB