Overdue: library board takes on late fees
The Macon County Library Board has signed an overture in opposition to the Fontana Regional Library System going fine-free, a topic that came up most recently during a November meeting of the Fontana Regional Library Board but may not be raised again.
“I think it’s appropriate for us to make an overture and, as an advisory board, to let Fontana [Regional Library Board] know what we’re thinking about it,” said Diann Catlin, who introduced the overture during the Feb. 4 Macon County Library Board meeting.
According to Fontana Regional Library Director Tracy Fitzmaurice, the discussion about whether to maintain library fines and fees has been around for several years. Fitzmaurice brought the topic up at a November FRL meeting because the North Carolina State Library had released new data which showed that, as of October, more than half of libraries in North Carolina are fine-free, or partially fine-free.
When Catlin brought up the overture against the FRL system removing fines and fees for late items for minors, Fitzmaurice stated that the subject was not on the table for discussion and was not on the agenda for the FRL board at its next meeting.
“I do not see it being brought up again any time soon — especially with other possible cuts we could get through the federal government,” Fitzmaurice later told The Smoky Mountain News.
Still, multiple Macon board members thought it prudent to make their opinion on the topic clear to the FRL board.
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“But it might come up later, so it’s just that we want to make this as our stance,” said Leah Gaston. “This is a national trending issue, and it will probably come up again and we want our kids to learn responsibility and returning your library books is a form of responsibility. It’s a simple thing we can teach kids to do.”
The initial version of the overture, presented by Catlin, read, “whereas the Fontana Regional Library Board is considering removing fees from juveniles for late or lost books, this advisory board, the Macon County Library Board, urges the Fontana board to continue the fines and fees which not only bring in needed revenue to the public library, but also teach needed responsibility for those juveniles who are borrowing books and materials at no cost to them.”
However, one board member took issue with the idea of the library being on the hook for instilling responsibility.
“I know that you disagree with me; it’s the parent’s job to teach responsibility,” said Debbie Tallent.
“The trend is that there may be a poor child who cannot pay the fine, but it’s a library, and we’re letting people borrow books,” said Catlin. “You’re right, parents are in charge of this; however, even in school when there’s a discipline problem, people have to step in, and they have rules.”
Gaston inquired about how many children would be impacted by removing fines and fees and noted that the FRL board would need this information before they made any decision on the issue.
According to Fitzmaurice, revenues from fines and fees in the FRL budget — which includes overdue fines, fees for equipment usage, and fees for room usage — is estimated at $35,800 for the fiscal year 2024-25, compared to the starting revenue budget total of $3,949,157. That means fines and fees are estimated to make up just under 1%.
“The estimated amount at the beginning of the fiscal year is different from the year-end actual amount,” Fitzmaurice said. “For example, in FY 2023-24, the estimated amount for fines and fees was $38,600, but the actual amount received was $41,017.23.”
However, the portion of the budget coming from overdue book fines is likely far less than 1%, because the fines and fees line item in the budget includes room rental fees, among other fees.
“Fines must be short of 1% of the total revenue because we do charge for room usage in each library,” said Fitzmaurice. “For example, Jackson County Public Library charges $300 for weddings, etc.”
Meeting space fees at the Macon County Library range from $25 to $150 depending on whether an individual, nonprofit or for-profit organization is renting the space, and for how long. These types of room rental fees were not part of the discussion for removal.
“I don’t have a problem at all, should it come up again in the FRL meeting, with continuing to have a fee charge; my problem is I don’t like putting the library as the responsible party,” said Tallent. “Parents are the responsible party in my book. That’s the only part of this that I have a problem with is taking out that last little line. Parents have to learn to be responsible if they’re not already.”
“So do children,” replied Catlin.
Catlin went on to describe her time as a dance teacher and an etiquette teacher, recalling that her rules were, if a dance student was not at rehearsal, they were not able to perform the dance at recital.
“Children learned quickly that they needed to encourage their parents to get them there on time,” Catlin said. “It’s just one of the things that as a teacher I used, and I think it’s the same thing. Like, put your ballet shoes in the basket otherwise when you’ve lost them you will go without them. It just helps to have somebody backing up what you say.”
Moxley brought up the fact that not all children are accessing the library from an even playing field.
“I want to advocate for children,” Moxley said. “My kids were blessed. We didn’t have to worry about paycheck to paycheck, but there’s a lot of people that do, or even less … there’s enough inequity. I’m on the fence about this because yes, it is the responsibility of the parents, but some parents aren’t responsible, and should that child be punished? There’s got to be some sort of a grace for some kids whose parents maybe think going out drinking is better than paying the bill for the library.”
Phillip Curcuru asked whether there might be a way to dismiss fees for families that can’t pay, while keeping the traditional fee structure in place.
“I think a default approach should be the traditional fee approach, but leave room for forgiveness, however that looks,” Curcuru said.
Gaston floated the idea of a scholarship through the Friends of the Library.
“If there were a few handfuls who weren’t able to pay their fees and fines, what if we approached the Friends of the Library? They provide money for programs and things like this they could provide some type of scholarship program for kids in need. That could be pursued,” said Gaston.
Moxley noted that not all libraries have a Friend of the Library organization.
Before voting on the overture the board decided to remove the language about teaching responsibility. Instead, board members inserted language from the official mission of the library, so that the final version passed by the board read, “The Macon County Library Board urges the Fontana Regional Library Board to continue the fines and fees which provide convenient access to resources and bring in needed revenue to the public library.”
The motion to approve the overture and send it on to the FRL board passed with seven affirmative votes and two abstentions.
