TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to establish a one month Long Beach Public Library Overdue Fines Amnesty Program from April 1, 2016 to April 30, 2016 that will support the recovery of circulation materials and provide the opportunity for patrons to return overdue books, thus restoring their library borrowing privileges at the twelve branches of the Long Beach Public Library system.
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Public Library has 808,957 circulation items, including books, magazines and DVDs that support literacy and education for our residents. Last year, the Long Beach Public Library processed approximately 1.3 million check outs and over a million visits. However, each year, materials are not returned to the library and will not be recovered. Many items are still in the possession of the borrowers and could be returned to the library for use by other patrons.
The current Long Beach Public Library overdue fine is 35 cents per item per day, up to a maximum of $5.60 as established by the City's Master Fee Schedule. Once the overdue fine reaches the maximum, the fine is changed to the full replacement cost of the item. To maintain full borrowing privileges, Long Beach Public Library patrons are required to keep their accrued fines and fees at $20.00 or less. Although library fines are intended to encourage borrowers to return library materials in a timely manner, some library users accumulate substantial fines that discourage them from paying and lead them to simply forfeit their library privileges.
The implementation of the Overdue Fines Amnesty Program would coincide with National Library Month in Long Beach. The goal of the Overdue Fines Amnesty Program is the recovery of overdue materials, thereby increasing the availability of materials for circulation, reducing material replacement cost, and increasing the number of library patrons with full borrowing privileges.
FISCAL IMPACT
The potential decrease in revenue due to the Overdue Fines Amnesty Program is expected to be offset fully by the potential recapture of a substantial amount of City property. The Long Beach Public Library has approximately 15,800 library items overdue and not available for circulation, which represents approximately $ 267,932 in City property.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTO URANGA
SEVENTH DISTRICT
COUNCILWOMAN LENA GONZALEZ
FIRST DISTRICT
VICE MAYOR SUJA LOWENTHAL
SECOND DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER REX RICHARDSON
NINTH DISTRICT