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Library service barriers dismantled in Mahoning County
YOUNGSTOWN
Economic and physical barriers to library service have been dismantled in Mahoning County through alternative library-card programs and an expanded library materials mail-out program.
Although patrons always have been able to borrow library materials free of charge, overdue fines range from 10 cents to $1 a day, depending on the types of items borrowed.
Overdue fines totaling $10 triggers suspension of a patron’s borrowing privileges.
Of the library system’s 769,249 circulating items, 21,208 are overdue.
Overdue fines and lost materials replacement-fee collections for the library system last year were $139,267 of the system’s $12.9 million operating budget.
Library officials estimate the total owed to the system in fines and replacement fees is between $200,000 and $225,000.
Accumulated overdue fines and materials replacement charges, however, have caused suspension of borrowing privileges for 11,439 of the library system’s 95,903 card holders. That means borrowing privileges of nearly 12 percent of cardholders are suspended.
Heidi Daniel, director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County since July 2012, is determined to change that.
“The public library is here for everyone to have a fair and equal chance at educating themselves. ... It’s what we’ve always stood for,” Daniel said. “We have to remove the barriers. It’s a no-win situation if they’re blocked from using us. It’s 100 percent not beneficial for a child not to be able to take books out of the library.”
On the other hand, “We want those books to come back to us, because it’s costly to us if they don’t come back. We have to replace them,” Daniel said.
“We want people to come in. We want them to check out those books. That’s what we’re here for,” said Janet Loew, library communications and public-relations director.
“There are library systems in Ohio that have gone fine-free, and we are watching those library systems with interest to see what happens,” Daniel said.
At community conversation meetings with library officials, many patrons advocated the abolition of overdue fines for children to ensure their unimpeded access to library service.
In response, the 15-branch library system launched a Read Card last year as a pilot program for Youngstown City Schools students. That program is available to all the county’s children.
No parental signature is required, and no fines are ever charged under this card, which can be used to borrow up to two items at a time.
When those two items are returned, two more may be borrowed.
Recently, that program was expanded to teenagers under a Simply Teen card program.
Library officials also instituted a conditional-card status for patrons whose borrowing privileges have been suspended because of their overdue fine debts.
Under that program, the patron’s borrowing privileges are reinstated, while the patron pays the debt in small installments.
The library administration also has broadened access to library service for those whose ability to travel to a library is limited, especially during inclement weather.
In addition to mailing library materials to shut-ins, the library has expanded this free mailing service to women who have given birth within the past year and to all county residents older than 65.
Eligible people may select what they wish to borrow and have mailed to them online at the library website, libraryvisit.org.
In all of the above cases, the library system provides a return envelope and pays the round-trip postage for the mailed materials.
Normally, lending periods range from seven to 21 days, depending on the type of material. For mail-order customers, the lending period is extended to two weeks for DVDs and 28 days for printed materials to allow for shipping time.
Also newly launched is a digital card for people who use library services online, such as borrowing e-books, but don’t check out physical materials.
In addition, the library system launched its Pop-Up Library in 2013 to provide visiting library service at indoor and outdoor locations other than library branches.
The Pop-Up Library and its limited collection of materials, which can be tailored to the place it is visiting, travel in a pickup truck or van.