How to Stop Paying All Those Library Late Fees
Posted by Danielle Bean in Homemaking on Thursday, June 03, 2010 10:00 AM
Yesterday, when I posted on Facebook about the lovely, predictable silence that encompasses my house following a trip to the library, my friend Betsy asked a good question:
“How do you keep the books straight? After a trip to the library, we might have 30 to 40 books, which always results in late fees. I’m just not organized enough! Its hard to keep them in a designated spot!!”
Now, anyone who knows me in real life would laugh at the very idea of me being an expert in the area of library organization. Luckily for me, as a serial library abuser, our local libraries don’t charge late fees. This is a wonderful thing, but I do live in fear that my abuse of my local libraries’ goodwill is someday going to spoil it for everyone.
I do try to be good, but between six kids with cards at three different libraries, things can get a little exponential around here. But here are some tactics I’ve tried with various levels of success:
1. Make believe. Mark your calendar for a few days before the materials are really due and tell everyone (including yourself) that’s the date they’re due. You just might make it.
2. Bag it. Keep a book bag that is just for library materials and hang it near the door. When no one is reading them, books belong in the bag. This also works with a crate by the door or a bookshelf specifically labeled for library books only.
3. Auto-remind yourself. If you have a calendar program on your computer or cell phone, set it to automatically send you a reminder the day before books are due.
4. Set a date. It’s when we fail to get the library for weeks on end that books have an opportunity to get really lost, in the farthest corners of the house. When we make it there once a week, not only do kids not feel the need to check out the entire library, but the stuff we do check out is rather easy to find.
5. Limit numbers. Some libraries set limits on the number of books you can have out at once, but even if yours doesn’t, you can set your own reasonable limit. I usually tell smaller kids 3 books per trip is sufficient. They’ll have their siblings’ books to look at too, after all.
6. Get online. If you haven’t already checked out your local library’s website, you should! Many offer online renewals, access to their catalog, email reminders, and other cool features.
7. Get tough. I sometimes have to bite the bullet and tell the kids that until they find every book we owe the library—every last one!—we won’t be going back. It really motivates them to dig deep .. under their beds, in the closets, in the car, and in backpacks.
8. Pay up. If you can’t find your books and library fees are costing you big bucks, consider cutting costs by offering kids a smaller amount of money per book found. Nothing motivates kids like cash. At least mine, anyway.
Okay, now it’s your turn to share your tips for avoiding fees at the library ...
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