My brother and his family live in Brockport, NY (I did my undergrad work at SUNY Brockport,) and my folks stopped by the Seymour Public Library a month or so ago while out that way and noticed this wonderful little idea: gift cards for library fines and holds. I asked my father to ask them about the program and get me some more details but at the time they were “in-between directors and behind on updating the Web site” so all he was able to provide any more details than the following photos. I’ve got to say I love the idea. They’d make wonderful gifts for those heavy hold users, and you’re library scofflaw friends.
Update 3 December 2010:
A little more information from my father that actually makes this story even cooler.
[According to the librarian he spoke with] the idea started by someone asking about pre paid “hold” cards so they did not have to carry cash when picking up books that were a hold (cost is 50 cents a hold) Then someone said why not have gift fine cards ….so they just made them. No committee, no written policy…they just DID IT!
Michael Sauers is the Director of Logan Library in Logan, UT. Prior to this he was one of the founding staff and Technology Manager for Do Space in Omaha, NE. After earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy Michael spent his first 20 years as a librarian training other librarians in technology along with time as a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, a technology consultant, and a bookseller. He has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and has published 14 books ranging from library technology, blogging, Web design, and an index to a popular horror magazine. In his spare time, he blogs at TravelinLibrarian.info, runs The Collector's Guide to Dean Koontz website at CollectingKoontz.com, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
Unless otherwise stated, all opinions are my own and are not to be considered those of the City of Logan, UT.
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