District Library considers going ‘fine-free’ for overdue books

In order to keep books in the hands of children so they can keep on reading, the Belleville Area District Library board is considering going “fine-free.”
At the board’s regular meeting on April 9, Library Director Mary Jo Suchy reported that the topic of going fine-free has been discussed at various committee meetings in The Library Network.
She said the Hartland-Cromaine Library has not charged fines for quite some time. The Milford Library and the Redford District Library recently went fine-free and have so far been very happy with the transition, she said.
Director Suchy said the elimination of fees brings good will and, as far as losing income, you have to consider how much it costs to try to collect.
Board member Joy Cichewicz, branch manager of the downtown Ypsilanti District Library, said in her building if parents won’t or can’t pay the fines of their children, “Kids can’t get books for years,” which she found very sad.
At the March 12 meeting, Cichewicz noted the Toldeo Public Library has gotten rid of all fines.
At its April 9 meeting, the board put together an ad hoc committee to explore all fines at the library. It is made up of John Juriga, Cichewicz, and Suchy.
In other business at the April 9 meeting, the board:
• Heard Suchy report that the Fund Development Committee has raised $345,000 of its $400,000 goal for legacy donors. Another event will be held in spring 2020. Suchy also reported the possibility of having a time capsule, as suggested by Brown Funeral Home. It would be placed inside the new building, upstairs near the local history room, “So we don’t forget where it’s buried”;
• Heard Suchy report they are planning a goodbye to the old building before it is demolished. She said they are looking at having a Mardi Gras party at the old building after it is vacant, “We’ll have a wake,” she said;
• Heard Suchy report on the Art Committee meeting where rotating art quarterly or every six months was discussed. They considered contracting with the artist with a small amount given to the library when the art is sold. They will invite architect Dan Whisler and interior designer Jennifer Michalski to the next meeting to discuss colors;
• Heard Juriga report that he has set up an advisory committee on bee hives, which at the last meeting he suggested be put on the new library roof with the vegetative roof. He said on his committee are primary donor Therese Antoinelli, Brian from Bee in the Dee, local beekeeper Jim Wagner, and Anna from Michigan State Extension. He said they couldn’t put bee hives up until next March or April;
• Heard Juriga say they should get the new building wired for generators to keep people warm or cold if the power fails. Mary Jane Dawson, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of chairwoman Sharon Peters, questioned whether the library should be in charge of sheltering people. She said last time the power was out for an extended period, people went to the school. Juriga said he would like to get it wired, although he knows it is expensive. Architect Whisler said he would look into it. Juriga said he didn’t want to make the new library a Red Cross shelter. “If we don’t have power, we should bring people into a building where the windows don’t open?” Dawson asked;
• Heard Dawson announce the next Friends of the Library book sale and plant swap is May 4, the same day as the BYC lake cleanup; and
• Was informed that the library is participating in the Gleaners Foodbank “Food for Fines/Food for Thought” program during the month of April. For every food item donated, $1 in library fines are forgiven — up to $5 per library card. Many patrons donate food whether of not they have fines, Suchy said. Juriga asked why they are sending the food to Gleaners when the Belleville foodbank is right across the street at the Methodist Church. Suchy said this project is through the Library Network.