More than 4,000 individuals who each racked up to $49.99 in fines to replace lost or damaged books and other materials for Apache Junction Public Library owe a combined $95,252 that would be forgiven under plans discussed Thursday by a city board.
The Apache Junction Library Board voted 4-0 on Aug. 10 to not have a one-time purge, instead appearing to favor having a policy for a reoccurring purge. Board members Pam Krause, Vivian Rajski and Vera Walters were absent.
The four in the meeting — President Cheryl Hall, Vice President Robin Barker (by phone), Secretary Judy Borey and Boardmember Sheryl Bigelow — favored discussing next month instituting a policy where every five or 10 years accounts with fines under $50 would be purged. The board meets at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 in the city council chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.
It would only be for those who racked up to $49.99 in fines as the library, 1177 N. Idaho Road, has a contract with a collections business that handles those of $50 and higher.
Forgiving the fines would have two benefits to the library — cleaning up the database and removing a barrier for people to access the library who are now turned away for nonpayment, Library Director Pam Harrison said at the meeting.
“Currently patrons may not borrow items if fees on their accounts exceed $5,” she said.
A library district in Washington has a policy to regularly purge or write-off uncollectable accounts with fines and fees because they are unlikely to retrieve the funds, Harrison said.
“So, would you be proposing to put something into the policies for the library that would follow what Spokane is doing?” Hall asked.
“Not necessarily. It’s kind of a big move to go from where we are to a policy. But I have seen other libraries that will do like a one-time purge or a one-time deletion and that’s something that could be done every decade, every 15 years — when it makes sense for their database and for their collections,” said.
Harrison said the library board had two options — to vote to do a one-time purge or to hold off on a decision until the next month’s meeting where she would bring a policy to vote on.
“(A)nd then you would vote on the policy to create something that is going to be something we would follow over a span of years. So if you said every five years we’re going to purge accounts or every 10 years we are going to purge accounts under $50. Or you could just leave it a one-time thing without any expectation of further purges,” she said.
The primary responsibility of the board is to inform and advise the city council on matters of public interest and need in relation to the resources and services of the Apache Junction Public Library. Board members also recommend the policy for governing, control and improvement of the library and promote the public’s awareness of the services available at the library, according to the city’s website.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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