Apache Junction library to annually waive fines for lost, damaged books
It is only for those who have 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.
Metro Creative Connection
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Pam Harrison
City of Apache Junction
I can’t tell you exactly how many of these people that would be part of this 2,155 people are deceased; how many had their fees waived through bankruptcy — we normally get notified but I’m sure there are some that fell through the cracks; how many have moved out of the area. After awhile it’s just a matter of keeping things to a point where we can better work with them and hopefully reintroduce some people back to the library and not have to penalize them for a less than $50 fee.”
More than 2,100 Apache Junction library patrons who have racked up fees of $49.99 or less and have accounts seven years or older will have fines forgiven in a change approved recently by a city board.
“So the vote would be to accept the proposal for the new language in the procedure to have ... anything that’s older than seven years and less than $49.99 would be eliminated, would be removed from the database. We would not collect those fees and we would have that language for a regular process to happen every year to do that same thing at that seven-year mark for any accounts that are expired that long,” Library Board President Cheryl Hall said prior to a vote at a meeting Sept. 21.
The Apache Junction Public Library Board voted 4-0 to make the change. Absent were Vice President Robin Barker, Secretary Judy Borey and board member Vivian Rajski.
It is only for those who have 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.
Prior to the vote, board member Vera Walters said she doesn’t like that library patrons would not be required to take responsibility for their decisions.
“If it’s going to make it easier to make a more-efficient library, then I would vote for it. I do not like the idea of people not owning the responsibility that they have to the community and to the library,” she said.
The library board previously discussed changing it as a policy but it ended up being a procedure, Library Director Pam Harrison said at the meeting.
“Because it speaks in the procedures about loan periods, charges and library cards, I felt that it fit better into our procedures,” she said. “It’s called ‘uncollectable patron accounts.’ It’s a couple pages long.”
A total of 2,155 patron accounts with $49,607.54 will be waived and deleted, Harrison said.
“Seven years from Oct. 1, 2023, forward is going to go until when our patron accounts started. But each year we would just do ones that reached to seven years,” she said.
“I can’t tell you exactly how many of these people that would be part of this 2,155 people are deceased; how many had their fees waived through bankruptcy — we normally get notified but I’m sure there are some that fell through the cracks; how many have moved out of the area. After awhile it’s just a matter of keeping things to a point where we can better work with them and hopefully reintroduce some people back to the library and not have to penalize them for a less than $50 fee,” Harrison said.
The $49.99 could be one or several books, such as $3.99 paperbacks and they lost 10 of them, she said.
“So it’s just giving people an opportunity to come back to the library to experience what we have going on there now, the new things that we have, to be a part of the community again,” Harrison said.
The primary responsibility of the board is to inform and advise the 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.
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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