TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Norman Wright, Community Development Director
SUBJECT:
title
Food for Fines Week
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council authorize the Salem Public Library to hold a “Food for Fines Week” at the Main Library and West Salem Branch Library from Sunday, April 1, through Sunday, April 8, 2018, when food may be contributed to the Marion-Polk Food Share in exchange for forgiveness of fines for overdue library materials?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the Salem Public Library to hold a “Food for Fines Week” at the Main Library and West Salem Branch Library from Sunday, April 1, through Sunday, April 8, 2018, when food may be contributed to the Marion-Polk Food Share in exchange for forgiveness of fines for overdue library materials.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
The City Council first authorized “Food for Fines Week” in 1991 and has reauthorized the program each subsequent year.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Since its inception in 1991, the “Food for Fines Week” program has generated over 136,000 pounds of food. The program continues to generate thousands of pounds of food for Marion-Polk Food Share, permits patrons to clear fines that might otherwise have remained unpaid, and results in the return of library materials. There is no cap on the amount waived and the exchange rate is $1.00 waived per can of food donated. Lost book fees are not waived. Statistics for the past 7 years illustrate the program’s success. Food for Fines was reviewed and recommended for approval by the Library Advisory Board at their January 2018 meeting.
|
Year |
Pounds Donated |
Accounts Cleared |
Total Cash Collected |
|
2011 |
5,431 |
1,416 |
$4,712 |
|
2012 |
5,610 |
1,643 |
$5,379 |
|
2013 |
6,090 |
1,113 |
$4,737 |
|
2014 |
6,100 |
1,102 |
$4,623 |
|
*2015 |
3,875 |
1,081 |
$3,970 |
|
2016 |
6,757 |
1,865 |
$5,112 |
|
2017 |
7,805 |
2,369 |
$4,870 |
|
* Food For Fines week was shorter due to the Easter holiday. |
FISCAL IMPACT:
In 2017, Salem Public Library collected an average of $2,110 in overdue fines per week.
During the 2017 “Food for Fines Week,” the library collected $4,870 while simultaneously collecting thousands of pounds of food for the Marion-Polk Food Share. Historically, a significant number of library account balances are cleared or reduced allowing patrons to once again checkout library materials.
Danny Smith
Interim City Librarian
Attachments:
1. None.