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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 12032013 - C.28RECOMMENDATION(S): Fix December 17, 2013, as the public hearing date on the establishment of a new Schedule of Fines and Charges for the Contra Costa County Library, effective January 1, 2014. FISCAL IMPACT: Deleting the charges for a census microfilm request, a fax to a patron and an interlibrary loan will have no fiscal impact, as those services are no longer being provided. Charges related to the LINK+ interlibrary loan service are not changing. However, the schedule is being modified to accurately reflect the fines and charges that relate to LINK+. Adding charges to the schedule for two new services and increasing the charge for black and white printing, is estimated to generate $96,200 over a one-year period, which is expected to offset the cost of providing the services. Adding a returned check fee is estimated to generate $800 over a one-year period, which is expected to offset the cost incurred by the Library when checks are returned. BACKGROUND: Adoption of the proposed schedule will result in three categories of charges being added to the schedule and three categories of charges being deleted, due to obsolescence. APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 12/03/2013 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: 925-927-3201 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: December 3, 2013 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: C. 28 To:Board of Supervisors From:Cathy Sanford, Interim County Librarian Date:December 3, 2013 Contra Costa County Subject:Fix Hearing for the Establishment of New Schedule of Fines and Fees for County Library BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) The categories being added are, Color Printing & Photocopies, at $0.50 per page; Print/Copy Smart Card – Initial Purchase, at $0.50 per card; and Returned Check Fee, at $15.00. The categories being removed are, Census Microfilm Request, at $0.50 per request; Fax to Patron, at $3.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page; and Interlibrary Loan, at $5.00, plus a pass through of any charges from the lending library, per item. In addition to the changes to the categories, the new schedule increases the charge for black and white printing to $0.15 per page (photocopies are already $0.15 per page). The Contra Costa County Library (Library) is now offering color photocopies and color printing to its patrons, in addition to black and white photocopies and printing. Not only are color images more expensive than black and white copies, the cost of copying and printing has increased since the last Schedule of Fines and Charges was implemented. The charges proposed in the new Schedule of Fines and Charges is intended to enable the Library to reflect the cost to the Library of providing these services. Historically, the Library has not assessed a returned check fee when a patron pays the Library with a personal check that is subsequently returned by the issuing Bank. However, the Library incurs costs each time a check is returned to it. These costs include the time to repost fines and charges that remain unpaid as a result of the returned check; the time required to adjust collection amounts; the time required to provide written notification to the patron; bank fees; and paper and postage. LINK+ is an interlibrary loan consortium, a reciprocal membership service through which Library patrons may borrow materials from over 50 libraries in California and Nevada. The County’s participation in the LINK+ consortium was approved by the Board in June 2008, however the Schedule of Fines and Charges was not adjusted at that time to reflect the charges that relate to LINK+. The governing board of LINK+ has determined that each lending library in the consortium is to establish the amount it charges when an item it has lent through the LINK+ system is lost or returned in a condition that is no longer suitable for use, provided the amount charged does not exceed $115.00. When such a charge is imposed on a patron of the Library, the charge is payable directly to the lending library that is lending the material to the Library patron. When a patron of another library borrows material from the Library through LINK+, if that material is lost or returned in a condition that is no longer suitable for use, the Library charges that patron the lesser of (i) $115.00, and (ii) the cost of the item, plus a $5.00 processing fee. In addition to the replacement cost charged for items borrowed through LINK+ that are lost or damaged, discussed above, daily and maximum fines for overdue material apply to items borrowed from other libraries through LINK+. The daily and maximum fines for overdue material are established by Contra Costa County, through the Schedule of Fines and Charges. The daily and maximum fines for overdue material are retained by the Library. A copy of the proposed Schedule of Fines and Charges will be on file at the Clerk of the Board’s office, Room 106, 651 Pine Street, Martinez, ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: The Library will not recover costs for public printing, public copying, and the cost of handling returned checks, and the fees and charges applicable to LINK+ usage will continue to be difficult for the public to ascertain. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: None. ATTACHMENTS FixHearingFinesFeesScheduleHearing PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF FINES & CHARGES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014 OVERDUE / LOST CHARGES TYPE OF MATERIAL DAILY OVERDUE FINE PER ITEM MAXIMUM OVERDUE FINE PER ITEM LOST / REPLACEMENT FEE LOST/ REPLACEMENT PROCESSING FEE* MATERIALS RECOVERY/ LATE FEE** Adult & Young Adult Books, CD's, Cassettes $ .25 $5.00 per item or cost if less. Item price or $25.00 $5.00 $10.00 Adult & Young Adult Paperbacks, Magazines, Pamphlets $ .25 $2.00 per item or cost if less $5.00 Juvenile Books, CD's, Cassettes $ .10 $1.00 per item or cost if less Item price or $15.00 $5.00 $10.00 Juvenile Paperbacks, Magazines, Pamphlets $ .10 $1.00 per item or cost if less $3.00 Videos, DVD’s & CD ROM Products $1.00 $5.00 per item Item price or $25.00 $5.00 $10.00 Kits $1.00 $5.00 per Kit Replacement Cost $5.00 $10.00 Equipment (Projectors, Cassette Player, Engravers, etc.)$1.00 $5.00 per item Replacement Cost $5.00 $10.00 LINK+Interlibrary Loan items $1.00 $5.00 per item Determined by lending library, not to exceed $115.00, including processing fee --- *Processing fees charged on lost items are non-refundable if the item is later found and returned. ** Materials Recovery fee assessed when oldest fine/fee is 60 days past due, and the total balance due is $35.00 or more. OTHER CHARGES Missing portions of sets & kits $8.00 Major Damage $5.00 Minor Damage $1.00 Print/Copy Smart Card –Initial Purchase $ .50 per card Black & White Prints/Copies Color Prints/Copies $ .15 per page $ .50 per page Lost Card -Adult $1.00 Lost Card -Child $ .50 Books by Mail***$3.00 -$5.00 Non-refundable Meeting Room Fee: Small Room $10.00/hour Non-refundable Meeting Room Fee: LargeRoom $40.00/hour Returned Check Fee $15.00 *** The County Librarian may waive the Books By Mail fee for homebound patrons.