E-mail alert cuts library income
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These days when people are reminded to return library books, they return them.
The amount of late fees has dropped drastically since the Greater Victoria Public Library started reminding users to return borrowed materials via e-mail. The service began in early 2009, said Barry Holmes CEO of the GVPL.
Already for 2010, the GVPL is budgeting for a $187,000 drop in fines and fee collection, mainly due to the e-mail notification service, Holmes said. For 2009, the GVPL budgeted to collect $746,000 in fines and fees.
“The fines are about getting the materials back,” Holmes said. “Other libraries across the country were offering the e-mail service and it’s only fair that we don’t hold back (and offer it too).”
Before creating e-mail notification, library users were notified by phone when their items were already overdue and they faced fines.
While the drop in revenue is causing the GVPL to create new ways of generating revenue, Holmes said the e-mail service is working.
“We are getting things back quicker now and getting things back is what it’s all about,” Holmes said.
For the past year the GVPL has noticed an increase of 27 per cent in circulation of the materials. Holmes said the increase in use could also be linked to the recession.
The e-mail notification service is available to all GVPL patrons, but they have to provide an e-mail address when they sign up for a library card or online at the GVPL website, www.gvpl.ca.
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