refunds for lost books..found??

[cara delia]

I am following a librarian with 30+ years in the same school.  She had a policy that she would refund money for books that were found.  I was not aware of this "policy" until it came to my attention from a very angry parent.  Now, I was advised that I should make sure to put this in writing at the begining of this year's newsletter.  My question is...do you give refunds?  The reason I chose not to is because in most cases the money has already been turned in and put into the library fund.  This caused major problems for me this summer, because several parents turned books in that they had paid for and wanted their money back.  I had to answer several phone calls from our SIMS operator about how much this kid owed, etc.   And generally I couldn't answer it over the phone so I would have to go to school (a 35 mile trip) and figure it out, then call the parent back. 

[Cathy Nelson]

As a tax paying parent, I would think the refund is warranted. It also breeds good relations. Even having a such a policy that says no refunds does not help parents (and students too) have a good attitude about the library.  We give refunds happily.  When we run reports if it's noted there we immediately get the process started which includes a form submitted on behalf of the students requesting a refund.  Why risk having a student or parent become angry with the library in this time when so many are losing their jobs.  We need to do whatever it takes to make parents smile when they think of their child's school library.  A "no refund" policy will not help that cause, and actually may cause more damage than you intend. In districts that are considering cuts, it could cost an LMS their job. Just my opinion...

[Pat Rideout]

My school division policy is that we will refund the money if the book is returned in good condition within 1 calendar year of the date it was marked lost in our system. We use Destiny and it allowed us to set whatever time limit we wanted. This was the time frame that was agreed upon by the librarians in my division. It is a pain in the neck because we always have to keep a substantial balance on hand just in case.

[cara delia]

We have destiny too, but I am the only one with admin passwords..just a pain in the tail to refund someone's money  I still do not think refunding money is a great idea, many times the kids will not look for a book until after their parents have paid for it, because after the mom or dad has written the check, they feel the pressure.  My feelings are that they should have looked for the book that dilligently BEFORE they had to pay.  Many only pay when they realize that their child can't go on a fieldtrip, or get the report card.  Just blows my mind that they do not have the regard for us, we are NOT walmart.

[Barbara Gogan]

As a practical matter, when we get cash for lost books, we keep it in a drawer just for situations like this.  

As a parent, I found a book we had searched high and low for, finally paid, in the pocket of a seldom-used suitcase (THEN I remembered we had taken it during a long weekend!).

You seem to assume bad faith by your students.  I'm sure you don't mean it this way, but it sounds like you want the students to do what's easiest for you instead of your doing what's easiest for them.

 Sometimes we can forget our job is to make the library a place the students are dying to go to--not a place to organize books.

[Donna rose ritchie]

Hi, 

We use the Silverlight program. As soon as a book that has been paid for scans in, up pops a message that so and so paid for it on such and such a date. Just as Barbara does, I too keep a running petty cash drawer (from funds brought in from lost books-up to $100) that I pay from when this happens. Makes it easy.

I find assuring students and parents that I will return their money if them missing book ever shows up has helped people pay more promptly.