Meeting in the children’s section due to current renovations taking place at the Macon County Public Library (MCPL) in Franklin, the Board of Trustees on Feb. 4 primarily discussed the Fontana Regional Library (FRL) board’s consideration of removing/waiving fines from juveniles for late or lost books.
Trustees Diann Catlin and Leah Gaston communicated the negative implications of such a policy.
“I feel like that does not teach young people responsibility for late or lost books,” said Catlin.
“Returning their library books is a form of responsibility,” added Gaston.
Catlin made a motion to send an overture to the FRL board. In part, it reads, “This Advisory Board, the Macon County Library Board, urges the Fontana Board to continue the fines and fees which provide convenient access to resources and bring in needed revenue to the public library.” She also desired to see the last sentence of the overture express that paying fines and fees is a way to hold children and teenagers accountable when they check out books.
However, trustee Debbie Tallent disagreed, commenting that it is the task of parents, not a library, to teach responsibility, and that some juveniles may not be able to pay fines.
Gaston suggested that “Friends of the Library may be pursued to pay for children who cannot pay their fees and fines. As a homeschool mother, I want my child to be responsible. If children do not return books, then we have a boondoggle because kids will think they don’t have to return books because there are no fees – so then the books are not accessible to others who want to check them out.”
After further discussion, the overture passed – omitting Catlin’s sentence regarding responsibility – and will be considered at the March 11 FRL board meeting. Additionally, the FRL board will discuss a proposed option on future library card applications for a Juvenile Limited card, which would limit juveniles 15 years old and under to checking out books only in the children’s section.
Other business
Representing Macon County Commissioners at the Feb. 4 meeting was Danny Antoine. Chair Justin Bohner read from the bylaws that commissioners “will appoint three trustees to the Fontana Regional Library Board. Commissioners may select from the recommendations made by the Macon County Library Board.”
The three trustees who offered to serve on a nominating committee to replace outgoing trustees are Catlin, Gaston, and Debbie Franken. Trustee seats replaced in the near future will be for outgoing trustees Bill Dyar and Debbie Tallent, who are rotating off the board after serving two, three-year terms. Branch Librarian Abby Hardison presented Dyar and Tallent with certificates that read: “In recognition and appreciation for your years of dedicated service and outstanding contributions as a member of the Macon County Library Board.”
Hardison also shared her full report of recent and upcoming activity at the library. The report included such beneficial information for library patrons and the public at large as:
- SCC’s Digital Literacy Class series for seniors in the MCPL computer lab is now on Thursday afternoons from 2-5 p.m.
- Kim Terrell with the NC Extension office is working with library staff on another program for teens Feb. 20 and a Mediterranean diet program for adults on Feb. 21. Macon County Health Department’s staff is working with library staff on planning a recurring series called Healthy Little Chefs for ages 5-8 utilizing the Charlie Cart mobile kitchen, with registration filling up fast. The MCPL’s Kitchen Literacy Connection is made possible through IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) grant funding under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina.
- AARP Tax Aide program began providing appointments at MCPL on Feb. 3. It will continue to provide free tax preparation services every Monday and Tuesday at MCPL through mid-April. Appointment slots are limited.
- The second phase of the repair project that will address the ceiling of the timber frame section of the library is estimated to begin in March. That phase will include the installation of scaffolding in the entryway and a protective tunnel walkway bridging the two halves of the building. The central “living room” area of the library under the timber frame ceiling will be cordoned off and restricted during the repair process for safety purposes. An end date for the project has not yet been determined.