GAINESVILLE - If you have an overdue book from the Hall County Library, you might want to dust it off and return it.
The Hall County Library System, which already uses a collection agency for some of its overdue accounts, is turning smaller accounts, overdue by 45 days or more, to a national billing agency.
At issue are materials and fines more than 45 days overdue and valued between $10-$25. After an additional 21 days past due, the accounts will be forwarded to a national collection agency for further action.
Patrons who wish to return materials that are past due or to pay fines may do so before March 15 to clear their accounts and avoid additional charges and referral for collection. A non-refundable billing charge will be assessed to each account to cover administrative costs for the additional billing and recovery requirements beginning March 15.
The library system currently refers all delinquent accounts in excess of $25 to a collection agency after 45 days delinquency and following the notification of the patron account with three notices.
Hall County Library System Director Susan Stewart says significant fines and unreturned materials have become a problem for the library system. Approximately $17,000 in materials/fines and 600+ accounts are currently outstanding and fall within the $15 to $25 range. In addition to the financial burden this places on an already strapped library budget, Stewart notes that keeping past due library materials prohibits other people in the community from using those items.
To get more information on an individual account please call the Circulation Manager at
770-532-3311 ext. 110 or visit the library website at www.hallcountylibrary.org and click on "My Account." You may also email the Circulation Manager at [email protected] for additional information.
Sunday
May 19th, 2024
2:53PM
