I have received a large number of responses regarding my
post asking for advice regarding amnesty periods. A couple of respondents have asked that I
summarize the responses and post them to the list, so here goes:
Most respondents (about 10) said that they do have periodic amnesty
days or weeks. They all mentioned
that they cannot be too frequent, as students (and faculty) will wait for them
when they know that they can expect them and therefore books will become even
later and abuses more frequent.
One respondent suggested they should appear to be totally
random.
Three respondents mentioned a new wrinkle on the amnesty
plan: an amnesty for food drive: instead of paying fines for late books, during
an amnesty period patrons may bring in a can of food for every overdue item;
this gives good publicity to such an amnesty program and appeals to people’s
charitable side.
Two respondents said that they used to have amnesty periods,
but that they did not show particularly good results and only led to abuses and
therefore ceased the policy.
Two respondents suggested the only way to get results is to
be truly punitive: have the registrar’s office delay semester grades or
next semester registration until all fines are paid or books returned.
Director of the Library
212-472-1500 x216