Fines & Refunds

TTSD library fine settlement process:  

1. Check the report log to ensure weekly overdue email reports are running with the TTSD Lost & Overdue Materials Message verbiage.

2. Given time, send a printed notice home or call the family if the material is a textbook or Elementary library book. If you call home, please do not tell their caregivers the titles of library books if the student is in Secondary school to maintain the student's privacy and autonomy.

3. If the patron cannot pay, offer the TTSD Library Fine Forgiveness form at bit.ly/ttsdfees.

If a student has lost or overdue book(s) please let that student checkout until they reach their limit. 

• Ultimately, it is most important for the student to have access to material that they want to read at home.

• Once students reach their limit, staff may allow students to select from a "Little Free Library" collection as an alternative or may let them read with a friend.

• Provide alternate activities (reading, coloring, making...) for students who have reached their checkout limit. 

• Ideally, students shouldn't go more than two months without receiving a new book if they want one.

• Introduce students to Sora eBooks and audiobooks, and share that they can still read online if they are worried about losing physical library materials. 

How long should library staff keep fines? 

• Fines older than four years old can be waived with no penalty. 

• Families experiencing hardship can apply for an earlier waiver by completing the Fine Forgiveness form linked in their overdue notice. 

• Library Staff are asked to gather permission from their school principal when waiving more than $100 from a student's account or when students have already had more than $100 of fines waived previously.

• In situations in which students have consistently damaged materials, library staff are encouraged to consult with the school principal and the student's care team to determine a restorative solution.

Refunds

Generally, refunds for fine payments may be requested within six months (180 days) of recovering the missing library material(s). If a student pays for a missing item that they have recovered, they may keep the found item if a refund is not provided. Patrons may also choose to keep damaged materials that they have paid for. Collected Library fines are used to buy books and materials for the library learning commons. Collected Resource fines are used to purchase replacement student devices and components. 

T&L Recommended Fine/Replacement Fee Reminder Process & Details:

• Run email notices weekly on school days via Destiny's automated Patron notices

• Given time, consider confidentially investigating each request to see if missing items can be retrieved and to gather more info

• Library Staff typically take care of Library/Textbook fines

• Tech Coordinators typically take care of Resource fines

• Please grey out, strikethrough, and/or hide completed fine reduction requests

• Materials can be renewed to avoid weekly notices if it is still being used

• Contact your administrator for guidance if there is an issue, or if the patron owes over $100 upon the first waiver

• If a patron hasn’t responded to an email, within a few weeks, consider contacting the student, their teacher(s), or guardian(s) carefully & confidentially, or send a printed notice home

• If the student is in Secondary school, please do not include the titles of library books if parents/guardians are contacted (via call, email, or notice) to maintain the student's privacy and autonomy

• Schools will not be held liable for the resource replacement fees that are not paid or waived

• Schools are not liable for the library and textbook fees that are not paid or waived, though it is recommended that administrators provide funding to replace in-demand titles and textbooks