I appreciated Salt Lake City’s article about The Fine Free Library: One Year Later. I am very grateful to work at a fine free library! I have seen the positive effects on patrons, especially families, disabled patrons, and low income patrons. I understand the need & purpose for fees for lost or damaged materials, but I have seen how this can become a barrier for low-income patrons. After one of our regular patrons who is currently unhoused, had the majority of their belongings stolen, including two library books, it struck me at how even lost fines create barriers. She couldn’t afford to pay the fines, and the only person authorized to waive fines is the branch librarian and only for our branches’s materials. It felt so awful to have to tell this patron who was experiencing a serious hardship, that she should email the branch librarian of our branch and the library in the sister consortium to explain what happened and see if they would waive the fines. It felt the only options were for her to have to replay her trauma and be vulnerable to two people (one she never met) or not be able to use any of the library’s services. And to me, the unhoused community is one of the populations who needs/benefits from the library the most!! 

I plan on doing more research, but I want to know how libraries are finding ways to forgive lost or damaged fines for low-income patrons. San Jose Public Library has a program where patrons can volunteer at the library to clear charges at a rate of $20 an hour. I think this is a fantastic option! 

Potential ideas for solutions I have been marinating on:

• Raise the limit on fees before materials cannot be checked out. 
  • For example, Mendocino County Library is $20, while Sonoma County Library is $100
• Have a forgiveness application form- patrons can apply to have certain amount waived, could have limits like $100 per decade or something 
  • I’ve seen the branch librarian forgive patrons lost charges for materials lost in fires, etc. It would be more equitable to have an official policy with info on the website. I’ve seen people with charges from a wildfire from 2017 that didn’t know they could get waived, so they didn’t get to use the library for 8 years!!!! 
• Patrons with an EBT card can waive a certain number of materials or amount per calendar year 
  • MCL currently has a card for educators that forgives 4 books per school year there could be something similar to this 

The City Library. (2018, August 9). The Fine Free Library: One Year Later. https://slcpl.medium.com/the-fine-free-library-one-year-later-d28c69743c15 

San Jose Public Library. (nd.). Volunteer Away Your Fines.  https://www.sjpl.org/vayf/ 

This module has my brain going a mile a minute!! I feel so energized about community access and care in libraries. 

This week was the first library program I’ve ever facilitated, a Narcan Training hosted by MCAVHN, a local harm reduction non-profit that “provides services and supports to persons affected by substance use disorders and behavioral health conditions.” The idea for this program came from a friend of mine who was supported by MCAVHN when they were going through recovery. My library already has a partnership with MCAVHN, they have been supplying hygiene kits, period kits, Narcan and safe sex supplies for our Little Free Pantry we have outside the library. 

This module inspired me to chat with the MCAVHN Program Director since he was in the library for the program. I asked him what services or programs he wished MCAVHN had resources or time for that the library might be able to support. He said a resume workshop would be really helpful for their participants and that MCAVHN has two drop in programs where participants hang out and make crafts/cook, etc and it would be a great time for library staff to come visit and talk to the patrons about what they would like to see in the library. I am excited about getting to build relationships and get feedback from community members that my library doesn’t currently do outreach with. We have 10 Chromebooks for in-library use and it would be awesome to use those for a resume workshop, the workshop could be at MCAVHN or at the library or both! I think bringing library staff & resources to the populations we want to serve is a great way to connect with the community and a good equity practice.

The Little Free Pantry at the Ukiah Library  & the Flyer for the Narcan Training

Check out my project here !

I’m Megan (she/her) and I live in Ukiah, CA, which is a small town 2 hours north of San Francisco. I am a library assistant and I’ve been working at a public library for 2 years. Prior to that I taught fifth grade for nine years at a small charter school. 

I am interesed in adult services in public libraries, particularly in how libraries can become more accessible and equitable for marginalized and vulnerable communities. I am excited for this course, because every person I’ve met who has completed this program recommended the course to me.

 I’m a huge Trekkie and love to dance, mostly English Country Dancing but I’ve also been recently learning queer country line dancing. My main artistic outlets are cottagecore fashion and embroidery. I’m passionate about liberation, and do local community organzing including organzing in a mask bloc (mutual aid group that provides free N95/Kn95 masks).  

I love to read middle grade and YA fiction, but lately I’ve been mostly reading queer and/or fat  romance and cozy SFF.

Photo from a geek convention where I cosplayed as a dabo girl on strike at Quark’s Bar from Deep Space Nine.