HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 Resolution No. 095•
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RESOLUTION NO. _!15:
SERIES OF 2007
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ENGLEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY TO
IMPLEMENT THE ANNUAL "WINTE R FOOD FOR FINES" PROGRAM FROM MONDAY.
NOVEM BER 26, 2007 THROUGH SL 'NDAY . DECEMBER 9, 2007.
WHEREAS. the Englewood Public Library has sponsored a "Food for Fines" pro gram since
1990; and
WHEREAS, the "Food for Fines" program all ows patrons with ove rdue fin es to "pay" them
off through the donation of non-perishable food items; and
\VH!'REAS, th e food items are then forwa rded to the Interfaith Community Services for their
"food bank" distribution to financially disad "antagcd families in the Englewood area; and
WHEREAS . the program is a benefit to the commun ity in that the disadvantaged are assisted :
the air cleared with re spect to fines; and the City receives its library material s back and the
program presents a positive image of the Library and the City.
NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ENGLEWOOD. COLORADO. THAT :
Section I. The Englewood City Council hereby authorizes the Englewood Public Library 's
implementation of the annua l "Winter Food For Fines" program from November 26. 2007
through Decem ber 9, 2007. The co ll ected food will then be forwarded to the Interf aith
Community Services for di stribution to financi all y disadvantaged families in the Englewood area .
ADOPTED AND APPROVED thi s 5th day of Novembe r, 2007.
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LoucrishiaA.E11terk --
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COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
Date:
No vember 5, 2007 I
Agenda Item:
9 c I
Initiated By:
Library Department
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Subject:
Englewood Public Llbrary ·s "Winter Food for Fines"
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Staff Source:
Hank Long, Director of Library Services
COUNCIL GOAL ANO PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
The Library has sponsored this popular program since 1990, and each year the City Counci 1 has
vo iced its support. In 2003 , the annual Food for Fines program was expanded to twice a year at
the request of the Library Board, and subsequentl y approved by City Council for two weeks during
the summer as well as two weeks betwP.en Thanksgi ving and Christmas as a way to mitigate the
in crease in Overdue Library rlnes and as a way to encourage the timely return of EPL materials so
that they can be used by more peopl e. The two weeks of the Summer Food for Fines program
co vers the last week of the public school year and the first week of vacations , a time during which
students and teachers are cleaning out their desks and lockers in preparation for the summer break
and numerous overdue Library materials are located, whereas the two weeks of the Winter Food
for Fines program traditionall y covers the period in betw ee n the Than'. ,gi ving and Christmas
holidays. Historically, each of these two biannual eve nts averages $1 ,Ull0 to $1 .500 in donated
fo od items for the lnterFai lh Community Services fo od bank .
RECOMMENDED ACTION
The Library Department recommends Council appro ve a Resolution authorizing the Library
Department to implement its 200 ~ Winter Food for Fires program from Monday, November 26
through Sunday, December 9.
BACKGROUND, ANALYSIS, ANO ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFIED
For the past 17 years, the Englewood Public Library has provided its "Food for Fines ' program as a
way for those patrons with fines on their overdue EPL materials to "pay " them off through the
donation of non-perish,,le food items that are, in turn , forwarded to Interfaith Community
Services (m their "food bank " distribution to financially disadvantaged families in the Englewood
area . Following 2003 's increase in maximum Overdue Fines from $2 to $5 , the Library Board
requested that the number of food items required to pay off a single Overdue charge also be
increased beginning with the 2004 Winter Food for Fine, program , e.g. it now takes two food items
to cancel out the late charges (not lost or damaged charges) on one overdue item. These food
items must be presented to the Library Staff at the Circulation Desk in order for the fines to be
cleared from the :,atron's computer record. This program has been warmly received and supported
by the public since its Inception, and Library patrons now look forward to it as a w~y of helping
others while relieving their own financial obligations. Thus, the program presents a positive Image
of the Library and the City and Is a "win-w in" situation for everyone Involved .
FINANCIAL IMPACT
• Since Its inception , this program has raised almost $32,000 In donated non-perishable food
Items to assist needy families in the Englewood area .
• The money that the Library collects each month in 'late charges • (i.e . charges on books and
other EPL items returned past their original "due date " and past the 3 day "grace period ")
goes to the City's General Fund . These revenues traditionall y drop about SO% during each
of the Library 's two-week Food for Fines programs , but the loss is more than offset by the
"good will " this program generates among Library patrons and by get1ing the Library
materials back on the shelves so that others can L ,e them .
LIST Of ATTACHMENTS
Res olution .
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