Local Library Hires Collector for $72,000 in Fines

An Alabama library has hired a specialized collection agency to recoup over $72,000 in over due fines and replacement costs.

The Athens-Limestone Library in Athens hired Jeffersonville, Ind.-based Quality Management Services, a collection agency that specializes in library collections.

“The library is serious about recovering overdue materials,” Librarian Susan Todd told the Athens, Alabama News Courier last week. “Patrons who do not return materials are stealing from the library, and thus from all other library users and taxpayers. Fortunately, only a very small percentage of patrons do not return materials. This new policy will not affect the majority of patrons.”

Quality Management Services partners with libraries nationwide as well as in the United Kingdom to recover overdue materials, fines and fees and claims a response rate from 50-75 percent of patrons processed through its service, according to its website. Quality Management did not return calls.

According to Todd, patrons will receive an overdue notice from the library “11 or 12 days after the due date.” Two to three weeks after that, if the book remains unreturned, the library will send the patron a bill for the amount of the material. After 60 days overdue, Quality Management is brought in.