![]() New York Public Library has around 270,000 outstanding accounts, a number that also dates back to the 1990’s, according to library spokeswoman Angela Montefinise. “It’s important to have those books back into the system.” “Sometimes there are very unique books that are taken out that cost a lot of money to the system,” Walcott said. Walcott said that although the use of a debt collector is not ideal, it does serve a purpose. The library currently has 940,000 active cardholders. The library sent the company a list of 16,128 new accounts last year, according to statistics obtained by Gothamist/WNYC through a Freedom of Information request. Of those cases, the agency is actively seeking fines from 58,132 patrons. Since the 1990s, the Queens Public Library has reported 603,298 cardholders to Unique, the most of the three public libraries. How does that customer know that the debt won’t be reported? How does that make the customer feel about using their library?”ĭennis Walcott, the president and CEO of the Queens Public Library and a former New York City Schools chancellor, said he wants to put an end to the practice within a year. “A library sending a debt collector after a customer creates a barrier, even if it doesn’t impact a credit score. Fines and fees represent significant barriers,” said Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the D.C. “We want to remove barriers to using the library. Chicago recently became the largest public library system to eliminate late fees. In 2012, Washington D.C.’s public library system got rid of daily fines, and instead implemented a flat $5 fee for books overdue by 30 days or more, which adds up to between $8 and $20 depending on the value of the overdue book. No one can accrue more than $40 in fines, and the library says it has never worked with a debt collector. are moving away from a punitive fine structure. It makes you think you’re in a lot of trouble.” “To get a letter from a collection agency is obviously frightening. “It is a practice that we should end and is certainly something that is inconsistent with the amazing values of public libraries,” said Jimmy Van Bramer, the Queens Council member who chairs the committee that oversees libraries. Nevertheless, some people have become increasingly critical of the libraries' use of a debt collector. Following a 2015 settlement with the New York Attorney General, library debts no longer affect a person’s credit score. Court records confirmed that Unique doesn’t escalate the situation by suing for the unpaid fine, unlike many other debt collection agencies. “We don’t do anything after that,” assured Kenes Bowling, the manager of customer development at the company. Unique's job is to pressure patrons to return overdue books or pay fines with a series of calls and letters, a method that they've trademarked as the "Gentle Nudge."įollowing the series of nudges, the patron either returns the material or doesn't. Individuals handed over to Unique typically have fines that have accrued past $25 or $50, depending on their library. You can still visit and borrow library items if you have money owing.Each year, about 50,000 delinquent New York City library patrons are reported to Unique Management Services, a debt collection agency that works with all three of the city’s public library systems-New York Public Library, Queens Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library. Please have a chat with one of our friendly team members who can set up a payment plan for you. We encourage you to make payments on money owing for lost items if you can. I have lost items, are there options for me if I am experiencing financial difficulty?
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