Using Alma to Create Equitable Access to Library Technology

Our library hasn’t charged fines in several years, with the exception of equipment, mainly laptops. During and immediately following the pandemic, we eliminated all fines, including those for library equipment and laptops — and experimented with different loan lengths for laptops. Over time, analysis showed that laptops were returned late at an alarming rate, or not returned at all, resulting in replacement fee charges and unnecessary manual work for staff. This presentation will share details about how, in an effort to ensure equitable access to library materials, we utilized fulfillment, analytics, and Alma integrations to reinstitute laptop fines. Successful implementation of laptop fines has allowed us to explore fine implementation for other highly used items including cameras, video games, and tablets.