Title
Approve Library Debt Write Off for Certain Debts Incurred Prior to 2024
Body
WHEREAS, the mission of Saint Paul Public Library (the “Library”) is to welcome all people to connect, learn, participate and grow; and
WHEREAS, the Library’s collection of materials (the “Collection”) is a shared community resource available to be borrowed by all who have a Library card and comply with the Library’s user agreements; and
WHEREAS, borrowers who lose or damage items from the Collection are assessed fees to cover the cost of those items and the Library makes great efforts to encourage prompt return of or repayment for materials in the Collection using telephone, electronic, and mailed reminders; and
WHEREAS, Library accounts are locked and patron borrowing privileges are suspended when over $10 in fees are accumulated; and
WHEREAS, to strike a balance between collecting costs and restoring borrowing privileges, the Library adopted a policy, revised January 1, 2025, which forgives debts on patron accounts totaling under $300 after two years of attempted recovery by the Library and, when the debt is forgiven, restores those patrons’ borrowing privileges;
WHEREAS, debts over $300 that remain after the Library’s two-year recovery efforts are entered into the City’s accounts receivable system and collection is pursued via the City’s Office of Financial Services; and
WHEREAS, Library staff have reviewed all patron records as of December 31, 2025, and have compiled a list of patron accounts with debts which were incurred between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023 that meet the requirements for debt forgiveness; and now, therefore, be it
WHEREAS, the exact value of the debts being forgiven for this review period will be calculated upon the approval of this action, but shall not exceed $115,000; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul Public Library Board authorizes the forgiveness of eligible debts on patron accounts and approves the restoration of said patrons’ borrowing privileges.