2023-02-24 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 13, Issue 7
Featured Story
Four Colors and Fine Free
In July of 2022, Marvel published the Amazing Spider-Man #700. This was a celebration issue of the 60th year of Spider-man comics. Included in this issue was a short back-up story about Spider-man, and his relationship with libraries. This is a partnership between Marvel and the New York Public Library with the intent to get the word out about the removal of fines at the NYPL. The comic is about much more than that, however. Spoilers below for the 5-page story, although if you are familiar with libraries, you won’t be surprised!
In the story Better Late Than Never written by Daniel Kibblesmith, with art by David Lopez, colored by Nathan Fairbairn, and lettered by Joe Caramagna, The New York Library has announced that they will be waiving all late fines. This is great news for the eternally guilty Spider-man, who is excited to get a clean slate at the library. The comic then goes through several panels of a librarian checking in the books that Peter Parker/Spider-man has returned, with some commentary about what the book was used for, or fast jokes along the way. After everything has been checked in and all late fines waived Peter Parker owed the library $452.86! This, of course, was due to damages to the book, which are not late fees. Of course, the library was able to work something out with Peter to clear those fines as well. It turns out that Peter Parker is roughly the same size as Spider-man, and would be perfect for a Spider-man Storytime at the library.
This story was great in many ways. First, it announces the fact that Spider-man’s local library is now fine free, and that patrons can come back to the library with a clean slate. It’s obvious by the number of books the Spider-man is returning that he was avoiding returning them because of the amount of late fees incurred. One of the other great things in the beginning of the comic is a small exchange of dialog between two library patrons. One patron is surprised that the library has comics and manga available for checkout. Both bits of information are fantastic, as many of the people reading the landmark 900th issue of Amazing Spider-man might not be regular users of libraries. This lets a target audience know about what the library has to offer and that they are welcome to come back, even if they have overdue fees.
The scenes with checking in library books are amusing and helpful. They show that Spider-man uses his local library to defeat villains. For example, Spider-man checked out the D.I.Y. Electricians guide to Insulation, presumably for a battle with Electro, an electricity-based villain. Library resources were key to saving the city. The fact that the item was returned slightly burnt leads directly into the next point in the comic Fine free does not mean fee free. Peter Parker is still responsible for damages to the library books. The library is able to work something out with him, which is a great example of how library workers want to welcome patrons back into the library and are willing to work with patrons to make it happen. The last line of the comic encourages comic readers to visit their local library, as they can likely get a card already paid for by taxes.
Going fine free is a great way for libraries to accomplish our mission and bring resources to community members who need them. Why Have Libraries Gone Fine-free The Past Few Years? – Intellectual Freedom Blog (ala.org) discusses how fine-free libraries remove barriers to library use, especially for low-income households. Once patrons have fines on their account, they are less likely to use the library due to the burden and guilt of late fees. Another great resource is the Fine Free Map @ urbanlibraries.org. This is a map of libraries that have gone fine free. All information is user submitted, so libraries that would like to add their library to the map can do so. It also has sections for who fines are eliminated for (everyone, children, schools, etc.) and the reasons the library eliminated fines. This can be a powerful tool to see what libraries around your community have stopped collecting fees, and how they were able to do so.
The ICfL recently had an Info2Go! Session on going fine free. There is a recorded version of the webinar available at Info2Go! Idaho Commission for Libraries. The webinar included representatives from across Idaho talking about their libraries and experiences going fine free. The Curiosity Report also had a past issue about the experience of going Fine Free.. You can see the archived article at SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 2, Issue 4 (tinyletter.com), written by Rasheil Stanger of the Valley of the Tetons Library. Want to read the comic for yourself? You might be able to find a copy at your local library!
By Mike Sloan
Fail Forward
We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into a program, and no one shows up. You try something new, and you fall on your face. Sound familiar? Fail Forward is the place to share your failures, and give you the opportunity to share what you learned from them. Did you promote your program in a different way after no one showed up? Maybe you took a new approach to the new thing you were excited about? Awesome! Share your story via our online form so others can learn, and realize that failure is often part of the process.
Failing Forward
As a millennial I like to think I am up on what is the right and wrong to say when talking to someone. In this last year I found I had an issue with misgendering people. Admitting that I have done wrong is very hard and it pricks my pride. However, this is not about me; I remind myself this is about the other person and I have hurt them. Apologizing to them is very important to acknowledge I’ve hurt them and change my behavior in the future. Then if I don’t know what they use, I ask what their preferred pronouns are. So far, I am getting better at it!
By Jessica Fleener
Crush Corner
Is there a library you follow on social media who is always doing new and exciting things? How about a blog you follow that inspires you? What about a new idea, book, or resource that you want to share? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who or what they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!
Crush Corner
My manager and I were having a conversation about how employees need to do some of the tasks our circulation aides do once in a while. For example, processing our courier bins. She even mentioned that it is important for her as a manager to do these tasks once in a while to see what is going on at the front lines of the library service. For all the workers behind the scenes at all libraries that put away books, shelf read, get the courier bins process, thank you it makes the library run smoothly!
By Eric Hovey
SPLAT explores the ever-evolving library world and supports library folks as they adapt to meet the needs of their communities. Library folk throughout the state of Idaho volunteer to serve on the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT). Learn more about SPLAT at https://libraries.idaho.gov/splat/
SPLAT is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS-246156-OLS-20). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.