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Show Book Fines Questioned FARM1NGT0N - How do you get people to bring back books they've borrowed from the bookmobile? THAT QUESTION is facing Davis County Library officials as they ponder disappearance of more than 1,000 of the books in the bookmobile collection-meaning collection-meaning one of 21 books is overdue. The library board is pondering ponder-ing the situation of overdue books valued at more than $5,000. as recounted by Pete Giacoma, Farmington Branch librarian and supervisor of the county bookmobile program that serves Farmington south. BECAUSE PATRONS don't have to pay fines for overdue books, apparently they don't feel an obligation to return them, he told the library board, last week. Comparing overdue books in the bookmobile to the headquarters head-quarters library, only 173 were delinquent between July and November of last year, or less than one-fifth as many as from the bookmobile. A FIVE cent fine per day is charged for books borrowed from the three stationary libraries lib-raries in Clearfield. Farming- ton and Bountiful. Initially, a week's grace period is allowed and then if the book isn't returned, re-turned, the 40 cents is added to succeeding five cent daily increments. in-crements. Although some books are returned at the permanent libraries, lib-raries, Mr. Giacoma said, but at the time the county took over the bookmobile service for the south end from the state, there were "numerous trays" of overdue books listing probably hundreds. LIBRARY Director Jeanne Layton questioned ability to maintain a delinquent book list at the bookmobile by checking each patron for overdues forced by lines that would back up and other problems faced in the small facilities. "It does appear fines are an incentive," he continued, noting not-ing Salt Lake City Library charges fice cents a week because be-cause of weekly bookmobile stops and the Salt Lake County Coun-ty system plans to charge five cents a day for children's books and 10 cents for adults. ASKED IF fine revenue could compensate for added clerical duties that would be created, Mr. Giacoma said, "In my experience, it never compensates. The real point is to get the books back." He added that publicity will be tried before any fines proposal prop-osal is studied. THE STATE Library Board operates the north county service, ser-vice, including Layton. tb |