This was posted 8 years 4 months 19 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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Brisbane City Council Library Amnesty - Fees Waived in Exchange for a Can of Food

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Brisbane City Council Library Amnesty - Fees Waived in Exchange for a Can of Food
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harper on 01/12/2015 - 20:50 brisbane.qld.gov.au (252 clicks)

Don't know if this is a deal so please move if not, but thought I would share anyway. Similar to the amnesty of previous years, you will have overdue fines, processing fees and/or holds fees waived in exchange for a can of food. Not sure the cheapest can out there but a can of baked beans can be had for $0.65 from Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. Not the best tasting beans though and considering it's for those in need it's probably worth spending a bit more.

As provided in the email:

Do you, or any of your family and friends have outstanding library fees?

Council's libraries are getting into the spirit of Christmas by offering to
waive outstanding library fees and fines between 1-31 December 2015.

Customers who return their overdue books at a library during December 2015 or
have existing overdue fines, processing fees and/or holds fees will have these
fees waived in exchange for a can of food. Please note that perishable food
items cannot be accepted.

Lost library items are not covered by the amnesty.

If you don't have any fees or overdue items but would like to help people who
are doing it tough this Christmas, Council will gladly accept your donation of
canned food.

This year, Council's library amnesty will donate all food to Foodbank Queensland
, an organisation that distributes food to charities and community organisations
who assist those in need.

To take part in the 2015 library amnesty, visit your local Brisbane City
Council library.

Books & Magazines Library

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Brisbane City Council
Brisbane City Council

closed Comments

  • phunkyfeelone on 01/12/2015 - 20:52
    +5

    Even better, bring a can of food AND pay your lousy fines while you're there, tightarse…

    • harper on 01/12/2015 - 20:57
      +6

      Not saying I don't agree with you and I didn't neg you but sorry, am I on the wrong site?

      • phunkyfeelone on 03/12/2015 - 21:13
        -1

        The site is about getting a bargain, not ripping off your local Library by paying $0.80 for a can of beans.
        Big difference…that money goes towards updating facilities, public internet costs (often used by the unemployed to search for work), replacing damaged and vandalised equipment, and paying the minimum wages of the people who make it all happen. Would you rip off the Salvo's too?

        And thanks to all the nEggers, I bet you're a barrel of fun.

        • INFIDEL on 03/12/2015 - 21:36

          How is availing yourself of an offered service ripping off anyone? What next - borrowing material from a library, driving local streets, or playing in a park is ripping off ratepayers? Its been factored into the $3B+ budget.

          Strange you say you know how these foregone fees & charges are allocated in the Brisbane City Council - what is the basis of your expert knowledge?

          I notice you are unlikely to be a Brisbane ratepayer being from Melbourne. So don't know why you are concerned by what a library service or council a long way from you choses to do with its / ratepayers money. Some library services choose not to impose fines - it's a local choice.

          By all means get involved with your own local government, but it's a local issue. Would you accept me telling you what your council should do?

          As for whether this is a deal according to the posting guidelines is different. You can use Report for that. But with over 100 + votes, I don't like your chances. Its been accepted as a deal for years. Library users receive an email advising of the amnesty. I'd say its more a forum post.

          But it can save some Ozbargainers money knowing this is available. It means I don't worry about administrative fees, just because my local library doesn't have what I want, I can order it from another library in Brisbane. I can wipe the 80c transfer fee at the end of the year. I never return material late, so incur no fines.

          No neg from me, just a + for the deal.

    • Olokun on 01/12/2015 - 21:01
      +2

      I actually agree.

      Also would be good to see some drop off some can even if they don't owe fees

    • get-innocuous on 01/12/2015 - 21:38
      +4

      No need to attack one of our finest community members, you have no idea if he has any overdue library books!

      • phunkyfeelone on 03/12/2015 - 21:19

        My apologies, the 'tightarse' line was not directed toward the OP, who clearly states that people should just go along and donate whether or not they owe money.

        My bad, can see how that was misdirected. It was aimed at those people who don't pay the small fines issued by community services.

        • get-innocuous on 03/12/2015 - 23:10
          +1

          All good man, it was a joke. One of the most prolific posters here is named "tightarse".

    • INFIDEL on 01/12/2015 - 22:30
      +2

      Its not just an amnesty for fines, but administrative fees like for transferring material from one library to another to borrow. (There is no fee to return material at a different library.)

      Less or no copies are held at every library to save money & a fee is imposed on the borrower because the material is not available near you.

      Unlike councils with smaller areas as in many other cities (BrisbaneCC 1,367km², SydneyCC 25km², MelbourneCC 36km²), the material can be in a library up to 50km away. So transfer of material between libraries is not just for convenience.

      Up to a 100km journey to pick up a book to read because it is not stocked near you is probably a good reason to use this amnesty - to pay for a few transfer fees.

      So I'll donate a few cans to wipe a couple of dollars transfer fees, along with my donation to OzHarvest, etc.

    • Vladdo on 01/12/2015 - 21:24
      +18

      I look at it as a nice gesture from the council/govt so those that were avoiding the library can now go back, no hard feelings.. And those that are in need, ie, those that are so poor that they can't even get to a library, get some sort of food..

      Why are people so cynical?

      • gringo on 01/12/2015 - 21:31
        +2

        If they want to give an amnesty, give an amnesty. Most other libraries do so every so often - no strings attached.

        If you can afford to pay a fine, in this case you should do so - as the money is going directly to a good cause.

        • gringo on 01/12/2015 - 21:54
          +1

          Gosh ok - well obviously people disagree with me on this one.

          You can probably go in anytime and beg for your library fines to be forgiven and they'd probably do so - just you'd normally be too embarrassed to do so.

          Giving a 0.69c can doesn't change the equation much for me (you should still be embarrassed).

        • INFIDEL on 01/12/2015 - 22:34
          +3

          @gringo:
          Its quite easy with BCC Libraries to have a fee or fine waived, with a reasonable excuse. So you are correct.

          Strangely, people get upset about this each year. The amnesty is not mandatory - you can pay your outstanding fees & penalties or give a donation.

          My guess is a lot of stressed parents use the amnesty to wipe their children's penalties for late return of material.

          In the spirit of giving at this time of year, & knowing some have a hard time - giving is good ;-)

        • gringo on 01/12/2015 - 22:36
          +1

          @Infidel:

          Exactly - library people are pretty understanding, a genuine reason is nothing to be embarrassed about.

          It really is a false economy to short change your library though - especially if you want it to continue existing.

        • save my dollarydoos on 01/12/2015 - 23:04
          +2

          @gringo:

          This.

          I haven't been to a library in quite some time. But i might go again now that im within walking distance.

          One of the few bastions of peace and quiet with amenities save for your own home (and even then not always)

        • Maverick-au on 01/12/2015 - 23:41
          -4

          @Infidel:

          In the spirit of giving at this time of year, & knowing some have a hard time - giving is good ;-)

          Not when it's other ratepayers who are paying for this through increased rates. If people owe money to the library they should have to pay it and make a donation.

          Maybe the councillors could pay the fines from their pay as a gesture instead of putting this onto the ratepayers who face increases each year along with the already expensive water/sewage.

          Maybe they should accept food donations to wipe parking fines as well!

        • txb on 02/12/2015 - 11:08
          +1

          @Themojorising:

          Peace?? About half that I visit are playground/day cares for children.

  • arcticmonkey on 01/12/2015 - 21:28
    +2

    Great idea. Nice gesture from council.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/12/2015 - 21:31

    Libraries are only good for Freegal. I have cards from 16 different libraries so I receive 50 free legal music downloads per week.

  • matthew8 on 01/12/2015 - 21:53

    Great Idea
    More local councils could do this

    • Maverick-au on 01/12/2015 - 23:44

      More local councils could do this

      I'm sure the ratepayers might have something to say about that. What is wrong with people paying the tiny fines?

      • INFIDEL on 02/12/2015 - 00:25
        +3

        That's a very conservative view for a Maverick ;-)

        Its the same complaint each year this amnesty is posted. The poor ratepayers.

        In a budget of over $3Billion (2010-11), this amnesty on overdue fines & administrative fees would be miniscule.

        When I donate at my library, staff are surprised as very few in my area take up the amnesty offer. (I owe 80c for 1 hold this year. I don't think the council will notice that loss against the large amount I pay in rates.)

        Wiping the slate clean is an ancient tradition, often practiced at this time of year.
        A 'tiny fine' ($10) means a child, or someone a little older, not being able to borrow anything until its paid.

        The reason the amnesty is given is to get people back into libraries & borrowing again. (Using council facilities - that's going to cost ratepayers!)

        If you consider your rates are increased unbearably by Christmas decorations, this minor amnesty, & other seasonal spending, lodge a complaint with the Council. I don't think they read Ozbargain. Don't forget to sign it Ebenezer Scrooge ;-)

        • Maverick-au on 02/12/2015 - 13:28

          In a budget of over $3Billion (2010-11), this amnesty on overdue fines & administrative fees would be miniscule.

          So let the councillors pay it, not the ratepayers. The amount of money isn't the issue but why stop at having an amnesty on library fines but what about residential street parking fines?

          A 'tiny fine' ($10) means a child, or someone a little older, not being able to borrow anything until its paid.

          Why can't the parent or the older person pay the $10 and continue to use the free library? If they incur voluntary fees they should have to pay it instead of sending a message that it's ok to not pay as we'll write the fines and fees off.

          The reason the amnesty is given is to get people back into libraries & borrowing again. (Using council facilities - that's going to cost ratepayers!)

          If people have racked up large enough fines that it stops them going there they shouldn't be using the library, the others should pay up instead of having their debts written off.

          Don't forget to sign it Ebenezer Scrooge ;-)

          It has nothing to do with being a scrooge but the council is always telling us everything is user pays but they are willing to write off debts for one set of people but not many others. The libraries are already massively funded by the ratepayers and now those that can't do the right thing are being further funded. I've been to the library once in the last 20 years and most ratepayers are the same, maybe it's about time the council turned it into more of a user pays model or cuts back on a lot of the fluff that the library has (looking at gaming consoles for one).

  • chiefbodge on 01/12/2015 - 21:54
    -1

    Libraries still have fees? All the libraries in Adelaide don't.

    • Nillionaire on 02/12/2015 - 01:25
      +1

      overdue fines, processing fees and/or holds fees

      • chiefbodge on 02/12/2015 - 10:27
        +1

        Yeah, I can't think of any library in Adelaide that has any of them. The thinking is that if you don't have overdue fees then the library is more accessible to people and therefore better for the community.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/12/2015 - 21:58

    That's lovely :)

  • Bandit74 on 02/12/2015 - 08:07
    -1

    Note: 9 out 10 Pensioners prefer PAL

  • Billy Bob Hick on 02/12/2015 - 13:17

    Great idea. I donated my can of beans to the Shane Warne Foundation last Xmas but only one bean got to those in need.

  • INFIDEL on 06/12/2015 - 16:09

    Talked with staff at BCC Library at Carindale. Some people are donating $20+ of cans to wipe a $2+ penalty :-)
    Averaging 100 cans a day in that library.

    Cans make easy collection, distribution & storage for Foodbank.

    • Japius on 08/12/2015 - 13:09

      Yeah I always go shopping and drop off a couple of bags of canned food usually to wipe a small sum. I would rather it went to those in need than BCC so I purposely just wait until the amnesty each year and dont pay any fines that may be on the kids cards.

      I dont use the library myself but the kids do and inevitably theres always a transfer fee or a late fee on the account each year. It's not about the money its just that I know they do this every year so I would rather pay it this way and know the money isn't going toward CityCycle lol.

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