Photo by Flickr user stevendepolo
Waynesboro Public Library in Waynesboro, VA, is getting in the holiday spirit by offering to waive overdue library fines if patrons bring in cans and nonperishable foods for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. One nonperishable food item is worth $2 in fines – an exchange that the library’s publicity coordinator, Marta Grove, says is a help to patrons as well. The Waynesboro Public Library serves a population of about 20,000 people and has an estimated 150,000 items available for patrons to borrow. Here’s what Marta Grove had to say about the "Food for Fines" program:
How long has the Waynesboro Public Library been doing "Food for Fines?"
It’s been going on at least 10 years. The food drive is a huge help to both the patrons and the people that get the food. Patrons are always asking, when are you doing food for fines? It’s a good way for people to pay for fines without having to dish out the money, and help people at the same time.
How has the Waynesboro, VA, community been faring in this tough economic climate?
The food bank told me that they were giving out so much more food than before the recessions hit. As far as the library, we see a lot more people come in to use the computers because they don’t have Internet access at home. Jobs are scarce too.
We have so many free resources – computers, books, magazines, videos, free classes, free music programs, and movie nights.
How can the library be a resource to people who are struggling economically?
Definitely, the library is informational, educational, and also provides some entertainment. Everybody needs a little bit of information and entertainment. People who are working from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. like to have a little bit of entertainment in the evenings and enrich their lives in some way. ...
This interview was originally published on the Bread Blog. Keep reading the rest of the blog post.
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