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Thursday, March 15, 2007

Recipe for trouble?

A reader writes (through an anonymous remailer, no less):

Multnomah County has a new external auditing firm which is finding some "issues" related to the way the library handles money it collects. These same issues have been a long-standing concern to staff -- given that anybody can erase fines or charges of any amount without justification or supervision.

The library director sent out a long message to staff -- including this line:

"There is concern that every employee using the circulation system has the authority to adjust patron account balances without controls or additional approvals required. Again, this creates the possibility that errors could occur and not be discovered."

Library fines look like largely a cash business to me, albeit a small one. I doubt that it happens very often, but it certainly seems logical that a person who has the power to erase your fine could also collect it from you and then pocket it. Systems need to be in place to keep an eye on that. From my reader's message, it appears that something's going on in that arena.

I love our library and hope it has, or gets, its act together on this issue.

Posted at 2:29 PM | Bookmark and Share

Comments (2)

I'd appreciate more than a "concern" prior to implementing firmer controls here - which could cost more than an occasional loss. Is this a problem which requires a solution?

As for the North Portland Library staff - there isn't a harder working bunch in the library business. Their circulation desk is as busy as Grand Central Station. I would be surprised if this "concern" happens at all.

Posted by C | March 15, 2007 5:32 PM

This is the same library system that recently was in the news because they can't quite keep track of all the books. Now it looks like they can't quite keep track of the quarters either.

I'm sure that computer system keeps track of the money owed -- that's how it sends you those notices to pay up. If the bill gets marked as 'paid' then there should be money to show for that. It sounds like the audit showed they aren't paying attention.

While I agree with the other poster that the front line library staff work very hard, I'm less enthusiastic about the top managers who make the policies. Maybe those very busy desks need more staff.

Any word on what else the audit turned up?

Posted by DV | March 16, 2007 8:42 AM




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