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Home > About Your Card >Materials Recovery Program
Free Library of Philadelphia wants its books back - on time.
The Library also wants you to return the CDs, videos, audiobooks, and magazines that are stashed under the sofa, long overdue.

So, what's new?The Free Library has always asked borrowers to return books in 21 days and videos in 7 days. And, if they're not returned, the Library has always charged daily fines. For the first time, as of July 1, the Free Library is putting some real teeth into its overdue message.

Unique Management Services, Inc. has been hired to get the books back and the fines collected. At libraries all over the country, Unique is getting an impressive 60% of long overdue materials returned and fines paid. Other libraries currently using Unique's collection services include Queens Borough (NY) Public Library, St. Petersburg County (FL), and Spokane County (WA).
When items are:
  • 10 days past due, the Free Library sends an overdue notice.

    This is the time to search under the bed, in the trunk of the car, at the bottom of the book bag for missing items - and return them to the Library. Books and magazines can be returned to any one of the Free Library's 54 locations. Videos, audiocassettes and CDs must be returned to the branch from which they were borrowed.

    This is the time to visit the Library if you cannot find an item and settle your account. Library staff members are very willing to work with patrons to settle their overdue or lost accounts in ways that meet the patron's ability and timeframe to pay.

  • 30 days past due, the Free Library sends a second overdue notice.

  • 45 days past due, borrowing privileges are suspended. The Library forwards the account to Unique Management Services. A $10 non-negotiable service charge is added to the account in addition to overdue fines.

  • After 45 days, Unique Management sends the borrower three letters and follows up with two telephone calls.

  • After 165 days past due, Unique reports the overdue account to a national credit bureau that may affect the patron's credit rating for up to seven years.
Ten Excuses for Overdue Books Heard at the Free Library:(in random order)

1. "I already returned the book." (Library staff will make every effort to locate these items.)

2. "My brother (sister, whoever) used my card and now HE can't find the book." (Moral: never lend your card to anyone!)

3. "I never took that book out - even though it appears on my borrowing record." (Known to library staffers as the "phantom circulation!")

4. "We've moved. The book got packed by accident. Now, we don't know which box it's in."

5. "The book was in my car and it was stolen (wrecked, etc.)."

6. "My ex got custody of all the books in the divorce settlement."

7. "I didn't know you charged fines."

8. "I'm filing for bankruptcy and my lawyer says I'm not responsible."

9. "I don't have any money." (Library staff will work with you to develop a workable payment plan.)

10. "I thought this was the free library so I kept the book as long as I wanted!"
More about the Materials Recovery Program

The Free Library is Philadelphia's most lenient lender. More than 6 million items are borrowed for free each year. Most are returned on time. The new Materials Recovery Program encourages responsible borrowing. The services of Unique Management are aimed at the small percentage of borrowers who don't take overdue notices seriously. Free Library President and Director Elliot L. Shelkrot is optimistic about the new effort. He says, "The Materials Recovery Program will benefit all library users. There will be more materials back on the shelves for everyone to borrow. That's what public libraries are all about."

Unisque Management will help the Free Library get popular materials back on the shelves faster - and the Free Library will recover the costs of doing that. Shelkrot points out, "The Free Library currently spends more than $300,000 each year replacing lost materials. We'd much rather put that money into new books and videos and software."

The Library is producing colorful new posters featuring a super heroine returning her library materials. These will be hung in branch libraries, schools, recreation centers, and other community gathering places. Super heroine bookmarks will be inserted into books checked out this summer, reminding users to "Return Books on Time, Share Knowledge."