Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science (한국문헌정보학회지)

Korean Society For Library And Information Science (한국문헌정보학회)
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A Study on the Improvement Measures through Analysis of Late Fee Policy in Public Libraries in the United States and Korea

미국과 국내 공공도서관 연체료 정책 분석을 통한 개선 방안 연구

  • Hyojung Sim ;
  • Hyunkyung Song
  • 심효정 (대진대학교 문헌정보학과) ;
  • 송현경 (명지대학교 문헌정보학과)
  • Received : 2024.07.26
  • Accepted : 2024.08.13
  • Published : 2024.08.31
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Abstract

This study analyzed the current status of late fee policies for overdue books in public libraries in the United States and Korea and derived measures to improve the late fee policy in public libraries in Korea. Therefore, this study analyzed the current status of late fee policies in public libraries in Seoul, Korea. The results indicated that 14.8% of public library operators and 21.6% of public libraries in Seoul had late fee policies. In the US, the American Library Association and major public libraries were found to have recently eliminated late fees. The main justification for this policy change was their recognition of late fees as a form of social inequality. In fact, this study confirmed that the elimination of late fees led to users' increased access to information. This study also found that public libraries in the US turned books not returned after a certain period into lost items and imposed fines for lost items. In conclusion, this study suggested integrating measures for late fees and lost items to manage non-returned books and clarifying the legal basis for such measures.

본 연구는 미국과 국내 공공도서관의 연체 도서에 대한 연체료 정책 현황 분석을 통해 우리나라 공공도서관 연체료 정책에 관한 개선방안을 도출했다. 국내 사례로는 서울시 공공도서관의 연체료 현황을 분석했다. 연구 결과, 서울시 공공도서관은 운영주체 기준 14.8%, 도서관 수 기준 21.6%가 연체료 부과 정책을 시행하고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 미국의 경우, 미국도서관협회 및 주요 공공도서관 등은 최근 연체료 폐지 정책을 계속해서 시행하고 있다. 가장 주된 이유는 연체료를 사회적 불평등의 한 형태로 인지하게 된 때문이다. 실제로 연체료 폐지로 인하여 이용자들의 정보 접근권이 강화된 사례가 있는 것으로 확인되었다. 이와 함께 미국 공공도서관 경우, 연체 이후 일정 기간이 지나면 분실로 전환을 한 이후 분실에 대한 수수료를 부과하는 것으로 조사되었다. 본 연구는 연체도서 관리를 위하여 이와 같이 연체와 분실에 대한 대응 조치를 통합할 것을 제안하고 이를 위하여 법률적 근거를 명확하게 할 것을 제안하였다.

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References

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