Barter System: Solving the overdue problem

Despite hosting various initiatives throughout the year, public libraries in Cape Town are still struggling to retrieve overdue books (about 30K)and/or payments for fines and fees (valued at over R3 Million). Many staff have voiced their concerns about their communities being unable to pay for late fines and older fees. What alternative options have we provided to the residents of Cape Town? This pitch proposes that we offers credits to attendees of various LIS programs to assist them by bartering their time to clear their card. This will allow LIS to turn the overdue problem into an opportunity, while increasing participation in LIS programs. A valuable message from the City Manager (21/05/2024): “Over time, there can be a tendency to believe that our job is to represent the organization when our job is actually to serve residents. Think of how we design our systems and processes - whether it is wayleaves, trading permits, or building plans. We design our systems to streamline internal processes, so that they serve our best interests. But do we ever stop to think whether these systems and processes work for those whom it is supposed serve? Herein lies the tension: if we are to represent the City, that is the organization, then we can simply continue to build systems and processes that caters to the City’s needs. However, if we are to represent the ratepayers then we should consider how the systems we design and the processes we put in place affect the people we are supposed to serve. I have been here a long time and I have seen this tension play out many times in different instances and I am sad to say that often we think of the organization first.” – City Manager, 2024