Bucks County Libraries Using ''Soft'' Approach for Overdue Items

by KYW’s Mark Abrams The Bucks County Library System is contracting the services of a collection agency that uses a "soft" touch to recover thousands of dollars in overdue books, CDs, DVDs and fines. Martina Kominiarek, executive director of the Bucks County Free Library, says the system has signed a contract with Unique Management Services Inc. in Jeffersonville, Indiana for collections. Kominiarek says she did the research and found Unique to be a perfect fit. "The soft approach in how they conducted conversations with library users. They do not call up and make threats. What they do is they just gently prod people to bring the materials back and settle up with the library." She says the Free Library of Philadelphia, as well as library systems in Chester County and Burlington and Camden counties also give the company good... [read full story]