How to save $279.89. Or not

Drug stores do it.

Food stores do it.

Now, Sault Ste. Marie Public Library is telling patrons how much they've 'saved' during each visit by borrowing books and DVDs instead of buying them.

Roxanne Toth-Rissanen, chief executive officer and director of public libraries, told a library board meeting this week that the savings are now being printed at the bottom of every receipt provided to patrons.

The new receipts are intended to "demonstrate to the community the worth of the materials they borrow," Toth-Rissanen said.

But there's a catch.

Effective this week, the savings number is also what they'll charge you if you don't return your library materials.

On top of that, they'll also bill you a $5 penalty per item, plus HST.

Until this week, the fine for unreturned hardcover books was just $20, and $15 for unreturned DVD movies.

As SooToday reported earlier this month, board members were concerned that some patrons were thought to be taking advantage of the low fines to acquire expensive library materials.

Northern Community Centre

In other news, more information is surfacing about the transfer of seniors programming from Steelton Seniors Centre to Korah Branch Library in the Northern Community Centre.

A floor plan presented at this week's library board meeting (see photo gallery above) shows significant space dedicated to teen, adult and children's library services.

A report being prepared for presentation to City Council will outline expected savings in the first year of operating the branch library and senior's centre in shared space.

Korah branch patrons would have continued access to library materials, online databases and information services, as well as courier access to other materials and inter-library loan access to applicable public libraries and university and college collections.

Staffing for the Korah branch library is set at two full-time and six part-time employees.

The branch would be open 43 hours a week during the school year and 33 hours a week during summer months.

Current levels of library programming would be maintained.

Opportunities for new programming at Northern Community Centre include homeschooling community, intergenerational programming, life skills for teens, digital media lab and programming for baby boomers, grandparents and grandchildren.

Other tidbits from this week's board meeting:

• Board members met behind closed doors on Monday to discuss a Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 67 news release about the state of negotiations with 36 part-time library workers. Emerging from that meeting, the board passed a resolution expressing support for its negotiating team. Library board chair Chris Rous refused to comment further, indicating that the library doesn't negotiate through the press. 
• $283,800 will be spent on capital improvements at Centennial Library this year, including washroom renovations, new customer service desks and work on the corroded entrance canopy.
• No capital improvements will be done in 2018.
• In 2019, $477,000 will be spent replacing the downtown library's exterior windows and front entrance, and on air-conditioning and air-handling improvements.  
• Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre is partnering with the library to create a one-year social media position serving both institutions.
• The city flower bed on Bay Street will be planted with the library logo this year to honour the Centennial Library's 50th anniversary.
• Soo Greyhounds will be at Centennial Library from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 26 to participate in Family Literacy Day.
• Dr. Frank Sarlo will read selections from his new hockey book "Hound Pound" on Thursday, February 16 at the Centennial Library's reading area.
• The library will host a "Write to Us" contest to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday and Family Literacy Day. Participants will be asked to write about that they think makes Canada great.
• Centennial Library will be open on July 1 and will partner with the Art Gallery of Algoma and Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site to provide Canada Day festivities.
• Friends of the Library raised $24,953 in 2016 from its bookstore and sales table, up from $18,568 the previous year.