Tell us what you think about no fines at Upper Hutt libraries
Upper Hutt is the fourth library in New Zealand to remove overdue fees, meaning that customers will no longer be fined for overdue items they have borrowed.
Overdue fines are charges incurred for the late return of borrowed library items. Both nationally and internationally research has shown that fining for overdue items as an incentive to return them does not work, but acts as a deterrent preventing people from making full use of library services.
A recent New Zealand study “Libraries in times of economic downturn” identified barrier free libraries as a key factor in community wellbeing and the important role libraries can play in community recovery.
To launch the new initiative, Upper Hutt Libraries have implemented a ‘Welcome Back’ campaign, targeting people who haven’t used the libraries in recent years. The campaign begins with a full amnesty for all outstanding overdue items that can be returned, and all outstanding overdue fees and charges will be waived. The amnesty will operate from 16 November 2020 to 30 January 2021.
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⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️