the Charleston County Public Library is the recipient of two awards honoring libraries across the country that have the greatest impact in their communities.

Both prizes were awarded by Unique management services, the world’s leading library material recovery and customer communications services company, contacts library users who have accumulated more than $ 25 in fines.

“They do most of the ‘work’ with what they call a ‘soft boost’,” said Lucia Hayes, director of circulation services at the Charleston County Public Library. “Phone calls and letters are designed to be friendly, the goal being to get the patron back to the library without affecting the goodwill of the library. “

The honors received by the local library system were the “Defender of the Collection” award and the “Back in the Fold” award.

The Collection Defender category, for which the Charleston County Public Library received the first place trophy, celebrates libraries that have collected a high volume of overdue material over the past 36 months.

It is about “defending public goods and ensuring the availability of useful and critical documents for all clients,” as Unique’s description.

Charleston County Public Library deputy director of communications Doug Reynolds said the award may have been awarded, in part, due to the library’s Amnesty Month campaign established in June.

“We launched a campaign in which we encouraged clients to return late documents without incurring any fines or past costs and also allowed them to have all past fines and fees removed from their records,” he said. said Reynolds.

While he didn’t get the exact number of returns this campaign garnered, he said it certainly impacted the library’s total. $ 356,638 in materials recovered late.

The second honors libraries that have returned a high percentage of patrons in good standing, ensuring equity and accessibility in their communities.

Charleston County Public library, which awarded 4,067 customers in good standing, earned an honorable mention in the category.

“All libraries deserve to be recognized for their unprecedented response over the past year to provide vital services to their customers and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the President and CEO from Unique, Nicole Atkins. “Unique developed this rewards program as a small way to say thank you, celebrating libraries and librarians for their continued dedication and meaningful impact. “

The Charleston County Public Library was among 17 Eastern Region winners who recovered a total of $ 835,514 in overdue documents and brought back nearly 16,000 customers in good standing, while providing “exceptional service. to their customers and their communities ”.

“We are delighted to receive these awards from Unique,” ​​said Hayes. “Accessibility to library materials and services is vital. “

The first place prize also included a $ 500 donation to the Friends of the Charleston Library.

To reach Kalyn Oyer at 843-371-4469. Follow her on Twitter @sound_wavves.