No need to save your spare change … at least to pay library fines. The Dwight Foster Public Library has eliminated charging for late returns on all materials.
Starting Feb. 15, the Fort Atkinson library dropped all late fees, following a nationwide trend that has been growing during times of economic hardship and, now, the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Library Board’s decision was based on research showing that fines can deter lower- or fixed-income patrons, including disabled and elderly persons, from using library services. And those are among the people who need to use them the most.
After all, libraries aren’t just about books and magazines anymore. They are where patrons go to use free Wi-Fi and computers; get help writing job résumés; pick up tax forms; and participate in literacy programs, children’s activities, author talks and other free programs.
Libraries have morphed into community gathering places, and they must be as accessible and welcoming as possible. But people can be reluctant to go to the library for free programs and resources when they have overdue fines hanging over their head.
Not only does going fine free encourage library use, but it actually has been shown to help improve circulation. For instance, after abolishing fines, the Chicago Public Library experienced a 240-percent boost in book returns. That in turn saved staff time having to follow up on overdue materials and ordering replacements. Time is money, you know.
And speaking of money, we’re not talking about all that much of it in the big picture. Dwight Foster Public Library director Eric Robinson tells us that the COVID-19 pandemic all but wiped out fines in 2020, which were about $2,300. In 2019, the first year in which children’s and young adult materials went fine free, the total was about $6,800. All these revenue dollars go into the city’s general funds.
In the Bridges Library System, of which all of Jefferson County’s public libraries are members, Fort Atkinson becomes only the second facility to go entirely the fineless route. The first was the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library in Whitewater.
The Watertown Public Library temporarily is fine free due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the Karl Junginger Memorial Library in Waterloo and L.D. Fargo Public Library in Lake Mills have dropped fines on child/teen materials, as Fort Atkinson had done a couple years back. While not fine free, the Johnson Creek Public Library has a semi-regular Pay It Forward campaign that last year paid off more than $100 worth of fines.
Of course, just because there are no fines does not mean there are no consequences for late arrivals at the Dwight Foster Public Library. People who never return a book after six weeks past the due date or do so in damaged condition will be made to repay.
But for those folks who can’t get to the Fort Atkinson library due to a snowstorm, need an extra day to finish a book’s last couple of chapters or simply experience a memory lapse, the late-fine reprieve adds a little more sparkle to this gem of a community asset.
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Clearly the concept of social responsibility must give way to self centered indulgence that you have an inherent right to keep public material for your personal use and have no responsibility to assure its availability to others! Yeah, that’s the type of library policy that a new social liberal norm should endorse.
Whoa….maybe we should take off the “everything is political,” glasses for a bit, and take a couple of deep breaths. I’m pretty sure our remarkable library staff is even more concerned than we are about preserving everyone’s access to library materials, as they take their jobs very seriously, and do excellent work. They’ll manage this well, and they know what they are doing. These are, after all, extremely unusual times, which call on unprecedented responses and behaviors. All will return soon to a semblance of normalcy. Meet me at the library….I’ll buy you a coffee!
I wonder if you missed this penultimate paragraph: “Of course, just because there are no fines does not mean there are no consequences for late arrivals at the Dwight Foster Public Library. People who never return a book after six weeks past the due date or do so in damaged condition will be made to repay.”
Like anywhere, some people are selfish and antisocial. But I think the vast majority of library users understand and appreciate that library materials are to be shared. Borrowers will still get email reminders of due dates and can still renew materials online or in person. Anyone waiting on materials that are checked out can still request a hold and be notified when the item is available.
I say let’s give it a chance. Let’s see if people are capable of keeping library materials in circulation without the petty punishments of fines. If it doesn’t work, we can always change it back.