Stone County Library Goes Fine-Free In March
February 28, 2019
Isaac Estes-Jones
The Stone County Library has announced that late fees will no longer be charged, effective Friday, March 1. This will also void all past fines.
The Library Board voted on February 21 to end charging late fines on items returned after their due date. Fees will still be charged for damaged or lost items.
Rebecca Payne, Director of the Stone County Library, said “I think this a huge step forward for the library. We want the library to be a place that serves the community; our focus is on the people we serve. Charging late fines doesn’t help us do that.”
This move follows recommendations recently adopted by the American Library Association. “There are a couple of reasons why the ALA is recommending that libraries move away from late fees,” said Payne. “Primarily it is because that it has a negative impact on those who need to be able to use the library the most. They create an economic barrier to services. Studies have found that charging late fees doesn’t actually guarantee that items are returned on time, or at all.”
The library wants to encourage anyone who has late items, no matter how late they may be, to return them to the library—no questions asked.
“It’s my hope that this will encourage more people to use the library, and that it will make Stone County Libraries more welcoming to our community members,” Payne said.
In order to have your fines for past-due returns erased, Payne said library patrons only have to stop by any of the three Stone County Library branches to get their account cleared. The Stone County Library has branches in Crane, Galena and Blue Eye.
Late fees made up less than 1% of library revenue in 2018.
Isaac Estes-Jones
The Stone County Library has announced that late fees will no longer be charged, effective Friday, March 1. This will also void all past fines.
The Library Board voted on February 21 to end charging late fines on items returned after their due date. Fees will still be charged for damaged or lost items.
Rebecca Payne, Director of the Stone County Library, said “I think this a huge step forward for the library. We want the library to be a place that serves the community; our focus is on the people we serve. Charging late fines doesn’t help us do that.”
This move follows recommendations recently adopted by the American Library Association. “There are a couple of reasons why the ALA is recommending that libraries move away from late fees,” said Payne. “Primarily it is because that it has a negative impact on those who need to be able to use the library the most. They create an economic barrier to services. Studies have found that charging late fees doesn’t actually guarantee that items are returned on time, or at all.”
The library wants to encourage anyone who has late items, no matter how late they may be, to return them to the library—no questions asked.
“It’s my hope that this will encourage more people to use the library, and that it will make Stone County Libraries more welcoming to our community members,” Payne said.
In order to have your fines for past-due returns erased, Payne said library patrons only have to stop by any of the three Stone County Library branches to get their account cleared. The Stone County Library has branches in Crane, Galena and Blue Eye.
Late fees made up less than 1% of library revenue in 2018.