Professional Development for Delaware Library Staff: Fines & Fees - 000

This webinar shares how going fine-free eliminates barriers and improves access to your library’s materials and services. Growing research and library case studies on the benefits of eliminating overdue fines indicate that the advantages to both library and community far exceed the monetary value of the fines. This webinar explores going (and staying) fine-free as a social justice issue­­­­ and as a revenue issue. Presenters discuss considerations such as the barriers to access for those facing financial insecurity, the cost to collect fines often exceeds the revenue they bring in, and that many libraries report that patrons return more items after going fine-free.
Link includes a Learner Guide and Related Resources & Links.
WebJunction, 2021

Libraries have traditionally charged overdue fines for three reasons: to generate revenue, to get materials back on time, and to teach responsibility. But what if all of these assumptions are wrong? It turns out they are!

In this webinar, you will discover why these reasons are old fashioned, incorrect notions that create a barrier for many people. You will hear how eliminating fines can lead to an increase in library use and circulation, with no negative effects. The presenters review the research and results from the growing number of libraries across the country that have ditched late fines and coaxed new and former users to their doors. They discuss how to gather your library’s data and patron stories to create advocacy tools. They share talking points, tips, and an advocacy tool you can use to build a case to eliminate fines in your library. It’s a win-win for your library and your community!
Infopeople, 2019

A big-picture conversation about becoming and being fine-free libraries that identifies libraries' "why" for being fine-free, how to strategically address communities' needs and local government priorities by eliminating fines, and the impacts of going fine-free on communities.
Infopeople, 2020

Are you interested in going fine-free but need to overcome some barriers to moving forward? This EveryLibrary webinar addresses:
-Reasons for going fine free
-The experience of libraries that have gone fine-free
-Reality v. Myth on late returns, hold times, revenue loss, and library usage
-How to effectively message and advocate for going fine-free with internal and external stakeholders
-Planning your way forward: Exploring a variety of options for phased implementation

Adopted by the Council of the American Library Association
Monday, January 28, 2019

Adopted June 30, 1993, by the ALA Council and amended June 25, 2019.

Includes bibliography and a search link for library fine policies. (Last edited in 2014)

Effective March 2, 2021.

Effective July 1, 2021

Effective Sept. 1, 2019.

Effective Sept. 1, 2019.

Effective June 2018.

Effective August 1, 2020.

Effective Feb. 1, 2021.

Effective July 1, 2020.

Effective Sept. 1, 2019.

Effective Sept. 1, 2020.

Effective July 1, 2019.

Undated on website.

Article dated Feb. 18, 2021.

Effective Feb. 14, 2020.

New York Times, Gina Cherekus, 3/31/22
The decision in New York City set off a wave of returns, accompanied by bashful notes of apology and gratitude.

Effective October 2021.

Information on the St. Paul Public Library's decision to go fine free, including FAQs, resources and case studies from other libraries, and background and history.

Collection of articles and resources compiled by library consultant Andy Woodworth.

Includes links to various resources that show the effect on circulation of going fine free as well as other topics such as the effects of removing barriers to access.

Stratford Library, CT
Overviews on going fine free, white papers and presentations, fine-free libraries in the news, and announcements from libraries that have gone fine free.

A tool and infographic template from the Ontario Library Association to help libraries calculate the organizational cost of charging fines.

Small towns in much of the country are dangerously dependent on punitive fines and fees.
By Mike Maciag, Governing, August 2019

by Robert Sarwark, The Intellectual Freedom Blog, October 8, 2018. Critical look at fine line between patrons’ fair and open access to library materials and libraries’ mandate to equitably offer and protect the materials themselves.

Results from Published Reports and Data from Library Connection, Inc. (LCI) Libraries. Prepared by Sam Cook, Systems Librarian for Public Services, Library Connection, Inc. Windsor, CT Prepared on October 11, 2018, Updated March 22, 2019

Libraries have the power to create a better world; they connect communities, promote literacy and spark lifelong learners. But there's one thing that keeps people away: the fear of overdue book fines. In this thought-provoking talk, librarian Dawn Wacek makes the case that fines don't actually do what we think they do. What if your library just ... stopped asking for them altogether? February 2018.

By Lori Ayre, Galecia Group, July 12, 2021. Increasing numbers of libraries have eliminated late fees because they are ineffective at promoting the timely return of materials, and argue that they undermine the mission of the library to provide equitable access to library services and resources.

January 2019. Examines the role of overdue fines within the SFPL, clarifies the ways in which fine elimination supports the Library’s mission, and offers evidence as to what fine elimination would mean for the Library, its patrons, and the City and County of San Francisco.

Colorado State Library

A look at how libraries are approaching the growing discussion around whether or not to eliminate fines on library materials.
By Jennifer Peterson, September 17, 2019

EveryLibrary
Many libraries are moving to become fine-free not only because they end up being better for the community it serves but also for the library itself.