Why Are Libraries Eliminating Late Fees?

Libraries are known for many things like their large book collections, knowledgeable staff, and sometimes even those dreaded late fees for overdue books. Late fees and fines have been used by libraries for a long time to remind patrons to return library materials on time and while many people believe that fines are another form of revenue these methods have not been as effective as people originally thought.

Curious about all the reasons why libraries are making this choice? Here is why libraries are eliminating late fees:

Library fines have actually done a poor job or achieving the original objective of having more books returned on a timely basis. What many have noticed is that once books are gone, fines can encourage them to stay gone. This can be a confusing occurrence but what happens in most cases is that patrons are unable to pay fines and it becomes easier for them to avoid returning the book at all then to be slapped with the fees. When fines aren’t a factor, patrons can comfortably visit the library and bring back any books in their possession without the worry of getting in trouble.

Getting rid of fines wasn’t the only sign that things were better for the community. In the 1980s, libraries in Philadelphia actually doubled library fines to try to get books returned on time. This action achieved the exact opposite of what they expected. In fact, there was no effect on the return rate of materials and the borrowing rate actually decreased. Rather than acting as a way to encourage book returns, fines worked more as a barrier to deter people from coming back.

Patrons that are afraid of paying fines are obviously also not returning to the libraries to use the free resources. This is not what libraries want. In fact, they encourage community members to come and use computers, reference materials, and the staff for questions, job searches, and continuing education. But, it is actually extremely common for community members to avoid the library all together if they have outstanding fees.

Children also play a huge role in this. These library patrons usually have little to no way to pay off library fines unless they were to ask parents. The Boston Public Library saw this as another barrier to access especially after only receiving 10 percent of the $250,000 owed to them by those under 18 in the community. The library decided to join the other 5% of libraries with fine-free policies and stopped charging minors late fees.

Librarians are also affected by fines systems. The time that is spent on tracking down fines could actually be spent on tasks that they would much rather focus on and those geared towards helping the community. Collecting fines is not only time-consuming, but it can become a stressful process for librarians when it comes to blocking accounts that owe fees and stopping patrons from checking out books. Staff that are spending more time on applying penalties and collecting fines are spending needless time, $1 million worth in San Francisco’s case, on tasks that aren’t benefiting anyone.

Libraries are places in the community where everyone should feel welcomed and safe. When fines are associated with the use of the library, patrons begin to associate negative feelings and experiences with the library. Take, for example, children that get berated by parents for forgetting library books or non-English speakers who struggle to communicate with staff to check out new materials when there is a block on their account. These situations can be embarrassing for those involved and it makes the library an uncomfortable place to visit, discouraging people from returning.

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